---
title: POWERTRAN CYBERNETICS CORTEX
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- TMS 9995
params:
  name: CORTEX
  image: /media/museum/photos/powertran_cortex_1.jpg
  company: /companies/powertran-cybernetics
  company_name: POWERTRAN CYBERNETICS
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: CORTEX
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Powertran Cybernetics
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Power Basic and simple assembler/disassember.
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-strok keyboard with numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: TMS 9995 (16 bit)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 3 MHz (12 MHz crystal)
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 24 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 256 x 192
  - label: COLORS
    value: '16'
  - label: SOUND
    value: built in speaker with primitive sound function
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Serial RS-232C, Tape recorder port, optional Parallel printer card made by the Cortex User Group, Ebus extension bus that would take cards from the TI990 series minicomputer.
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: Optional 5.25'' FDD (worked off a TMS9909 FDC. The Basic included a 'Boot' command which would boot the disk.)
  - label: OS
    value: No OS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  - label: PRICE
    value: £249 + vat (later £199 + vat) for a kit of self assemby parts. Construction details in 'Electronics today international' magazine
  tabs:
  - links
  - docs
  forum_thread: 181
  links:
  - title: www.powertrancortex.com
    url: http://www.powertrancortex.com/
    text: Reference site
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: FTP with useful files (emulator, roms, docs, etc.)
  docs:
  - title: FULL 31-PAGE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
    url: /media/museum/docs/cortex.zip
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/powertran_cortex_techmanual_s1%5B1%5D.jpg
    text: |-
      [**FULL 31-PAGE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION**](/media/museum/docs/cortex.zip)written by Powertran Cybernetics

       type of document : ZIP\
       source : [old-computers.com](/media/museum/docs/cortex.zip)
  - title: CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION.
    url: /media/museum/docs/cortex_diagram.pdf
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
    text: |-
      [**CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION.**](/media/museum/docs/cortex_diagram.pdf)written by ETI electronic magazine

       compiled/archived by Stuart Conner\
       type of document : PDF
  oc_id: 171
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608161006/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=171
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

The information we have about this computer is sketchy.\
O.S. was a powerful graphical BASIC interpreter modded from the TI basic.\
Forth language was also available but not widely used.\
Cortex had a mode to give 256 K RAM. ROM was copied into RAM at start-up and then swiched off allowing boot code and basic to be altered at start-up.

Cortex was followed by the **Cortex II** which was just a re cased version with same style as early apple/dragon 32 beige/yellow plastic sloping cases, but using same main board and disk drives.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>