Commodore Amiga 500 Personal Computer

Commodore Amiga 500 Personal Computer

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Description
In 1987, Commodore introduced the Amiga 500, also known as the A500, as an inexpensive version of a 16 bit multimedia home computer. The goal was to provide a machine that would compete successfully against other 16 bit machines, just as the Commodore 64 had outsold many competitive 8 bit computers. The A500 did sell well against the Atari 520ST and was the low end successor of the Amiga 1000.
The A500 used a Motorola 68000 microprocessor that ran at 7.14 MHz and had 256 KB of ROM and 512 KB of RAM, which was expandable to 9MB. The Amiga 500 used a special system for its RAM configuration. It had 512 KB of Chip RAM, which could be accessed by the sound and video custom chip, and FAST RAM, which could only be accessed only by the CPU.
The Amiga 500 was followed by the Amiga 500+. It doubled the amount of the A500s Chip RAM to 1 MB. Both versions could be connected to a TV set or to a video monitor. The A500 computers were the best selling in the Amiga series. Besides doing well in the United States, they also were popular in Europe. Many users favored the Amiga because, in addition to being inexpensive, it had excellent graphics and sound capability for a computer of its era.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
microcomputer
Date made
1987
maker
Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
metal (overall material)
rubber (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 6.2 cm x 47.4 cm x 33 cm; 2 7/16 in x 18 11/16 in x 13 in
ID Number
2001.0186.03
catalog number
2001.0186.03
accession number
2001.0186
Credit Line
Carl J. and Tracie Lafata
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Family & Social Life
Computers & Business Machines
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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