--- title: Acorn Computer Electron categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - United Kingdom years: - '1983' cpus: - MOS 6502A params: name: Electron image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_electron_system_s1.jpg company: /companies/acorn-computer company_name: Acorn Computer specs: - label: NAME value: Electron - label: MANUFACTURER value: Acorn Computer - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: United Kingdom - label: YEAR value: July 1983 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Acorn Electron Basic + 6502 assembler - label: KEYBOARD value: |- QWERTY full-stroke keyboard, 56 keys, basic statements accessible through keys, 10 function keys (0...9 keys + FUNC)\ ESCAPE, CAPS LK/FUNC, CTRL,BREAK,COPY,RETURN,DELETE,SHIFT (x2) - label: CPU value: MOS 6502A - label: SPEED value: 1 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: custom ULA - label: RAM value: 32 kb - label: ROM value: 32 kb - label: TEXT MODES value: 20 x 32, 40 x 25, 40 x 32, 80 x 25, 80 x 32 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 160 x 256 (4 or 16 colors), 320 x 256 (2 or 4 colors), 640 x 256 (2 colors) - label: COLORS value: 8 colors + 8 flashing versions of the same colors - label: SOUND value: |- 1 channel of sound + 1 channel of white sound, 7 octaves. In fact 3 virtual sound channels mapped to the single available physical channel.\ Built-in speaker - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 16 x 34 x 6.5 cm - label: I/O PORTS value: Expansion port, Tape-recorder connector (1200 baud), aerial TV connector (RF modulator), RGB video output - label: POWER SUPPLY value: External PSU, 18v - label: PRICE value: |- £199 (UK, august 83)\ 2950 fr (France, february 84) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - software - emulators - links - docs photos: - title: THE BOX subtitle: '' text: Here you can see the box that the Electron shipped in. Please, take your time and look carefully at the stupid pictures! image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_electron_box.jpg - title: INSIDE subtitle: '' text: |- A very compact and beautifully laid out electronic board, thanks to the integration of a new ULA circuit as well as a very serious technical development. **(1)** 32 KB ROM chips holding the BBC BASIC interpreter. Later version would use only one ROM chip\ **(2)** 6502A microprocessor\ **(3)** 32 KB RAM chips (4 x 4164)\ **(4)** ULA gate array custom chip in charge of video, memory and I/O management\ **(5)** Power regulation card. image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_electron_inside_s2.jpg - title: ELECTRON DESIGNERS subtitle: '' text: Chris Curry (left) and Hermann Hauser. They also created the famous BBC BASIC. Chris Curry was a former engineer from Clive Sinclair's company. image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_electron_designers_s1.jpg adverts: - title: 'FRENCH AD #1 (1984)' subtitle: '' text: '"Electron, the personal micro which has talents of a pro"...' image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_pub_talent.jpg - title: 'FRENCH AD #2 (1984)' subtitle: '' text: '"Electron, software in profusion"' image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_pub_profusion.jpg - title: 'FRENCH AD #3 (1984)' subtitle: '' text: The guy on the right is "Sidney", a well known french break dancer back in 1984 ! image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_pub_whaooo.jpg - title: PLUS3 ADVERT subtitle: '' text: |- Advert said:\ The Plus 3 is a self contained disc interface and 3.5 single sized disc drive providing the user with over 300 Kbytes of storage and the new powerful advanced Disc Filing System (ADFS). ADFS provides easy to use facilities at the Basic level but also has features making it ideal for business use...\ ...A second expansion socket on the Plus 3 allows the connection of a further disc drive, this can be either 3.5 inch or 5.25 inch. Courtesy of **8bs.com** image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_plus3adv_1.jpg - title: IEEE INTERFACE ADVERT subtitle: '' text: |- Advert said:\ The Acorn IEEE interface enables full implementation of the IEEE standard 488-1978. IEEE488 is also known, and is equivalent to IEC625-1 (in Europe), and GPIB or HP-IB (Hewlett Packard General Purpose Interface Bus)...\ ...The interface can support a network of up to 14 other IEEE-488 compatible devices. Devices can be interconnected in a star or linear fashion. Courtesy of **8bs.com** image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_ieeeadv_1.jpg - title: TAPE RECORDER ADVERT subtitle: '' text: Courtesy of **8bs.com** image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_taperecadv_1.jpg - title: 'ELECTRON USER MAG #1 (1985)' subtitle: '' text: |- The first issue of the official Electron magazine. Thanks to [The Electron Lives !](http://home.iae.nl/users/bverhoev/) for the picture. image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_electron-user_1.jpg - title: SOFTWARE CATALOGUE subtitle: '' text: AcornSoft software catalogue for the Electron image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn_electron_softcatalogue_1.jpg - title: UK ADVERT (JULY 1984) subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/acorn-electron_uk-pub_july-1984.jpg - title: GREEK ADVERT (MARCH 1985) subtitle: '' text: '' image: null hardware: - title: '''''COMPLETE'''' ELECTRON' subtitle: '' text: |- The Electron shown above has, as can be seen, been considerably expanded with a Jafa Mode 7 unit, Slogger RomBox, Acorn Plus 1, ACP Advanced Plus 4 and ABR (2 x Sideways RAM) expansions. Thanks to [Lionel Smith's Acorn Electron Pages](http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/lionels/CompNyb/TechStuff/8-Bit/Electron/Electron.html) for the picture. image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_electron_complete_3.jpg - title: SWITCHED JOYSTICK INTERFACE subtitle: Made by FirstByte text: This plug in cartridge makes the Electron compatible with all "Atari-style" 9-pin joysticks. image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_electron_firstbyte-joystick-interface_1.jpg - title: PLUS 1 INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: |- The Electron computer was conceived as a minimal and economical machine largely based on the BBC model B, a kind of cut down version in fact. Sadly, the lack of basic interfaces such as Centronics or Serial, effectively deterred a lot of potential buyers from buying the Electron, which dangerously slowed down the sales of the system.\ Acorn’s answer was the 'Plus 1' interface, which offered a Parallel Centronics printer interface, analogue joystick connector and two cartridge slots. The extension connected to the expansion port of the Electron and screwed into the case, to lock in place. With the "Plus 1", the Electron could then offer a decent range of interfaces matching the flexibility of its competitors, while still preserving an attractive price along with its own unique qualities (excellent BASIC and good graphic capabilities).\ Unfortunately, the "Plus 1" Interface was not enough to boost the sales in Europe. image: /media/museum/hardware/interf_plus1.jpg - title: INSIDE PLUS 1 subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** The AcornSoft company produced several programs on cartridges, mainly games\ **(2)** Cartridge slots can also receive hardware expansions made by Acorn or other independent companies\ **(3)** Expansion connector handling data transfers between the Electron and the expansion modules\ (4) Parallel Centronics interface, compatible with a large range of printers\ (5) This joystick connector is also a true analogue / digital port which can be connected to measuring instruments image: /media/museum/hardware/interf_plus1_e.jpg - title: '''PLUS 3'' INTERFACE' subtitle: '' text: |- A disk drive unit suited to the performance of the Electron was lacking to make it a coherent and successful system, able to face the competition.\ The "Plus 3" interface cleverly fulfilled this need. L-shaped, it connected at the rear of the Electron, still allowing the addition of the "Plus 1" interface or any other expansion... The whole thing was firmly fixed to the case and could be moved without fear of damage. image: /media/museum/hardware/interf_plus3.jpg - title: INSIDE 'PLUS 3' subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** The interface has ROMs holding an additional set of BASIC instructions for the operating system for file management. The electronic part also contains logical circuits acting as a disk-drive controller\ **(2)** This connector allows connection of a second disk drive which can be of a different format to the first one. An adapter also permits use of this connector to control other peripherals\ **(3)** The disk drive is 3.5". The storage capacity is 320 KB, single-sided. Each side is divided into 80 tracks composed of 16 sectors, which can hold 256 bytes each\ **(4)** The interface clips firmly to the Electron, which allows the whole set to be carried safely\ **(5/6)** The connector of the Electron also allows the transfer of information to other peripherals, such as the "Plus 1" interface. image: /media/museum/hardware/interf_plus3_e.jpg - title: '''PLUS 3'' O.S.' subtitle: '' text: |- The disk operating system of the Electron was called ADFS for "Advanced Disk Filing System".\ It was a powerful and modern operating system, offering numerous capabilities usually only found on big systems : hierarchical directories, file access controls etc. It was delivered with a detailed user manual and a floppy disk containing numerous utilities and sample software. image: /media/museum/hardware/s_electron_display_plus3.jpg - title: VOLTMACE DELTA CONTROLLERS subtitle: '' text: 'Voltmace modified its Database videogame system controllers to be sold for micro-computers, mainly Acorn systems : BBC and Electron (with Plus-1 interface). As the keypad was of no use anymore, it was reduced to only 3 fire buttons.' image: /media/museum/hardware/voltmace_joysticks.jpg screenshots: - title: 9 GAME BOXES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_9gamek7_1.jpg - title: 5 MORE GAME BOXES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_5gamek7_s1.jpg - title: BALLISTYX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_ballistix_ss.gif - title: BLAGGER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_blagger_ss.gif - title: BOXER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_boxer_ss.gif - title: CHUCKY EGG subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_chuckyegg_ss.gif - title: ALIEN DROP OUT subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_aliendropout_ss.gif - title: CYBERTRON subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_cybertron_ss.gif - title: FELIX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_felix_ss.gif - title: CROAKER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_croaker_ss.gif - title: DIAMOND MINE 2 subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_diamondmine2_ss.gif - title: FRAK subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_frack_ss.gif - title: GALACTIC PATROL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_galacticpatrol_ss.gif - title: ICON BUG EYES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_iconbugeyes_ss.gif - title: METEORS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_meteors_ss.gif - title: MISSION UNLIKELY subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_missionunlikely_ss.gif - title: OVERDRIVE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_overdrive_ss.gif - title: PALACE OF MAGIC subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_palace-of-magic_ss.gif - title: PSYCASTRIA subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_psycastria_ss.gif - title: BARBARIAN II subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_barbarian2_ss.gif - title: BOOT SCREEN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_boot_ss.gif - title: BUMBLEBEE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_bumblebee_ss.gif - title: RUBBLE TROUBLE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_rubbletrouble_ss.gif - title: SNAPPER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_snapper_ss.gif - title: STAR WARS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_starwares_ss.gif - title: SWAG subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_swag_ss.gif - title: WINTER OLYMPICS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_winterolympics_ss.gif - title: YE AR KUNG-FU subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_yearkungfu_ss.gif - title: ARCADIANS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_arcadians_ss.gif - title: AROUND THE WORLD subtitle: Title screen text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_aroundtheworld_t_ss.gif - title: AROUND THE WORLD subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_aroundtheworld_ss.gif - title: CRAZEE RIDER subtitle: Title screen text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_crazeerider_t_ss.gif - title: CRAZEE RIDER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_crazeerider_ss.gif - title: QUEST subtitle: Title screen text: '' image: /media/museum/software/acorn_electron_quest-t_ss.gif emulators: - title: The BBC Lives ! url: http://www.nvg.org/bbc/emulators.php3 platform: MS DOS text: This excellent site has a complete list of Acorn systems emulators - title: ElectrEm url: http://electrem.emuunlim.com/ platform: Windows text: Electron Emulator for MSDOS, Windows & Linux - title: MESS url: http://www.mess.org platform: Multiplatform text: MESS also emulates the Acorn Electron links: - title: Acorn Electron World url: http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/ text: Huge archives of discs, magazines, roms and documentation - title: Acornusers.org url: http://www.acornusers.org/ text: The acornusers.org server hosts several Acorn web sites - title: comp.sys.acorn.games FAQ url: http://www.landfield.com/faqs/acorn/games/ text: newsgroup FAQ - title: Derek's Online Computer Museum url: http://www.walkerworks.co.uk/Electron.html text: Derek has a nice detailed Electron page with a lot of info about addons, even some he made himself. - title: DOCUMENT url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm text: Electron user guide - title: Lionel's Acorn Electron Pages url: http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/lionels/CompNyb/TechStuff/8-Bit/Electron/Electron.html text: '' - title: RetroBBC url: http://www.strafom.force9.co.uk/bbc/Retrobbc/Index.htm text: Mainly a software archive. Cool ! - title: The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library url: http://8bs.com/ text: Lots of stuff to see and download - title: The BBC Lives! url: http://bbc.nvg.org/ text: The net's largest site catering for enthusiasts of Acorn's range of 8-bit micros - title: The Electron Lives ! url: http://www.walkerworks.co.uk/Electron.html text: Some downloadable games and a nice Electron User covert art page ! - title: The Stairway to Hell url: http://www.stairwaytohell.com/ text: Electron and BBC support. Excellent site with a lot of stuff ! - title: The Unofficial Acorn Computer User WWW Server url: http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/ text: '' - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com text: Programming of Acorn computers docs: - title: ACORN ELECTRON USER GUIDE url: null cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_electron_user-guide_2.jpg text: |- **ACORN ELECTRON USER GUIDE**\ written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\  type of document : PDF\  source : www.old-computers.com - title: ACORN ELECTRON ADVANCED USER GUIDE url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_electron_advanced-user-guide.jpg text: |- [**ACORN ELECTRON ADVANCED USER GUIDE**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Mark Holmes & Adrian Dickens  compiled/archived by C.Richardson / Frank Lee\  type of document : PDF\  source : [BBC Micro Documentation Project](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/) - title: DATABASE USER GUIDE url: null cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_electron_database.jpg text: |- **DATABASE USER GUIDE**\ written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Gordon Dyer\  type of document : ZIP\  source : www.old-computers.com comments: - author: Julie Moualhi (Thetford Norfolk UK) date: Sunday 12th April 2015 text: I have a acorn electron computer in my spare room in a box with games etc was wondering if it''s worth anything I have had the computer for the past 30+ years - author: Mikael (Sweden) date: Sunday 13rd April 2014 text: I only now got some Electron Emulators, but in old days did I have an Texas Instrument TI994A. And a Lambda 8300, then a Commodore 64. But I sold them after a while, I am very interested in programming Basic. - author: Anne Bokma (The Netherlands) date: Saturday 24th August 2013 text: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/23/acorn_electron_history_at_30/ - author: Marc (The Netherlands) date: Wednesday 15th May 2013 text: I loved this machine. I bought one in 1985 when it got dumped on the market. It costed me fl 100,$ (appr. 45 euro). Bought some games too (Androids!). Later on I bought the Plus 1 and a double-density 5,25" drive! A new world opened up to me. With the RAM extension, you could load programs into the upper memory, like Pascal. And program the RAM with your on boot loaders. I have programmed a lot (VDU codes!). I frequently bought the Electron User magazine, and type the code from the magazine. When I moved to my current house in 2005 I gave the Electron away to a friend. - author: Rob (Australia)Moved to Aus in ''95 (Australia) date: Friday 18th January 2013 text: |- I loved the Acorn Electron. It was my first PC in approx. 1987. A BBC compatible so cheap BBC games from the poxy games shop in Southend,..most worked. I used to start loading the game and then have dinner while waiting!!.. It was pretty great at the time, before games consoles $ game boy.\ Even wrote some games out of the manual.\ It was about that time that Commodore64s came along which ROCKED! Thanks Barry Taylor for the C64!\ It was 20 pounds well spent! - author: David (Canada) moved from uk in 2007 (Canada) date: Monday 10th September 2012 text: |- I was 14 years old when the Electron appeared and i begged my dad for one i belive they cost 299 even in 1983 that was a lot of money.\ I used to buy the magazines and type in programs, i bought many games for it one of my memories is of a game called Citadel , one thing i do remember is borowwing games off BBC owning freinds and finding\ the Electron couldnt run some, think it was a graphics issue\ I have very fond memorys of that machine i held on to it until 2007 when i moved to canada, i gave it to a freind and it was still working.\ I also remember the powersupply issues i was on my second when i gave it away. - author: Simon Lyne (United Kingdom) date: Tuesday 3rd May 2011 text: I got hold of an electron a while back (restored it, seen on my website). I have a real soft spot for the electron. It was underpowered but still a very caperble machine. A good programmer could do magic with this machine and its a shame that the ULA took so long to develop. - author: kev smith (northampton UK) date: Friday 25th June 2010 text: |- i loved my lil electron, i still have it up in loft at mums and used it about a year ago, since then im using an emulator to relive old days of the classic games. i find it amazing that even now - acorn technology is still in use - i only just found out that most mobiles use what is essentially an acorn chip - brilliant computer - right gear - just a little bit too late i did get a spectrum eventually and i hated it - if i could get hold of a BEEB id use that too - author: A. Trent Phillips (United States) date: Monday 12th April 2010 text: Many older PC video cards like my Hauppage Brand card can be set to NTSC, PAL and SECAM analog standards as well as being switchable to the appropriate Channel / Frequency table. Having a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 50 Hz will also be a BIG help. If it hooked into a common TV set (UK or USA), you SHOULD be able to hook it to a decent, if not older, video card. - author: Jezza (UK) date: Saturday 6th September 2008 text: I loved my little Electron. I learned to program on it, played loads of games Elite!!, Repton, too many to mention. It was a great little computer with a really nice keyboard, much easier to use than the Spectrum rubber keys. I sometimes think about buying another one now but maybe the memories are best left alone. (Power sockets and bricks were a problem though.) - author: Nigel (Australia) date: Thursday 13rd April 2006 text: Two common problems with the power supply on these machines; the PSU itself tended to run hot and die, and the PCB mounted power supply socket used to disconnect from the solder connections and/or print on the PCB, as there was no strain relief. - author: naes (Hull, England) date: Wednesday 29th June 2005 text: I was wondering whether it was possible to rig up an Electron to a TV card. Does anyone know what frequency range of the TV output port. - author: Tom Brennand (London UK) date: Wednesday 3rd November 2004 text: |- Hi. I have 2 Acorn electrons but neither of them are working. In my opinion the little gems are too good to go to scrap so I was wondering if anyone would be able to help with the repairing of these. Basically they both seem to have the same problem apart from a slight difference. When I turn them on, one has a totally white screen, and the other a totally yellow screen. There is no BEEP like you normally get. Any ideas??? please email me with any feedback. Thanks Tom mail@tombrennand.net related: - /museum/acorn-computer-atom - /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master - /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-aiv - /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-compact - /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-model-a-b-b oc_id: 121 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230525060822/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=121 date: '2023-05-25' --- The Acorn Electron is basically a cut-down version of the [Acorn BBC-B](/museum/acorn-computer-bbc-model-a-b-b/) with which it is partly compatible. After the success of the [BBC](/museum/acorn-computer-bbc-model-a-b-b/), Acorn and founder Chris Cury wanted a product to compete with "under £200" computers and especially with the [Sinclair Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/), its main threat. But sadly, Acorn failed to meet the demand for the new system, mainly because of production problems related to the large custom ULA at the heart of the Electron. The next year (1984), Acorn decided to anticipate all these problems and focused on producing the Electron in vast numbers. But unfortunately, public demand and enthusiasm were on the wane, and despite an extensive £4-million advertising campaign, a third of the Electrons that were built never made it to the shelves, leaving behind large stockpiles of components that had been paid for but were never used. Compared to the BBC and its flexible connectivity, the Electron was quite basic with only one expansion port to play around with. Fortunately, Acorn quickly released the Plus 1 expansion offering two ROM cartridge slots, a parallel / centronics interface and a joystick connector. The built-in Acorn Electron BASIC, largely derived from the famous BBC BASIC, was impressive with innovative features such as the ability to define real procedures with DEF PROC and ENDPROC, or the handling of error events (in 1983 !). There was even an OLD statement which would recover a program erased by NEW. A complete assembler language was also stored in the 32K ROM. The graphics capabilities were also quite impressive for a computer of this category. Text mode of up to 80 columns and a high resolution of up to 640 x 256 pixels with 2 colors. The custom ULA developed especially for the Electron handled the video display, sound and I/O communications! This was the real heart of the Electron. The mechanical keyboard was very good. BASIC statements were printed on most of the keys, allowing users to type them in one go. A small amber LED placed on the left part of the keyboard indicated if you were in lowercase or uppercase mode. Despite being more powerful than the ZX Spectrum, the Electron didn't sell well and suffered from a lack of certain software.