Full content from the completed page crawl (media download still running)

6,654 pages: 1,289 machines, 702 software, 460 companies, 64 history, 17 articles, 59 fun.
4,336 media files so far; references to files not downloaded yet are left out.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
This commit is contained in:
2026-10-12 07:55:22 +02:00
co-authored by Claude Opus 5.5
parent 785c4967be
commit 3eeabe9649
10027 changed files with 321638 additions and 24 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
---
title: Altos Computer Systems ACS-580
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1981'
cpus:
- Z80A
params:
name: ACS-580
company: /companies/altos-computer-systems
company_name: Altos Computer Systems
specs:
- label: NAME
value: ACS-580
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Altos Computer Systems
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: ? 1981
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full-stroke keyboard with numeric and editing keypads, 16 function keys, 108 keys
- label: CPU
value: Z80A
- label: SPEED
value: 3,5 Mhz ?
- label: RAM
value: 192k (max. 256k)
- label: ROM
value: 4k
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 40 x 25, 80 x 25, 132 x 40
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 800 x 325
- label: SOUND
value: Beeper
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Five, four or three RS232 ports (depending on models), RGB video out, Centronics, TV video output
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: one or two 5''1/4 disk-drive (720k), and one hard-disk (10, 15, 20 or 40Mb)
- label: OS
value: CP/M 2.2, M/MP-80, OASIS
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in PSU
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Hard-disk, streamer, disk-drive, printer
tabs:
- adverts
adverts:
- title: OEMS WANTED
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
oc_id: 516
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230603211506/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=516
date: '2023-06-03'
---
This was a multi-post system based on Z80 CPUs. It could handle up to 3 users, or more with optional cards. To connect the terminals, there are several RS232 ports at the back of the system, labeled JA, JB, JC, JD, JE, etc... The ports not used by the terminals could be used to connect a modem or a printer for example.
This system was quite well designed with its squashed hexagon shaped box and its thin monitor. These are medium-sized desktop cases, usually beige but often came in custom colors.
The 580 systems used a large custom single-board computer, with the drive controller being a separate half-card mounted on top of the SBC.
It had a 5''1/4 disk-drive built-in on the right part of the front panel, and a 5''1/4 hard-disk on the left part.
The **580-2** had two 5''1/4 disk-drives built-in instead of just one.\
Altos also produced a 16-bit version of this system, called the [ACS-586](/museum/altos-computer-systems-acs-586-686/).
**Bill** added this information :\
Ours ran three user MP/M in a 16K common section and three 48K user sections of RAM. Neat thing to work with when there were no other uses because you could hit a key sequence on the terminal and switch it from one user space to another. So, I could use all three user spaces. I'd have an editor open in one, use another to compile and debug and the third to print or check files while debugging.
*Picture courtesy of [Gaby's CP/M Homepage](http://www.gaby.de).*