---
title: Gemini Challenger
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1985'
cpus:
- Motorola 68000
params:
  name: Challenger
  image: /media/museum/photos/gemini_challenger_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/gemini
  company_name: Gemini
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Challenger
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Gemini
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1985'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: '1987'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full stroke 101-key with numeric keypad and 16 function keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Motorola 68000
  - label: SPEED
    value: 12 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 512 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 or 132 chars. x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 768 x 576 - 16 to 16 million col. / 1024 x 1024 - 64 col. with optional video card
  - label: COLORS
    value: 16 up to 16 million
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 19.25 (W) x 16 (D) x 5.75 (H) ins
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: SCSI, Parallel, 2 x Serial RS232, 4 x 68K expansion slots
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 1 x 5.25'' 1.2 MB floppy disc drive, Hard disks from 20 to 70 MB
  - label: OS
    value: MBOS, Mirage, TDI P-system, CP/M 68k
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in 100Watt switching power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: SCSI peripherals, 68K bus cards
  - label: PRICE
    value: From £4750 to £9500
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 855
  photos:
  - title: BACK SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** SCSI 50-pin connector\
      **(2)** 2 x Serial RS232 DIN plugs\
      **(3)** Power switch, mains plugs and fan\
      **(4)** Configuration switches\
      **(5)** Parallel printer connector\
      **(6)** Reset switch\
      **(7)** Housing for 4 x 64K bus cards
    image: /media/museum/photos/gemini_challenger_back_1.jpg
  - title: PRICE LIST, NOV. 1985
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **Henk Bekkers**
    image: /media/museum/photos/gemini_challenger_price%20list_s1.jpg
  oc_id: 874
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230603012929/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=874
    date: '2023-06-03'
---

Before the Challenger came out, Gemini products were based around the Z80 processor and the company's 80-bus architecture. They did well in applications where costumers wanted a highly-specialized product.

At first sight, the Challenger looked like an ordinary PC-compatible computer. The monitor was a **Wyse WY-50** remote terminal finished as the same colours as the main box. However, the Challenger's main processor was a 12 MHz Motorola 68000 linked with 512 KB of RAM. This configuration made the Challenger a very high speed 16-bit system for the time.

While designing the Challenger, Gemini designers also created a new 68000 proprietary bus called **68K**, which was originally a 16-bit bus but was later extended to 32-bit when the 68020 became available. Four 68K slots were available on the Challenger mainboard. They also designed an impressive graphic card based on the Hitachi HD63484 graphic processor and consisting in two piggy-back full length cards plugged into a 68K slot. Maximum resolution was 1024 x 1024 pixels with 16 million available colours.

The Challenger was delivered with a wide range of operating systems:\
\- **MBOS** a business-based multi-user O.S.,\
\- **Mirage** Another multi-user O.S. but more esoteric,\
\- **TDI p-System**, the British version of UCSD p-System well known for its UCSD Pascal language,\
\- **CP/M 68k**, the 68000 version of the 8-bit O.S. which was never very popular.\
Each of these O.S. could cohabit into several partitions of a same hard disk.

Despite it's advanced features, the Challenger never met success, neither as a businness machine as very few software were developped for it, nor as a development system as the 68K bus never was carried by other manufacturers.

The last machine made by Gemini was a beautifully built IBM clone using a motherboard designed by British Aerospace. But it was too expensive and couldn't compete against far east production. Gemini finally disappeared about one year after the Challenger was launched.

<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>