Editing Acorn Archimedes (section)

== Models ==

The first available models in the family were the A305, A310 and A440, introduced in 1987,<ref name="introduction"/> followed by the A3000, A410/1, A420/1 and A440/1 in 1989,<ref name="acornuser198906a"/> A540 in 1990,<ref name="acornuser199009"/> A5000 in 1991,<ref name="acornuser199111_a5000"/> A4 in 1992,<ref name="acornuser199208_a4"/> with the A3010, A3020 and A4000 being the final models, also introduced in 1992.<ref name="acorn_app468"/>

=== A300 and A400 series ===
{{anchor|A300|A310}}

Powered by an [[ARM architecture#ARM2|ARM2]] (Acorn RISC Machine) processor, the Acorn Archimedes was variously described as "the first [[Reduced instruction set computer|RISC]] machine inexpensive enough for home use",<ref name="pountain198710">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1987-10-rescan/1987_10_BYTE_12-11_Heuristic_Algorithms/page/n130/mode/1up | title=The Archimedes A310 | magazine=BYTE | date=October 1987 | access-date=4 August 2014 | author=Pountain, Dick | pages=125}}</ref> and "the first commercially-available RISC-based microcomputer". The first models were released in June 1987, as the 300 and 400 series.<ref name="popcompweekly19870626">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1987-06-26/page/n5/mode/1up | title=Acorn RISCs it | magazine=Popular Computing Weekly | date=26 June 1987 | access-date=28 March 2021 | pages=6}}</ref> The 400 series included four expansion slots and an [[ST-506]] controller for an internal [[hard drive]], whereas the 300 series required the addition of a backplane to gain expansion slot capabilities. A two slot [[backplane]] could be added to the 300 series as an official upgrade, with the possibility of 4-slot backplane being available from third parties, but a hard drive expansion card was also required for these machines, occupying one slot.<ref name="acornuser198809_hardware">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser074-Sep88/page/n72/mode/1up | title=Do It The Hard Way | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1988 | access-date=30 June 2022 | last1=Watkins | first1=David | pages=71, 73, 75 }}</ref>

Both series included the [[Arthur (operating system)|Arthur operating system]] (later replaced by [[RISC OS]] as a paid-for upgrade), [[BBC BASIC]] programming language, and an [[emulator]] for Acorn's earlier [[BBC Micro]], and were mounted in two-part cases with a small central unit, [[Computer display|monitor]] on top, and a separate [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] and three-button [[computer mouse|mouse]] (the middle one used for pop-up [[context menu]]s of the operating system). All models featured eight-channel 8-bit [[stereo sound]] and were capable of displaying [[8-bit color|256 colours]] on screen.<ref name="introduction" />{{rp|pages=4}}<ref name="vidc_datasheet">{{Cite web|url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Misc/Acorn_VIDC_Datasheet.pdf|title=VIDC (Video Controller) datasheet}}</ref>{{rp|pages=2}}

Three models were initially released with different amounts of memory, the A305, A310 and A440.<ref name="introduction">{{cite tech report | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Misc/AcornTraining_IntroToArc.pdf | title=Introduction to Archimedes | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | access-date=28 February 2021 | pages=4 | quote=The particular models available were the A305 and A310, with 0.5 MB and 1 MB of RAM respectively, and the A440, with 4 MB of RAM.}}</ref> The 400 series models were replaced in 1989 by the A410/1, the A420/1 and A440/1,<ref name="acornuser198906a">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser083-Jun89/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn back home with new micro | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1989 | access-date=27 March 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> these featuring an upgraded MEMC1a and RISC OS. Earlier models which shipped with Arthur could be upgraded to {{nowrap|RISC OS 2}} by replacing the [[read-only memory|ROM]] chip containing the operating system.<ref name="acornuser198902_riscos" /> Because the ROM chips contained the operating system, the computer [[booting|booted]] instantly into its GUI system, familiar from the [[Atari ST]].<ref name="pcw198506_atarist">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-06/page/136/mode/2up | title=Atari 520ST | magazine=Personal Computer World | date=June 1985 | access-date=29 July 2021 | last1=Bright | first1=Peter | pages=136–138, 140, 142 }}</ref>{{rp|pages=140|quote=Unlike most other disk-based machines both the DOS and the front end are contained in ROM. This allows the machine to go directly into its operating system on start-up without having to read from disk.}}

Despite the A310 being limited to 1&nbsp;MB of RAM officially,<ref name="archive198903b" /> several companies made upgrades to 2&nbsp;MB and 4&nbsp;MB, with the smaller upgrades augmenting the built-in RAM and the larger upgrades replacing it entirely.<ref name="acornuser199204_memory">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser117-Apr92/page/n92/mode/1up | title=Memory Lapse | magazine=Acorn User | date=April 1992 | access-date=30 May 2021 | last1=Brown | first1=Malcolm | pages=91–92 }}</ref> The 400 series were officially limited to 4&nbsp;MB of RAM, but several companies released 8&nbsp;MB upgrades that provided an extra MEMC chip plus 4&nbsp;MB of RAM to complement an existing 4&nbsp;MB of fitted RAM.<ref name="acornuser199108_8mb">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser109-Aug91/page/n117/mode/2up | title=Mega Memory | magazine=Acorn User | date=August 1991 | access-date=4 June 2021 | last1=Carrion | first1=Tom | pages=116–117 }}</ref>

=== A3000 ===
[[File:Acorn Archimedes A3000 Computer Main Unit.jpg|thumbnail|right|Acorn Archimedes A3000 computer main unit]]
[[File:Acorn Archimedes A3000 Computer with cover removed.jpg|thumb|right|Acorn Archimedes A3000 computer with cover removed]]
[[File:Acorn Archimedes A3000 Main PCB.jpg|thumb|Acorn Archimedes A3000 main PCB. Corrosion from a leaky NiCd battery can be seen in the bottom left corner.]]

In early 1989, speculation about new machines in the Archimedes range envisaged a low-cost, cut-down model with 512&nbsp;KB of RAM to replace the A305 in a fashion reminiscent of the [[BBC Master#Master Compact|Master Compact]].<ref name="archive198903a">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-03_OCR/page/n24/mode/1up | title=Archimedes Compact? | magazine=Archive | last1=Cowan | first1=Brian | date=March 1989 | access-date=27 March 2021 | pages=23}}</ref> This speculation evolved to more accurately predict a machine with 1&nbsp;MB of RAM aimed at [[Junior school|junior]] or [[primary schools]].<ref name="archive198904">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-04_OCR/page/n3/mode/1up | title=Archimedes A205??? | magazine=Archive | date=April 1989 | access-date=9 April 2021 | pages=2}}</ref> Other commentators correctly predicted the provision of an internal disc drive and a single "special" podule slot.<ref name="abcomputing198902_grace">{{ cite magazine | title=Affordable Archie | magazine=A&B Computing | last1=Grace | first1=Clive D. | date=February 1989 | pages=14–17 }}</ref> However, any new, low-cost product providing support for up to 2&nbsp;MB of RAM also raised questions about the future of the 300 series,<ref name="archive198903b">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-03_OCR/page/n24/mode/1up | title=Whither the 300 machines? | magazine=Archive | last1=Cowan | first1=Brian | date=March 1989 | access-date=27 March 2021 | pages=23}}</ref> given the limitation of the 300 series to a maximum of 1&nbsp;MB at that time.<ref name="archive198903c">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-03_OCR/page/n4/mode/1up | title=A310 Memory up-grades???? | magazine=Archive | date=March 1989 | access-date=27 March 2021 | pages=3}}</ref>

Concurrently with these rumoured product development efforts, work had commenced on a successor to the [[Arthur (operating system)|Arthur operating system]], initially named Arthur 2 but renamed to [[RISC OS]] 2 for launch.<ref name="acornuser198902">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser079-Feb89/page/n10/mode/1up | title=RISC OS is ready for April launch | magazine=Acorn User | date=February 1989 | access-date=31 October 2020 | pages=9}}</ref> In May 1989, a number of new machines were introduced along with RISC OS 2: the 300 series was phased out in favour of the new BBC A3000, and the 400 series were replaced by the improved 400/1 series models.<ref name="acornuser198906a" /> Having been developed in a "remarkably short timescale of nine months",<ref name="acorn_nl10_a3000">{{ cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/NL/Acorn_NewsIss10.pdf | title=Three thousand cheers for the A3000 | work=Acorn Newsletter | date=June 1989 | access-date=26 May 2021 | issue=10 | pages=1 }}</ref> the machine was the "major learning vehicle" for an integrated [[Computer-aided design|CAD]] system introduced at Acorn employing products from [[Valid Logic Systems]],<ref name="acorn_nl10_cad">{{ cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/NL/Acorn_NewsIss10.pdf | title=Valid investment pays off on the A3000 | work=Acorn Newsletter | date=June 1989 | access-date=26 May 2021 | issue=10 | pages=1–2 }}</ref> and it was reported that the A3000 was the first home microcomputer to use [[Surface-mount technology|surface mount technology]] in its construction, with the machine being built at Acorn's longstanding manufacturing partner, AB Electronics.<ref name="acornuser198906_new_chapter" />

The A3000 used an 8&nbsp;MHz [[ARM architecture#ARM2|ARM2]] and was supplied with {{nowrap|1 MB}} of RAM and RISC OS on {{nowrap|512 KB}} of ROM. Unlike the previous models, the A3000 came in a single-part case similar to the [[BBC Micro]], [[Amiga 500]] and [[Atari ST]] computers, with the keyboard and disc drive integrated into a base unit "slightly smaller than the Master 128".<ref name="acornuser198906_new_chapter">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser083-Jun89/page/n59/mode/2up | title=New Chapter | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1989 | access-date=1 May 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=58–59, 61, 63 }}</ref> Despite the machine's desktop footprint, being larger than a simple keyboard, the case was not designed to support a monitor. Acorn offered a monitor stand that attached to the machine,<ref name="acorn_akf20">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Misc/Acorn_AKF20_A3000MonitorStand.pdf | title=A3000 monitor stand | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=1989 | issue=1 | access-date=1 May 2021 }}</ref> this being bundled with Acorn's Learning Curve package,<ref name="acorn_app264">{{ cite book | url=http://www.4corn.co.uk/archive/docs/AMPAPP/150/APP264%20(2nd%20ed)%20-%20The%20Learning%20Curve%20(1991)-opt.pdf | title=The Learning Curve | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=April 1991 | issue=2 | access-date=1 May 2021 | pages=8 }}</ref> and PRES announced a monitor plinth and external disc drive case.<ref name="acornuser198906a" />

The new model sported only a single internal [[expansion slot]], which was physically different from that of the earlier models, although electrically similar. An external connector could interface to existing expansion cards, with an external case for such cards being recommended and anticipated at the machine's launch,<ref name="acornuser198906_new_chapter" /> and one such solution subsequently being provided by PRES's expansion system.<ref name="acornuser198907_hardware">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser084-Jul89/page/n10/mode/1up | title=New A3000 attracts hardware makers | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1989 | access-date=1 May 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref><ref name="acornuser199002_addons">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser091-Feb90/page/n123/mode/2up | title=Add-ons Multiply | magazine=Acorn User | date=February 1990 | access-date=5 May 2021 | last1=Drage | first1=Chris | pages=122–123 }}</ref> Acorn announced a combined user port and MIDI expansion for the internal slot at the machine's launch, priced at £49. To enable the machine's serial port, an upgrade costing £19 was required, and Econet support was also an optional extra.<ref name="abcomputing198908_a3000">{{ cite magazine | title=The new Arc A3000 | magazine=A&B Computing | date=August 1989 | pages=46–47 }}</ref>

Although only intended to be upgradeable to {{nowrap|2 MB}} of RAM, third-party vendors offered upgrades to {{nowrap|4 MB}} along with expansions offering additional disc drive connections and combinations of user and analogue ports, both of these helping those upgrading from Acorn's 8-bit products, particularly in education, to make use of existing peripherals such as 5.25-inch drives, input devices and data logging equipment.<ref name="acornuser199009_augmenting">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser098-Sep90/page/n117/mode/2up | title=Augmenting the Arc | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1990 | access-date=8 May 2021 | last1=Drage | first1=Chris | pages=116–117 }}</ref> Simtec Electronics even offered a RAM upgrade to 8&nbsp;MB for the A3000 alongside other models.<ref name="acornuser199603_simtec">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser166-Mar96/page/n58/mode/1up | title=Memory Solutions for the A3000..... | magazine=Acorn User | author=Simtec Electronics | date=March 1996 | access-date=22 August 2021 | pages=59 }}</ref><ref name="simtec_8mb">{{ cite web | url=http://www.simtec.co.uk/ | title=A300/400/5000 4-8 Mb RAM Upgrade | website=Simtec Electronics | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818073638/http://www.simtec.co.uk/ | archive-date=18 August 2000 | access-date=22 August 2021 }}</ref> In 1996, IFEL announced a memory upgrade for the A3000 utilising a generic 72-pin [[SIMM]] module to provide 4&nbsp;MB of RAM.<ref name="acornuser199610_ifel"/> Hard drive expansions based on [[ST506]], [[SCSI]] and [[Parallel ATA#IDE and ATA-1|IDE]] technologies were also offered by a range of vendors.<ref name="acornuser199104_mega3000">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser105-Apr91/page/n94/mode/1up | title=Meg-A3000 | magazine=Acorn User | date=April 1991 | access-date=14 May 2021 | last1=James | first1=Paul | pages=93, 95 }}</ref>

With the "British Broadcasting Corporation Computer System" branding, the "main market" for the A3000 was schools and education authorities, and the educational price of £529—not considerably more expensive than the BBC Master—was considered to be competitive and persuasive in getting this particular audience to upgrade to Acorn's 32-bit systems. The retail price of £649 plus VAT was considered an "expensive alternative" to the intended competition—the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST—but many times faster than similarly priced models of those ranges.<ref name="archive198906">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-06_OCR/page/n40/mode/1up | title=A3000 – The New BBC Micro | magazine=Archive | date=June 1989 | access-date=10 April 2021 | last1=Vigay | first1=Paul | pages=39–41}}</ref> The Amiga 500, it was noted, cost a "not-so-bargain" £550 once upgraded to {{nowrap|1 MB}} of RAM.<ref name="acornuser198906_new_chapter" />

The relative affordability of the A3000 compared to the first Archimedes machines and the release of RISC OS helped to convince educational software producers of the viability of the platform.<ref name="archive199005_education">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1990-05_OCR/page/n42/mode/1up | title=Archimedes in Education | magazine=Archive | date=May 1990 | access-date=10 April 2021 | last1=Wilson | first1=Martyn | pages=41–43}}</ref> Shortly after the A3000's launch, one local education authority had already ordered 500 machines, aiming to introduce the A3000 to its primary schools in addition to other levels of education.<ref name="acornuser198908">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser085-Aug89/page/n10/mode/1up | title=A3000 gets orders | magazine=Acorn User | date=August 1989 | access-date=12 April 2021 | pages=9}}</ref> Such was the success of the model that it alone had 37 percent of the UK schools market in a nine-month period in 1991 and, by the end of that year, was estimated to represent 15 percent of the 500,000 or more computers installed in the country's schools.<ref name="acornuser199206_a3000">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser119-Jun92/page/n8/mode/1up | title=News in Brief | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1992 | access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref>

The appeal of the A3000 to education may also have motivated the return of Microvitec to the Acorn market with the Cub3000 monitor: a re-engineered version of the Cub monitor that was popular amongst institutional users of the original BBC Micro.<ref name="acornuser199005_cub3000">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser094-May90/page/n118/mode/1up | title=Screened for Value | magazine=Acorn User | date=May 1990 | access-date=5 May 2021 | last1=Brown | first1=Malcolm | pages=117 }}</ref> Having been "nowhere to be seen" when the Archimedes was released,<ref name="acornuser199005_cub3000" /> Microvitec had sought to introduce its own Cubpack range of IBM PC-compatible personal computers for the education market offering some BBC BASIC compatibility, building on an estimated 80 percent market share for 14-inch colour monitors in the sector, and aspiring to launch an "interactive video workstation".<ref name="yourcomputer198804_cubpack">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/your-computer-magazine-1988-04/page/n39/mode/2up | title=Talent Scout | magazine=Your Computer | date=April 1988 | access-date=5 May 2021 | last1=Noyes | first1=Susan | pages=40–41 }}</ref>

The introduction of the A3000 also saw Acorn regaining a presence in mainstream retail channels, with a deal with high street retailer Dixons to sell the computer at "business centre" outlets,<ref name="acornuser198911_dixons">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser088-Nov89/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Dixons take on the A3000 | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1989 | access-date=5 May 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> followed by agreements with the John Lewis and Alders chains.<ref name="acornuser199002_retail">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser091-Feb90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=More outlets for the A3000 | magazine=Acorn User | date=February 1990 | access-date=5 May 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Acorn also sought to secure the interest of games publishers, hosting a conference in August 1989 for representatives of "the top 30 software houses, including [[Ocean Software|Ocean]], [[Eidos Interactive#Domark|Domark]], [[US Gold]], Grand Slam and [[Electronic Arts]]".<ref name="acornuser198911_games">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser088-Nov89/page/n8/mode/1up | title=The games machine | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1989 | access-date=5 May 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>

Marketing efforts towards home users continued in 1990 with the introduction of The Learning Curve: a bundle of A3000 and application software priced at £699 plus VAT, requiring a SCART capable television (and appropriate cable<ref name="acorn_app249">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/AN/249.pdf | title=Connection of Monitors to Acorn Computers | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=24 May 1994 | access-date=27 April 2024 | issue=1.13 | pages=2 | quote=an "active" cable (Acorn Product Code AKA77) is available via Acorn dealers }}</ref>), or bundled with a colour monitor and Acorn's monitor stand for £949 plus VAT. The software, having a retail value of around £200,<ref name="acornuser199006_prices">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser095-Jun90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn Reduces Prices | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1990 | access-date=6 May 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> consisted of the second, RISC OS compliant version of Acorn's First Word Plus, the hypermedia application Genesis,<ref name="acornuser199006_genesis">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser095-Jun90/page/n123/mode/2up | title=New Generation | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1990 | access-date=10 May 2021 | last1=Futcher | first1=Dave | pages=122–123 }}</ref> and the PC Emulator software, with an introductory video presented by [[Fred Harris (presenter)|Fred Harris]], formerly of ''Micro Live''.<ref name="acornuser199005_learningcurve">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser094-May90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn Re-Enters Home Market with The Learning Curve | magazine=Acorn User | date=May 1990 | access-date=6 May 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/FAqnfZ_su6I Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110914194322/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAqnfZ_su6I Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAqnfZ_su6I|title=Fred Harris Introduces the Acorn Archimedes BBC A3000 Part 1 – YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|date=20 December 2007 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Aiming at the "pre-Christmas market" in 1990, another bundle called Jet Set offered a more entertainment-focused collection of software valued at £200 including Clares' Interdictor flight simulator, Domark's Trivial Pursuit, Superior Golf, and the Euclid 3D modelling package from Ace Computing. The price of this bundle was £747.50 which also included a television modulator developed by the bundle's distributor, ZCL, designed for use with "any TV set" and offering a "monitor quality" picture.<ref name="acornuser199010_jetset">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser100-Nov90/page/n11/mode/1up | title=Acorn Jets Home | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1990 | access-date=11 May 2021 | pages=10 }}</ref>

Pre-launch speculation for the A3000 had suggested the inclusion of a [[RF modulator|TV modulator]] and a possible price of £399 for a 512&nbsp;KB "Archimedes 205" machine aimed at the home market. Rumours about the integration of various elements of Acorn's chipset—specifically, MEMC and VIDC—to "do an Electron" were regarded as logistically demanding and thus unlikely to reduce cost.<ref name="abcomputing198902_grace"/> Such increased integration and targeting of the home market was later pursued with the introduction of the A3010 in 1992.

=== A540 ===
The A540, introduced in late 1990, was an anticipated consequence of Acorn's Unix workstation development,<ref name="acornuser199009">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser098-Sep90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=New Arc Planned | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1990 | access-date=18 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> offering the same general specification as Acorn's R260 Unix workstation (running [[RISC iX]]) but without built-in [[Ethernet]] support and running RISC OS 2 instead of Unix.<ref name="acornuser199011_a540">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser100-Nov90/page/n22/mode/1up | title=Five's Alive | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1990 | access-date=18 April 2021 | last1=James | first1=Paul | last2=Bell | first2=Graham | pages=21}}</ref> It was Acorn's first machine to be fitted with the ARM3 processor as standard, supporting up to 16&nbsp;MB of [[random-access memory|RAM]], and included higher speed SCSI and provision for connecting [[genlock]] devices.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.apdl.co.uk/riscworld/volume9/issue2/blast20/index.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120730032141/http://www.apdl.co.uk/riscworld/volume9/issue2/blast20/index.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 July 2012 | title = The RISC OS Time Machine&nbsp;— A £3000 computer | access-date = 8 June 2011 | last = Williams | first = Mike | author2 = Wrigley, Alan | date = November 1990 | work = RISC User | quote = [...] further differences, one of major importance. This is the SCSI connector on the rear of the SCSI interface card [...] Internally, provision has also been made for Genlock and similar video digitiser boards to be connected directly into the Archimedes.}}</ref> The memory access frequency was raised to 12&nbsp;MHz in the A540, compared to 8&nbsp;MHz in earlier models, thus providing enhanced system performance over earlier models upgraded with ARM3 processors. The hardware design featured memory modules, each providing their own memory controller and 4&nbsp;MB of RAM, and a processor module providing the ARM3 and a slot for a floating point accelerator (FPA) chip, the latter offering the possibility (subsequently unrealised) of processor upgrades. The FPA, replacing Acorn's previous floating point podule, was scheduled to be available in 1991.<ref name="acornuser199011_a540" /> Much delayed, the FPA finally became available in 1993.<ref name="acornsn_issue75">{{ cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/SN/Acorn_SalesNews75.pdf | title=Sales News | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=29 June 1993 | issue=75 | access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref>

===A5000 and A4 laptop===
[[File:Acorn Archimedes A5000 open.jpg|thumb|left|A5000 with top removed]]
In late 1991, the A5000 was launched to replace the A440/1 machine in the existing product range.<ref name="acornuser199111_a5000">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser112-Nov91/page/n8/mode/1up | title=A5000 - PC Styling with RISC OS 3 and the Speed of ARM3 | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1991 | access-date=18 April 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> With the existing A400/1 series regarded as "a little tired", being largely unchanged from the A400 models introduced four years previously, the A5000 was regarded (by one reviewer, at least) as "the biggest leap forward for Acorn since the introduction of the Archimedes in 1987", introducing a combination of the ARM3 processor and RISC OS 3 for the first time in a new Acorn product, being "the machine the A540 should have been - smaller, neater, with higher capacity drives and all the same speed for about half the cost".<ref name="acornuser199112_a5000">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser113-Dec91/page/n139/mode/2up | title=A5000 A Step in the Right Direction | magazine=Acorn User | date=December 1991 | access-date=18 April 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=138–139, 141–142 }}</ref> The A5000 initially ran RISC OS 3.0, although several bugs were identified,<ref name="acornuser199211_riscos3" /> and most were shipped with RISC OS 3.10 or 3.11.

The A5000 featured the new 25&nbsp;MHz ARM3 processor, 2 or 4&nbsp;MB of RAM, either a 40&nbsp;MB or an 80&nbsp;MB [[hard drive]] and a more conventional [[Pizza box form factor|pizza box-style]] two-part case. With IBM-compatible PCs offering increasingly better graphical capabilities, they had not merely matched the capabilities of Acorn's machines, but in offering resolutions of {{nowrap|1024 × 768}} in 16 or 256 colours and with 24-bit palettes, they had surpassed them. The A5000 (along with the earlier A540) supported the [[SVGA]] resolution of {{nowrap|800 × 600}} in 16 colours, although the observation that "Archimedes machines have simply not kept pace" arguably remained.<ref name="acornuser199112_a5000" /> Earlier models could also benefit from the video performance of the A5000 via third party upgrades such as the Computer Concepts ColourCard Gold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/32bit_UpgradesA2G/CC_ColourcardGold.html |title=Computer Concepts ColourCard Gold |publisher=Centre for Computing History |date=31 October 2008 |access-date=18 April 2021 }}</ref> The A5000 was the first Acorn machine to adopt the 15-pin [[VGA connector]].<ref name="archimedesworld199310_vga">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/acorn-archimedes-world-oct-1993/page/69/mode/1up | title=Acorn answers | magazine=Archimedes World | date=October 1993 | access-date=8 February 2022 | last1=Honey | first1=Chris | pages=69 }}</ref>

It was the first Archimedes to feature a [[Disk density#HD|high density]] capable [[floppy disc]] drive as standard. This natively supported various formats including [[DOS]] and [[Atari]] discs with formatted capacities of 720&nbsp;KB and 1.44&nbsp;MB. The native [[Advanced Disc Filing System|ADFS]] floppy format had a slightly larger capacity of 800&nbsp;KB for [[Disk density#DD|double density]] or 1.6&nbsp;MB for high density.<ref name="acornuser199111_a5000" /> A later version of the A5000 featured a 33&nbsp;MHz ARM3, 2 or 4&nbsp;MB of RAM, and an 80 or 160&nbsp;MB hard drive.<ref name="acornuser199311_revamp" /> Particularly useful in this revised A5000 was the use of a socket for the MEMC1a chip, meaning that memory expansions beyond 4&nbsp;MB could more easily replace the single MEMC1a, plugging in a card providing the two MEMC1a devices required to support 8&nbsp;MB.<ref name="acornuser199501_memory">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser151-Jan95/page/n68/mode/1up | title=Double your memory | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1995 | access-date=1 August 2021 | last1=Matthewman | first1=David | pages=69 }}</ref> Earlier revisions of the A5000 required desoldering of the fitted MEMC1a to provide such a socket.<ref name="acornuser199306_memory">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser131-Jun93/page/n36/mode/1up | title=Improve your memory | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1993 | access-date=1 August 2021 | last1=Lawrence | first1=David | pages=35 }}</ref>

[[File:Acorn A4-computer.png|thumb|A4 laptop]]
In 1992, Acorn introduced the A4 [[laptop]] computer featuring a slower 24&nbsp;MHz version of the ARM3 processor (compared to the 25&nbsp;MHz ARM3 in the A5000), supporting a 6&nbsp;MHz power-saving mode, and providing between 2.5 and 4 hours of usage on battery power. The machine featured a 9-inch passive matrix [[LCD]] screen capable of displaying a maximum resolution of {{nowrap|640 × 480 pixels}} in 15 levels of grey, also featuring a monitor port which offered the same display capabilities as an A5000. No colour version of the product was planned. A notable omission from the machine was a built-in [[pointing device]], requiring users to navigate with the cursor keys or attach a conventional Acorn three-button mouse, such as the [[Logitech]] mouse bundled with the machine.<ref name="acornuser199208_a4">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser121-Aug92/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Unveiled at Last - Acorn's A4 | magazine=Acorn User | date=August 1992 | access-date=1 August 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>

The other expansion ports available on the A4 were serial and parallel ports, a PS/2 connector for an external keyboard, a headphone connector, and support for an Econet expansion (as opposed to an Econet port itself). No other provision for expansion was made beyond the fitting of the Econet card and a hard drive. The A4 effectively fit an A5000 into a portable case, having a motherboard "roughly half the size of a sheet of A4 paper", adding extra hardware for power management and driving the LCD, the latter employing an Acorn-designed controller chip using "time-domain dithering" to produce the different grey levels. Just as the processor could be slowed down to save power, so the 12&nbsp;MHz RAM could be slowed to 3&nbsp;MHz, with various subsystems also being switched off as appropriate, and with power saving being activated after "more than a second or so" of user inactivity. The A4's case itself was used by Olivetti and [[Triumph-Adler]] models, particularly the Triumph-Adler Walkstation which did integrate a built-in pointing device, this being described as an "all-but-unusable touchpad mouse-controller" by one reviewer.<ref name="acornuser199208_a4_ok">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser121-Aug92/page/n21/mode/2up | title=A4 OK? | magazine=Acorn User | date=August 1992 | access-date=1 August 2021 | pages=20–21, 23 }}</ref>

The launch pricing of the A4 set the entry-level model with 2&nbsp;MB of RAM at £1399 plus VAT, with the higher-level mode with 4&nbsp;MB of RAM and 60&nbsp;MB hard drive at £1699 plus VAT. Education pricing was £1099 and £1399 respectively. Acorn foresaw educational establishments taking to the machine where existing models were needing to be moved around between classrooms or taken on field trips,<ref name="acorn_a4">{{ cite press release | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/PR/A4_Launch.txt | title=Announcing Acorn's A4 Portable - "... a quart in a pint pot" | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited }}</ref> although review commentary noted that "the A4 is too expensive for schools to afford in large numbers" and that contemporary Apple and IBM PC-compatible models offered strong competition for business users.<ref name="acornuser199208_a4_ok" />

Peripherals for the A4 were eventually produced, with Acorn providing the previously announced Econet card, and with Atomwide providing Ethernet and SCSI adapters utilising the bidirectional parallel port present on the A4 (and also the A5000 and later machines). Atomwide also offered the "Hi-Point" trackball peripheral modified to work as an Acorn-compatible mouse which attached to the side of the unit.<ref name="acornuser199309_a4">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser134-Sep93/page/n50/mode/1up | title=On the Move | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1993 | access-date=2 August 2021 | last1=Lawrence | first1=Dave | last2=Burley | first2=Ian | pages=49–50 }}</ref>

=== A3010, A3020, A4000 ===
[[File:Acorn A3010.jpg|thumb|A3010]]
In 1992, several new models were introduced to complement the A3000 and to replace the low-end A400 series models: the A3010, A3020 and A4000.<ref name="acorn_app468">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP468_AcornComputers.pdf | title=Acorn Computers Vision for the Future | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=August 1992 | access-date=18 April 2021 | issue=1 }}</ref> Launched alongside the [[Acorn Pocket Book]], a distinct product based on the [[Psion Series 3]], the machines supposedly heralded "a changed company, with new direction" and the availability of Acorn products in mainstream high street stores including Dixons, John Lewis and Argos as well as mail order catalogues.<ref name="acornuser199210_fleet">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser123-Oct92/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn Launches Fleet of Machines | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1992 | access-date=10 July 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Thus, a transition had begun from a range of machines of different vintages that still included the A3000 (at the low end) and the A540 (at the high end) to a range that purely featured more recently designed models including the A5000 as the high-end offering and the A4 portable.<ref name="acorn_app468"/>

These new models utilised the first ARM [[system-on-a-chip]]—the ARM250 [[microprocessor]]—a single-chip design including the functionality of an ARM2 (or ARM3 without cache), the IOC1, VIDC1a and MEMC1a chips all "integrated into a single giant chip" and fabricated using a 1 micron process. The ARM250, running at a higher 12&nbsp;MHz [[clock frequency]] and used in conjunction with faster 80ns memory chips, compared to the 8&nbsp;MHz of the ARM2 and the 125ns memory of the A3000, gave a potential 50% performance increase over such older systems,<ref name="acornuser199210_zoomingin">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser123-Oct92/page/n26/mode/1up | title=Zooming In | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1992 | access-date=7 July 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=23 }}</ref> achieving a reported 7 MIPS.<ref name="acornuser199307_a3010_ram">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser132-Jul93/page/n68/mode/1up | title=Ahead of the pack | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1993 | access-date=7 July 2021 | last1=Lawrence | first1=Dave | pages=67–68 }}</ref><ref group=note>This presumably being stated as VAX-11/750 MIPS and therefore approximately equivalent to around 4.3 [[VUPS|VAX MIPS]].</ref>

Some early units of the A3010 did not actually utilise the ARM250, instead having a "mezzanine" board carrying the four separate devices comprising the complete chipset, with this board plugged into the motherboard in place of the ARM250. An Acorn representative indicated that this solution was pursued to meet retailing deadlines, whereas an ARM representative denied that any "serious delays" had occurred in the development of the ARM250, indicating that the [[expansion card|mezzanine board]] had nevertheless been useful during the design process. Owners did not need to upgrade this board to a genuine ARM250 as it was "functionally identical" to the ARM250.<ref name="acornuser199211_mezzanine">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser124-Nov92/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Mezzanine Board in A3010 | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1992 | access-date=10 July 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> One inadvertent advantage that the mezzanine board conferred was the ability to upgrade the ARM2 on the board to an ARM3, this being a popular upgrade for previous ARM2-based models that was incompatible with the ARM250.<ref group=note>In [http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Mags/PCW/PCW_Oct92_A30x0A4000.pdf one review], it was noted that there was "no prospect of 'an ARM350'" to provide an equivalent upgrade. Subsequent system-on-a-chip products were eventually made and used in the A7000 and A7000+, albeit of a different product generation, and such products have since become commonplace.</ref> However, performing such an upgrade involves modifications to both the "Adelaide" mezzanine board and the ARM3 upgrade board employed in the upgrade.<ref name="retrokit_adelaide">{{ cite web | url=https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/Upgrading-an-Acorn-A3010-with-an-ARM3-processor/ | title=Upgrading an Adelaide A3010 to ARM3 power | website=Retro-Kit | date=26 March 2016 | access-date=10 July 2021 }}</ref> For machines fitted with an actual ARM250 processor, the closest alternative to an ARM3 upgrade in terms of performance enhancement was the Simtec "Turbo RAM" upgrade which provided 4&nbsp;MB of faster RAM and gave a 40 percent improvement in overall system performance.<ref name="acornuser199307_turbo" />

The machines were supplied with RISC OS 3.10 or 3.11.<ref name="chris_a3010">{{ cite web | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/A3010.html | title=Acorn A3010 | website=Chris's Acorns | date=2 May 2014 | access-date=10 July 2021 }}</ref> The A30x0 series had a one-piece design, similar to the A3000 but slightly more shallow, while the A4000 looked like a slightly slimmer A5000. The A3010 model was intended to be a [[home computing]] machine, featuring a [[RF modulator|TV modulator]] (for use with traditional [[Phase Alternating Line|PAL]]-standard televisions, [[SCART]] televisions already being supported by all of these models<ref name="acorn_app468" />) and standard 9-pin [[joystick]] ports, while the A3020 targeted the primary and middle school educational markets, featuring an optional built-in 2.5-inch hard drive and a dedicated network interface socket, both capabilities being provided without requiring the machine's "mini-podule" expansion slot. Meanwhile, the A4000 was aimed at the secondary education and office markets, offering a separate adjustable keyboard to comply with ergonomics regulations deemed applicable in these markets. Technically, the A4000 was almost functionally identical to the A3020, only differing in the supported hard disk size (3.5-inch in the A4000), this due to the machine's different casing. Despite the resemblance to the A5000, the A4000 along with the other models only provided a single "mini-podule" expansion slot, just as the A3000 did.<ref name="acornuser199210_everyone">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser123-Oct92/page/n22/mode/1up | title=An Acorn for Everyone | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1992 | access-date=7 July 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=19–21 }}</ref> All three ARM250-based machines could be upgraded to 4&nbsp;MB with plug-in chips: though the A3010 was designed for 2&nbsp;MB, third party upgrades overcame this.<ref name="acornuser199307_a3010_ram" /> In 1996, IFEL announced a memory upgrade for the range utilising a generic 72-pin [[SIMM]] module to provide 4&nbsp;MB of RAM.<ref name="acornuser199610_ifel"/>

Pricing started at just under £500 including VAT for the Family Solution bundle: an unexpanded A3010 with no monitor (to be used with a television), combined with the EasiWord [[word processor]] and one game (initially Quest for Gold). The existing Learning Curve bundle, updated to incorporate the A3010 upgraded to 2&nbsp;MB of RAM in place of the A3000, included an Acorn colour monitor, the PC Emulator and a suite of Genesis hypermedia applications for a price of £799. The A4000 Home Office bundle combined the A4000 with Acorn colour monitor, Icon Technology's EasiWriter 2 "professional word processor" and Iota's Desktop Database application for a price of around £1175. The retail pricing of the A3010 was notable as making it the cheapest of any Archimedes machine sold. With games consoles gaining popularity, Acorn apparently attempted to target the "games machine plus" market with the A3010 by appealing to "the more knowledgeable, sophisticated and educationally concerned parents", this against a backdrop of established competing products having been heavily discounted: the Amiga 500 having been reduced to £299, for instance.<ref name="acornuser199210_everyone" /> In 1993, Commodore would subsequently offer the entry-level Amiga 600 at a price of only £199, although with Commodore "losing money on a big scale" while Acorn remained profitable, such discounting was not regarded as a threat to the A3010.<ref name="acornuser199309_oriordan">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser134-Sep93/page/n8/mode/1up | title=O'Riordan Speaks | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1993 | access-date=12 August 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>

The pricing and bundles involving these machines was updated in late 1993, introducing a new Action Pack in place of the Family Solution, featuring the game Zool plus Icon Technology's StartWrite word processor. This bundle effectively reduced the price of the A3010 to £399 including VAT, reportedly making it "the cheapest Risc machine yet". The Learning Curve was revised to feature Acorn's own Advance integrated suite, together with the PC Emulator and [[DR-DOS#DR DOS 6.0 / Competition from Microsoft|DR DOS 6]], and the bundle was also made available in conjunction with the A4000. The Home Office bundle was updated with Iota's DataPower replacing Desktop Database, and with Colton Software's PipeDream 4 and Acorn's PC Emulator being added to augment EasiWriter.<ref name="acornuser199311_revamp">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser136-Nov93/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn Revamps Range | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1993 | access-date=11 July 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>
A variety of demonstration programs and an audio training tape were also provided with the bundles. At the time of these product revisions, the A3020 had become absent from related promotional material, even material aimed at the educational purchaser,<ref name="acorn_app599">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP599_TheEducatedChoice.pdf | title=Acorn Computers - The Educated Choice | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=August 1993 | access-date=11 July 2021 | issue=1 }}</ref> although it remained in Acorn's price list presumably for the interest of institutional purchasers.<ref name="acorn_app604">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP604_AcornUKRetailPrices.pdf | title=Acorn UK Retail Prices | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=November 1993 | access-date=11 July 2021 | issue=21 }}</ref>

Acorn's marketing relationships with high street retailers were somewhat problematic. While outlets such as the John Lewis Partnership proved to be successful marketing partners, electrical retailer Dixons seemingly made relatively little effort to sell Acorn machines despite promising "greater opportunities" in 1993 after earlier criticism.<ref name="acornuser199401_dixons">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser138-Jan94/page/n13/mode/1up | title=Dampers on Dixons | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1994 | access-date=12 August 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref> In late 1994, Acorn appointed a sole distributor for the A3010 Action Pack and Learning Curve bundles, with the pricing of the former reduced to only £299. Persisting with the strategy that some purchasers might choose a product positioned between games consoles and traditional PC-compatibles, the distributor, ZCL, aimed to take advantage of the absence of Commodore during the Christmas 1994 season.<ref name="acornuser199501_zcl">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser151-Jan95/page/n13/mode/1up | title=ZCL appointed sole A3010 distributor | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1995 | access-date=17 July 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref> As the Christmas 1995 season approached, Beebug purchased Acorn's "entire remaining inventory", offering the machine for £135 including VAT together with various "value-added packs".<ref name="acornuser199510_a3010">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser160-Oct95/page/n13/mode/1up | title=Beebug brings A3010 price down to £135 | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1995 | access-date=20 August 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref>

Production of the A3020 and A4000 ceased in 1995, with remaining stocks to be sold during 1996, due to their lack of conformance with newly introduced European Union electrical and electronics regulations. This left the [[Acorn A7000|A7000]] as Acorn's entry-level desktop system, and appropriate pricing adjustments were expected, particularly as faster versions of the A7000 were anticipated (and eventually delivered in the form of the A7000+).<ref name="acornuser199601_range">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser164-Jan96/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn model range tweaked | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1996 | access-date=21 August 2021 | pages=11 }}</ref>

=== Later A-series models ===
The ''[[Acorn A7000|A7000]]'', despite its name being reminiscent of the Archimedes naming conventions, was actually more similar to the [[Risc PC]], the line of RISC OS computers that succeeded the Archimedes in 1994. It lacked, however, the DEBI expansion slots and multi-slice case that characterized the Risc PC (though by removing the [[CD-ROM]] drive, a backplane with one slot could be fitted).

=== List of models ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!  style="text-align:left"| Model
!  style="text-align:center; width:50px"| Memory ([[random-access memory|RAM]])
!  style="text-align:center; width:50px"| Hard disk space
!  style="text-align:center; width:50px"| ARM processor (single core)
!  style="text-align:center; width:100px"| Launch date
!  style="text-align:center; width:50px"| [[United Kingdom|UK]] retail price at launch
!  style="text-align:left;"| Notes
|-
| BBC Archimedes 305
| style="text-align:center"| 512 [[Kilobyte|KB]]
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| July 1987
| style="text-align:center"| £799<ref name="Acorn Retail Price List">{{cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Misc/Acorn_ArchimedesPriceList.pdf | title=Archimedes High Performance Computer Systems Retail Price List | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=July 1987 | access-date=28 March 2021 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:left"|
|-
| BBC Archimedes 310
| style="text-align:center"| 1&nbsp;[[Megabyte|MB]]
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| July 1987
| style="text-align:center"| £875<ref name="Acorn Retail Price List"/>
| style="text-align:left"|
|-
| BBC Archimedes 310M
| style="text-align:center"| 1 MB
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| July 1987
| style="text-align:center"| £960<ref name="acornuser198712_310m">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser065-Dec87/page/n8/mode/1up | title=MS-DOS Arc enters education battle | magazine=Acorn User | date=December 1987 | access-date=19 April 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:left"| Includes PC emulation software
|-
| Acorn Archimedes 410
| style="text-align:center"| 1 MB
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| July 1987
| style="text-align:center"| £1,399<ref name="Acorn Retail Price List"/>
| style="text-align:left"| Announced but not produced
|-
| Acorn Archimedes 440
| style="text-align:center"| 4 MB
| style="text-align:center"| 20 [[Megabyte|MB]]
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| July 1987
| style="text-align:center"| £2,299<ref name="Acorn Retail Price List"/>
| style="text-align:left"|
|-
| BBC A3000
| style="text-align:center"| 1 MB
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| May 1989
| style="text-align:center"| £649<ref name="Cain 1994">{{cite magazine | last=Cain | first=Chris | title=Acorn A3000 | magazine=Personal Computer World | date=July 1989 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:left"| This model was the last BBC-branded microcomputer until the [[Micro Bit|BBC Micro Bit]]
|-
| Acorn Archimedes 410/1
| style="text-align:center"| 1 MB
| {{sdash|(ST506 interface on motherboard)}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| June 1989
| style="text-align:center"| £999
| style="text-align:left"| Improved ''MEMC1A'' memory controller over previous 4x0 model
|-
| Acorn Archimedes 420/1
| style="text-align:center"| 2 MB
| style="text-align:center"| 20 MB ST506
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| June 1989
| style="text-align:center"| £1,099
| style="text-align:left"|
|-
| Acorn Archimedes 440/1
| style="text-align:center"| 4 MB
| style="text-align:center"| 40 MB ST506
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| June 1989
| style="text-align:center"| £1,299
| style="text-align:left"| Improved ''MEMC1A'' memory controller over previous 4x0 model
|-
| Acorn R140
| style="text-align:center"| 4 MB
| style="text-align:center"| 47 MB ST506
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2
| style="text-align:center"| June 1989
| style="text-align:center"| £3,500<ref name="APP221">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP221_R140ComputerSystemsJun89.pdf | title=R140 Computer Systems | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | edition=3 | date=June 1989 | access-date=6 September 2020 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:left"| [[RISC iX]] workstation
|-
| Acorn Archimedes 540
| style="text-align:center"| 4 MB (max. 16&nbsp;MB)
| style="text-align:center"| 100 MB SCSI
| style="text-align:center"| ARM3
| style="text-align:center"| June 1990
| style="text-align:center"| £3,444<ref name="acornuser199011_a540" />
| style="text-align:left"|
|-
| Acorn R225
| style="text-align:center"| 4 MB
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM3
| style="text-align:center"| July 1990
| style="text-align:center"| £1,995<ref name="acorn_news16_unix">{{ cite magazine | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/NL/Acorn_NewsIss16.pdf | title=ARM 3 drives new UNIX products | magazine=Acorn Newsletter | date=1990 | issue=16 | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | pages=1 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:left"| [[RISC iX]] [[network computer|network]] workstation
|-
| Acorn R260
| style="text-align:center"| 8 MB
| style="text-align:center"| 100 MB SCSI
| style="text-align:center"| ARM3
| style="text-align:center"| July 1990
| style="text-align:center"| £3,995<ref name="acorn_news16_unix" />
| style="text-align:left"| [[RISC iX]] workstation
|-
| Acorn A5000
| style="text-align:center"| 1, 2, 4 or 8&nbsp;MB
| style="text-align:center"| 20 MB to 160&nbsp;MB IDE
| style="text-align:center"| ARM3
| style="text-align:center"| September 1991
| style="text-align:center"| £999 or £1,499
| style="text-align:left"| 25 or 33&nbsp;MHz ARM3 processor, launched with various sub-models
|-
| Acorn A4
| style="text-align:center"| 2 or 4&nbsp;MB
| style="text-align:center"| 40 or 60&nbsp;MB IDE (2.5")
| style="text-align:center"| ARM3
| style="text-align:center"| June 1992
| style="text-align:center"| £1,399 or £1,699
| style="text-align:left"| Notebook model with ARM3 processor clocked at 24&nbsp;MHz, 640x480 greyscale LCD screen
|-
| Acorn A3010
| style="text-align:center"| 1 MB
| {{sdash}}
| style="text-align:center"| ARM2/ARM250
| style="text-align:center"| September 1992
| style="text-align:center"| £499
| style="text-align:left"| Early models had an ARM2 [[Expansion card#Daughterboard|mezzanine]] processor board codenamed "Adelaide"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classicacorn.freeuk.com/32bit_machine_spec/a3010_spec/a3010_spec.html |title=A3010 Specs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318190723/http://www.classicacorn.freeuk.com/32bit_machine_spec/a3010_spec/a3010_spec.html |access-date=2 February 2021|archive-date=18 March 2016 }}</ref>
|-
| Acorn A3020
| style="text-align:center"| 2 MB
| style="text-align:center"| Optional 60&nbsp;MB (or 80&nbsp;MB<ref name="acorn_sn124">{{ cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/SN/Acorn_SalesNews124.pdf | title=Sales News | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=15 December 1994 | access-date=14 July 2021 | last1=Bottomley | first1=Tracy | issue=124 }}</ref>) IDE (2.5")
| style="text-align:center"| ARM250
| style="text-align:center"| September 1992
| style="text-align:center"| £880<ref name="acornuser199210_everyone" />
| style="text-align:left"| Price included colour monitor
|-
| Acorn A4000
| style="text-align:center"| 2 MB
| style="text-align:center"| 80&nbsp;MB IDE (3.5")
| style="text-align:center"| ARM250
| style="text-align:center"| September 1992
| style="text-align:center"| £1115<ref name="acornuser199210_everyone" />
| style="text-align:left"| Price included colour monitor
|}

Also produced, but never sold commercially were:

* A500: 4 MB RAM, ST506 interface, Archimedes development machine<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact476.html |title=Rare A500 surfaces on ebay &#124; Drobe.co.uk archives |publisher=Drobe.co.uk |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608092755/http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact476.html |archive-date=8 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* A680 and M4: 8 MB RAM, SCSI on motherboard, [[RISC iX]] development machines