website/content/museum/icl-quattro.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
ICL Quattro	Computers	Professional Computer	United Kingdom	1985	8086-2	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos oc_id source Quattro /media/museum/photos/icl_quattro_system_1.jpg /companies/icl ICL label value NAME Quattro label value MANUFACTURER ICL label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR 1985 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full stroke 102 key with function and arrow keys and numeric keypad label value CPU 8086-2 label value SPEED 8 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Socket for 8087 math coprocessor label value RAM From 128 KB to 1 MB label value ROM 40 KB label value TEXT MODES 80 chars x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 640 x 400 dots (ICL terminals) label value COLORS Monochrome or 8 colours label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown label value I/O PORTS 6 x serial RS232 ports, custom serial port, RS422 port, RGB port label value BUILT IN MEDIA 1 or 2 x 5.25'' 800 KB floppy drives, 10 or 20 MB hard disk label value OS Concurrent CP/M V.3.1 label value POWER SUPPLY Built in switching power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS RAM expansion, 2nd 20 MB hard disk, ICL monitors and printers label value PRICE Model 19: £2195 - Model 39: £4395 - Model 49: £4995\ Monochrome terminal: £899 - Colour: £1399 photos 833 title subtitle text image INSIDE **(1)** 2 cards was used for hard disk control. In fact, it was original old 'Black Box' cards\ **(2)** CPU and ROM card\ **(3)** 3 x 256 KB RAM cards\ **(4)** Serial and I/O card\ **(5)** 6 x serial RS232 ports\ **(6)** Custom serial port\ **(7)** RGB port. Was not used for a colour monitor, but for the connection of a video system to create slides, or a projector to show them\ **(8)** Custom synchronous port. Gives the link to ICL or IBM mainframes\ **(9)** Switching power supply unit\ **(10)** 800 KB 5.25" floppy drive\ **(11)** Rodime 20 MB hard disk drive /media/museum/photos/icl_quattro_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image ICL TERMINAL KEYBOARD /media/museum/photos/icl_quattro_keyboard_1.jpg 852 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221209194127/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=852 2022-12-09

With the Quattro, ICL attempted to tackle the multi-user market which was still opened with neither definitive system nor operating system.

The Quattro was a development of earlier ICL Personal Computer which in turn was a development of the Rair Black Box

The machine was named Quattro as it supported up to four users, each user running up to four programs simultaneously.

Internal hardware design was quite similar as the Personal Computer's. An eight connector backplane supporting logic boards. However, the CPU board featured a 16 bit 8086-2 and up to 1 MB of RAM could be installed.

Thre models were available:
Model 19 with 256 KB RAM and 2 x 5" 800 KB floppy drive,
Model 39 with 512 KB of RAM, one floppy drive and one 10 MB hard disk,
Model 49 same as Model 39 but with a 20 MB hard disk.

The Quattro could work with wirtually any video terminal. ICL supplied its own monochrome (6402G) and colour (6404G) graphic versions along with a 102 key keyboard.

It was delivered with Concurrent CP/M Operating System, later called Concurrent DOS, a true multi-tasking, multi-user O.S. which offered a very limited compatibility with MS-DOS.
Sadly, few major software of the time, running on the first IBM PC and clones, were adapted to the specific features of the ICL. This is the main reason why the Quattro didn't meet any success, except near some corporate customers who already used ICL mainframes.

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.