Science of Cambridge MK14

The Science of Cambridge MK14 was an inexpensive single-board microcomputer kit built around National Semiconductor's SC/MP processor. Programs and data were entered in hexadecimal through a 20-key keypad and examined on an eight-digit LED display.

Its 256 bytes of standard RAM and 512-byte monitor were modest even by contemporary standards, but expansion connections supported cassette storage, more memory, I/O and an optional video display. The kit introduced many British enthusiasts to hands-on microprocessor programming.

Notable Features

• Supplied as a solder-it-yourself board with hexadecimal keypad and LED display.
• 256 bytes of RAM could be expanded to 640 bytes on the board and further with external hardware.
• Optional VDU provided 32 x 16 text or 64 x 64 graphics.

Historical Significance

• The first computer sold by Clive Sinclair's Science of Cambridge business.
• Provided experience and revenue that helped lead to the ZX80 and Sinclair's mass-market computers.

Collector’s Notes

• Several board and keypad revisions exist, with later machines using individual push buttons.
• Original SC/MP processor, SCIOS ROM and unmodified PCB are important identifiers.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Science of Cambridge MK14
Manufacturer	Sinclair Research Ltd
Launched	Wednesday, February 1, 1978
Discontinued	12/12/1979
Launch Price	£39.95 kit
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	National Semiconductor INS8060 SC/MP II
Units Sold
Operating System	SCIOS machine-code monitor
I/O	Edge connectors, TTL I/O and optional INS8154 RAM/I/O
Keyboard	20-key hexadecimal keypad
CPU Speed	4.43 MHz crystal; approximately 0.55 MHz instruction cycle
RAM	256 bytes; 640 bytes on-board maximum
ROM	512 bytes SCIOS monitor
Display	Eight usable seven-segment LED digits; optional 32 x 16 VDU
Graphics	Hexadecimal LED display; optional 64 x 64 graphics
Sound	No built-in sound
Storage	Optional cassette interface