Sord M68

The Sord M68 was a powerful 16-bit professional computer that paired a 10 MHz Motorola 68000 with a Z80A for input, output and compatibility duties. High-resolution colour graphics, substantial memory and hard-disk storage placed it well above the company’s 8-bit desktop range.

Its broad operating-system support included CP/M-68K, CP/M-80, MS-DOS and the UCSD p-System. This flexibility let the M68 run both newer 68000 applications and selected software from Sord’s established business environment.

Notable Features

• Dual-processor design used a 68000 for main work and a Z80A for I/O and 8-bit support.
• High-resolution display offered 16 colours from a palette of 4,913.
• Supported several 8-bit and 16-bit operating systems.

Historical Significance

• Represented Sord’s move into high-end 16-bit professional computing.
• Combined strong graphics and PIPS-oriented business use with unusually broad system-software choices.

Collector’s Notes

• Configurations vary in hard-disk size, memory and operating system.
• Original boot media and the matching high-resolution monitor are difficult to replace.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Sord M68
Manufacturer	Sord Computer Corporation
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1983
Discontinued	Mid-1980s
Country	Japan
CPU	Motorola 68000 at 10 MHz with Zilog Z80A I/O processor
Units Sold
Operating System	CP/M-68K; CP/M-80; MS-DOS; UCSD p-System
I/O	Serial, parallel and expansion interfaces
Keyboard	Separate professional keyboard
Storage	Dual floppy drives and 7.5MB or 20MB hard disk configurations
Sound	Programmable sound
Graphics	640x400, 16 colours from a palette of 4,913
Display	High-resolution colour monitor
ROM	System firmware
RAM	256KB standard; expandable to 1MB
CPU Speed	68000 at 10 MHz; Z80A at 4 MHz