---
title: Intel SDK-86
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1979'
cpus:
- Intel 8086
params:
  name: SDK-86
  image: /media/museum/photos/intel_sdk86_board_1.jpg
  company: /companies/intel
  company_name: Intel
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: SDK-86
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Intel
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1979'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: ROM Monitor
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Hexadecimal 24 keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8086
  - label: SPEED
    value: 2.5 or 5 Mhz (jumper selectable)
  - label: RAM
    value: 2 KB expandable to 4 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 8 KB (Monitor)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 8-digit led
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Processor bus, Parallel and Serial I/O
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: \+ 5V, -12V external AC adaptor
  - label: PRICE
    value: $780
  tabs:
  - photos
  - docs
  photos:
  - title: DOCUMENTATION
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      SDK_86 documentation included

      \- Assembly manual\
      \- User's manual and user's guide\
      \- 8086 reference guide\
      \- Monitor listing\
      \- System schematics.
    image: /media/museum/photos/intel_sdk86_manual_2.jpg
  - title: DOCUMENTATION DETAIL
    subtitle: ''
    text: Detail of a construction step in the assembly documentation
    image: /media/museum/photos/intel_sdk86_manual_1.jpg
  docs:
  - title: SDK-86 - MCS-86 SYSTEM DESIGN KIT - USER'S MANUAL
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/intel_sdk86_user-manual_doc.jpg
    text: |-
      **SDK-86 - MCS-86 SYSTEM DESIGN KIT - USER'S MANUAL**\
      written by Intel

       compiled/archived by Mustafa Abdullah Katie\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 5.6 MB

      **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
  comments:
  - author: Frank (USA)
    date: Tuesday 19th July 2011
    text: If anyone has one of these for sale I would love to buy it from you. if you have one please leave a comment to Frank
  - author: John Keels (Boone, NC)
    date: Tuesday 17th October 2006
    text: The SDK 86 was an interesting computer. When I was at school at Forsyth Technical Community College about 15 years ago I used one of the SDK 86 boards in classes to learn 8086 Assembly Language and to write programs that would do various things. Usually they were pretty simple things like display an alphanumeric pattern on the LED display. We had an 8088 XT setup to compile code and then download it into the SDK 86 usiing the serial port. It all worked extremely well. It was an interesting computer to learn with. I would not mind having one again.
  oc_id: 570
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221205041938/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=570
    date: '2022-12-05'
---

The SDK-86 (System Design Kit) was the first available computer using the Intel 8086 microprocessor. It was sold as a single board kit at a cheaper price than a single 8086 chip! because Intel thought that the success of a microprocessor depends on its evaluation by as many users as possible. All major components were socketed and the kit could be assembled by anyone having a limited technical knowledge thanks to a clear and complete assembly manual. The system could be used with the on-board keyboard and display or connected to a serial video terminal.

The internal ROM monitor offered the following commands:

**S** (*Substitute Memory*): Displays / Modifies memory locations\
**X** (*Examine / Modify registers*) : Displays / Modifies 8086 registers\
**D** (*Display memory*): Displays memory content\
**M** (*Move*): Moves block of memory data\
**I** (*Port Input*): Receives data from input port\
**O** (*Port Output*): Send data to input port\
**G** (*Go*): Execute user program\
**N** (*Single Step*): Execute single program instruction\
**R** (*Read File*): Read object file from tape to memory\
**W** (*Write File*): Writes block of memory to tape.