--- title: Synertek SYM1 categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1978' cpus: - Synertek 6502 params: name: SYM1 image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_system_1.jpg company: /companies/synertek company_name: Synertek specs: - label: NAME value: SYM1 - label: MANUFACTURER value: Synertek - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: '1978' - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Hexadecimal monitor - Assembler - label: KEYBOARD value: 29 'sensitive' keys - label: CPU value: Synertek 6502 - label: SPEED value: 1 MHz - label: RAM value: 1 KB expandable to 4 KB on board - label: ROM value: 4 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 6 digit LED display - label: SOUND value: Built-in loudspeaker - label: I/O PORTS value: Tape recorder, Serial RS232, 51 I/O lines connector - label: OS value: Supermon monitor - label: POWER SUPPLY value: External 5V - 1.5A power supply unit - label: PERIPHERALS value: ASCII Keyboard, expansion slots card - label: PRICE value: $239 tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - links - docs forum_thread: 837 photos: - title: SYM-1 subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_system_2.jpg - title: FIRMWARE ROMS subtitle: '' text: Monitor, RAE and BASIC language into Signetics ROM modules image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_romsoft_1.jpg - title: KTM2 VIDEO INTERFACE & KEYBOARD subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **Peter de Vroomen** image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_ktm2_s1.jpg - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM subtitle: '' text: |- Complete system with monitor, tape recorder, RAM expansion card, external PSU, Synertek BASIC interpreter and a whopping 8 KB of available RAM. Thanks to **Peter de Vroomen** image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_completesys_s1.jpg - title: SYNERTEK DOCUMENTATION subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_docset_1.jpg - title: THE BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/synertec_sim1_box_1.jpg adverts: - title: FRENCH ADVERT (1979) subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/synertek_sym1_pub_1.jpg hardware: - title: KTM-2 KEYBOARD subtitle: '' text: This Synertek keyboard provided a video interface, a composite video connection, as well as two serial ports (110 to 9600 baud) for connection to the SYM board and another device such a printer. image: /media/museum/hardware/synertec_sim1_keyboard_1.jpg - title: EXPANSION BOARD subtitle: '' text: This board made by Seawell Marketing and labelled LBM-4052 (Little Buffered Mother) allowed up to four SYM-1 compatible boards to be attached to the bus image: /media/museum/hardware/synertec_sim1_expansboard_1.jpg - title: RAM BOARD subtitle: '' text: 16 KB RAM board to be connected to the expansion board image: /media/museum/hardware/synertec_sim1_ramboard_1.jpg links: - title: 6502.org - the 6502 processor ressource url: http://www.6502.org/trainers/synertek/ text: This section of the website contains information and binaries for the Synertek Systems SYM-1 Single Board Computer docs: - title: SYM-1 REFERENCE MANUAL url: http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sym-1%20reference%20manual.jpg text: |- [**SYM-1 REFERENCE MANUAL**](http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm)written by Synertek  compiled/archived by Leland Goertz, René Sommerlatt, and Dallas Shell\  type of document : PDF\  size : 14 MB\  source : [6502.org](http://www.6502.org/) - title: SYM-1 TECHNICAL NOTES url: http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sym-1%20technical%20notes.jpg text: |- [**SYM-1 TECHNICAL NOTES**](http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm)written by Synertek  compiled/archived by Leland Goertz, René Sommerlatt, and Dallas Shell\  type of document : PDF\  size : 4.3 MB\  source : [6502.org](http://www.6502.org/) - title: HARDWARE THEORY OF OPERATIONS MANUAL url: http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sym1%20-%20hardware%20theory%20of%20operations%20manual.jpg text: |- [**HARDWARE THEORY OF OPERATIONS MANUAL**](http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm)written by Robert A. Peck  compiled/archived by Leland Goertz, René Sommerlatt, and Dallas Shell\  type of document : PDF\  size : 3.4 MB\  source : [6502.org](http://www.6502.org/) - title: MONITOR THEORY OF OPERATIONS MANUAL url: http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sym1%20-%20monitor%20theory%20of%20operations%20manual.jpg text: |- [**MONITOR THEORY OF OPERATIONS MANUAL**](http://www.6502.org/oldmicro/synertek/sym-1.htm)written by Robert A. Peck  compiled/archived by Leland Goertz, René Sommerlatt, and Dallas Shell\  type of document : PDF\  size : 6.6 MB\  source : [6502.org](http://www.6502.org/) oc_id: 856 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230603005508/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=856 date: '2023-06-03' --- Synertek was one of the suppliers of the 6502 processor, and the SYM-1 was intended as a chip evaluation board for hardware developers that were interested in programming and interfacing a 6502. The SYM-1 was a single board computer. It had a hexadecimal display and a hex keypad for programs and data entry. It was originally called the **VIM-1** until MOS Technology objected to the name. It was actually quite a copy of the MOS [KIM 1](/museum/mos-technology-kim-1/) offering same fonctionalities plus some enhanced features and connection capabilities, including a true serial RS232 interface instead of a 20mA current loop in the KIM. It also shared same I/O connectors with another 6502 development system, the Rockwell [AIM-65](/museum/rockwell-aim-65/) A ROM chip contained the hexadecimal monitor (written by **Manny Lemas**, the co-founder of Microcomputer Associates) as well as standard I/O routines. Several programming language and utility software were later released. Among them: RAE-1 (Resident Assembler and Editor), FORTH and various flavors of BASIC, of which a powerful single precision version that needed the use of a video terminal. Like other evaluation boards of the times, the SYM-1 was delivered with a full set of documentations which covered all of the 6502 hardware and software capabilities. It was reported to us that the Sym card also came in a 6809 version that supported Motorola compatibility. --- **Ray Holt**, the designer of the SYM card, sent us this note:\ Hi,\ I was the designer of the SYM and [JOLT](/museum/microcomputer-associates-inc-jolt/) in 1974-78. The JOLT sold about 5000 units worldwide and the SYM sold 50,000. Today the Super Jolt, an enhanced version, is still in manufacturing and is being use in an audio tester for the deft. The SYM is still in operation at the Navy lab in San Diego in the Robart robot.\ [http://www.spawar.navy.mil/robots/land/robart/robart.html](http://www.spawar.navy.mil/robots/land/robart/robart.html) My earlier microprocessor design for the F14 fightjet can be viewed at:\ [http://www.microcomputerhistory.com](http://www.microcomputerhistory.com) Regards, Ray
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.