Acorn Atom

The Acorn Atom placed technology derived from the System 3 into a compact case with an integrated keyboard. It was sold in kit and assembled forms with a distinctive integer BASIC and expandable memory.

The Atom was Acorn’s first broadly marketed home computer and directly preceded the machine developed for the BBC Computer Literacy Project.

Notable Features

• MOS Technology 6502A at 1 MHz forms the centre of the system.
• The standard memory and storage configuration was 2KB standard; commonly expandable to 12KB and 300-baud cassette interface; optional floppy-disc system.
• Its principal display arrangement was External television or monitor; 32 x 16 text.

Historical Significance

• The Atom was Acorn’s first broadly marketed home computer and directly preceded the machine developed for the BBC Computer Literacy Project.
• This page represents a distinct Acorn model rather than a regional, memory-only or bundled-software variation.

Collector’s Notes

• Original keyboards, power supplies, manuals, expansion cards and storage hardware materially improve a surviving system.
• Internal revisions and dealer-installed upgrades mean an individual machine should be checked against its serial label and fitted hardware.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Acorn Atom
Manufacturer	Acorn Computers
Launched	Saturday, March 1, 1980
Discontinued	1982
Launch Price	£120 kit or £170 assembled
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	MOS Technology 6502A at 1 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	Acorn System BASIC in ROM
CPU Speed	1 MHz
RAM	2KB standard; commonly expandable to 12KB
ROM	8KB standard ROM with Acorn BASIC
Display	External television or monitor; 32 x 16 text
Graphics	Up to 256 x 192 monochrome graphics; four-colour lower-resolution mode
Sound	Single-channel internal speaker
Storage	300-baud cassette interface; optional floppy-disc system
Keyboard	Integrated 60-key keyboard
I/O	Cassette, video, printer, user port, expansion bus and power