---
title: Intel SDK-85
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1977'
cpus:
- 8085A
params:
  name: SDK-85
  image: /media/museum/photos/intel_sdk85_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/intel
  company_name: Intel
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: SDK-85
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Intel
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1977'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Monitor in ROM
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 24 key hexadecimal with monitor command keys
  - label: CPU
    value: 8085A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 3 MHz. 1.3 µs. instruction cycle
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: None
  - label: RAM
    value: 256 bytes expandable to 512 bytes
  - label: VRAM
    value: None
  - label: ROM
    value: 2 KB
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 30.5 (W) x 25.7 (D) x 1.3 (H) cm.
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel (38 lines expandable to 76 lines) , Serial 110 baud
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: None
  - label: OS
    value: Monitor in ROM
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External 5V/12V power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: expansion area on board
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - docs
  forum_thread: 786
  photos:
  - title: MCS AND SDK MANUALS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/intel_sdk85_manuals_1.jpg
  - title: 'SDK MANUAL #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/intel_sdk85_manuals_2.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FIRST SDK-85 AD
    subtitle: ''
    text: Notice the Intel logo. Does Intel copies the Apple logo or vice versa?
    image: /media/museum/pubs/intel_sdk85_pub_1.jpg
  docs:
  - title: SDK-85 SYSTEM DESIGN KIT - USER'S MANUAL
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/intel_sdk85_user-manual_doc.jpg
    text: |-
      **SDK-85 SYSTEM DESIGN KIT - USER'S MANUAL**\
      written by Intel

       compiled/archived by Mustafa Abdullah Katie\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 9.4 MB

      **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
  oc_id: 805
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230223072021/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=805
    date: '2023-02-23'
---

Each time Intel launched a new microprocessor, they provided simultaneously a **S**ystem **D**evelopment **K**it (SDK) allowing computer company ingineers as well as university students to introduce them to the new processor concepts and features.

The SDK-85 was a complete 8085A (5 for 'first 5 Volt microprocessor') microcomputer system on a single board including ROM and RAM memory, a 24 key hexadecimal keyboard, a 6 digit LED display, I/O connections and an expansion area allowing memory and I/O expansions as well as hardware experiments.

A 2 KB monitor software provided the same commands as the [SDK-86](/museum/intel-sdk-86/) board. User could enter and read program results through either the buit-in keyboard/display or using a serial Teletype through the built-in serial TTY interface. A 38 lines parallel interface was also available.

A large set of manuals were delivered with the board: MCS-85 (processor) and SDK-85 (board) user manuals, 8085 Assembly Language Programming Manual, full circuit schematics of the PCB, a full dump of the ROM monitor program, programming examples and application notes.