---
title: ACT QI-300
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1988'
cpus:
- Intel 80386SX
params:
  name: QI-300
  image: /media/museum/photos/apricot_qi300_system_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/act
  company_name: ACT
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: QI-300
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: ACT
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1988'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Late 1989
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: IBM AT standard layout
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 80386SX
  - label: SPEED
    value: 16 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Socket for a 80387SX math coprocessor
  - label: RAM
    value: 1Mb to 5Mb
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: on-board VGA
  - label: SOUND
    value: Built-in speaker
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: On-board ethernet, serial & parallel ports
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 3.5'' FDD, 30 to 50 MB RLL hard disk drive
  - label: OS
    value: MS-DOS and Windows 3
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 4 x 16-bit MCA expansion slots
  - label: PRICE
    value: £3,200 (QI-600)
  tabs:
  - links
  forum_thread: 969
  links:
  - title: Apricot PC list
    url: http://www.osemidlands.co.uk/support/insight/insight/en/products/timeline/timeline.htm
    text: Full list of Apricots PC compatible products (From the Xen-i onwards)
  oc_id: 995
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221128005132/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=995
    date: '2022-11-28'
---

The QI-300 was the last machine that showed Apricot's unique design style before ACT was bought by Mitsubishi and moved into standard looking boxes.

It also had several unique features, including a security system based on an infra-red 'key card' that users had to point at the PC and activate to allow it to boot up. This was also the first PC to offer IBM's MCA expansion bus.

The QI-300 was followed by the **Qi 600** (80386DX-25) and the **Qi 900** (80486DX)

---

Thanks to **Charles Verrier** for this information.

**Christopher Davies** adds:\
I used to maintain these computers many years ago. They were very IBM like inside and sported a 40 MB tape drive on the left hand side. The MCA I am sure was brown in colour. A very smart machine. They seamed very popular in tire replacement places meaning they got very grimy and dirty.

**Warlord0** recalls:\
Ooh man glory days. I used to work for an Apricot reseller and put in a lot of Qi and Xen/Xen-S machines. The Qi was revolutionary. It had an MCA card that could be installed to work with an infra-red security card that would encrypt the hard drive!

Apricot were light years ahead of their time. Wireless keyboard and mouse, trackballs, calculators in the keyboard. This stuff was brilliant British design. Sadly the buy out by Mitsubishi killed them off.

I do remember the motherboards being released to the public being so poor in quality due to their "bleeding edge" design that many upgrades were done by soldering wires between chips post production.

But they hold a special place in my heart. Gotta love 'em.

<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>