website/content/museum/mindset-corp-graphics-computer.md

---
title: Mindset Corp. Graphics computer
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- 16-bit Intel 80186
params:
  name: Graphics computer
  image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_systemcut_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/mindset-corp
  company_name: Mindset Corp.
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Graphics computer
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Mindset Corp.
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1984'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke 84-key keyboard with separate numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: 16-bit Intel 80186
  - label: SPEED
    value: 6 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Two custom VLSI chips that handle graphics load
  - label: RAM
    value: 128 KB expandable to 384 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320x200, 640x400 (interlaced)
  - label: COLORS
    value: 16 (for 320 mode), 2 (for 640 mode) all from 512 color palette
  - label: SOUND
    value: 4 voice sound (optional stereo module planned, adding another 4 )
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RF modulator, NTSC composite out, analog RGB, synch, mouse, sound
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: Two modular ROM/NVRAM cartridge slots. Optional dual 5.25
  - label: OS
    value: MS-DOS 2.11
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in Power switching supply unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: $2400 (2 floppy drive, 256K RAM configuration)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  - software
  forum_thread: 960
  photos:
  - title: DOUBLE-DECKER MAIN UNIT
    subtitle: ''
    text: Notice the two ROM/NVRAM modules mounted on the front of the bottom main unit.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_system_s1.jpg
  - title: FRONT VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_systemfront_s1.jpg
  - title: KEYBOARD AND MOUSE CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: The nice two-red-button mouse was made in Japan. It was one of the rare models to use a metal ball.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_keyboard_s1.jpg
  - title: RUNNING
    subtitle: ''
    text: When not in use, the Mindset displays a rotating Mindset logo.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_running_s1.jpg
  - title: CONNEXION
    subtitle: ''
    text: The two units are connected and fixed together by a large bus connector.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_connector_s1.jpg
  - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: Complete system with a Taxan Vision 420 colour monitor and a Xerox Diablo C150, one of the first and expensive colour ink-jet printer.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_completesystem_s1.jpg
  - title: REAR SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      From left to right:\
      • Audio output jack\
      • Composite video output jack\
      • TV/RF video output jack\
      • TV channel selector\
      • RGB video output DB9 connector\
      • External sync DB9 connector\
      • Aux. In and Out jacks (we have no information about them)

      The system also featured 6 expansion slots, 3 in the main unit (above the rear connectors) and 3 in the disk/memory module. They were designed for future expansion that never see the light.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_rear_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: Two expansion cards are mounted vertically. The front one supports the ROM/RAM module slots, the rear one is used for the connexion with the FDD/RAM module and also supports three expansion slots.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_opened_s1.jpg
  - title: MAINBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** The two VLSI chips specially designed for the Mindset. They manage the graphics processing off the CPU\
      **(2)** Rear expansion card\
      **(3)** TV/RF modulator\
      **(4)** Connector for the front expansion card\
      **(5)** Two Intel 8042 microcontroller chips provide memory and I/O management\
      **(6)** 32 KB base RAM memory (4x4416 chips). The rest of the RAM memory is located in the expansion module\
      **(7)** Beeper\
      **(8)** 32 KB BIOS ROMs (2x27128)
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_mainboard_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE THE EXPANSION MODULE
    subtitle: ''
    text: The expansion module holds two half-size 5.25" 360 KB floppy-disk drives, 96 KB of basic RAM (soldered chips) and 128 KB of additional RAM (socketed chips). This module also provides three expansion slots.
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_insidefdunit_s1.jpg
  - title: CUSTOM CHIPSET CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_chipset_s1.jpg
  - title: MINDSET LABEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_label_s1.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: PARALLEL PRINTER MODULE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/mindset_printermodule_s1.jpg
  screenshots:
  - title: LUMINA PAINT
    subtitle: Picture made with the Lumina Paint program
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/mindset_graphics_graphdemo_s1.jpg
  oc_id: 986
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230417011654/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=986
    date: '2023-04-17'
---

This little-known graphics workstation is an intriguing example of the many, varied machines introduced in the mid 1980's.

The Mindset microcomputer, designed by two ex-Atari engineers, offered graphics performance far beyond that of other personal computers on the market at the time of its introduction in early 1984.

Based on the rarely seen, 16-bit Intel 80186 (also used in the [Tandy Model 2000](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-2000/)), the Mindset was a powerful graphics workstation built on a (mostly) MS-DOS compatible core. Two custom VLSI chips shouldered the burden of graphics heavy lifting; offering graphics performance 50 times that of the IBM PC, leaving the CPU free to handle other chores.

The system unit was striking to behold. Crafted by industrial design group, **GVO**, of Menlo Park, CA, the Mindset was chosen for a place in the Museum of Modern Art.

The main system unit lacked floppy disk storage but instead sported two, front-mounted ROM/NVRAM module ports. The system's serial and parallel interface, as well as system memory expansion, were also modular. A dual floppy drive expansion module attached to the top of the unit, giving it a futuristic, double-decker look (most units were sold with the floppy drive module bundled in).

The Mindset was one of the very first computers to come standard with a mouse; in this case, a two-button unit with a somewhat unwieldy, heavy cord and a metal mouse ball.\
11 advanced graphics modes which could be seen on any of the system's three graphics outputs; impressive flexibility for its day. A very powerful paint program, **Lumena** from Time Arts, Inc., was available for the Mindset, allowing the creation of stunning, static images from its palette of 512 colors. Beyond the static, however, the machine's custom graphics hardware was capable of performing frame buffer animation at a speed 50 times greater than that of the IBM PC.

There were rumors that Atari CEO, Jack Tramiel, was considering purchasing the Mindset to bring it under the Atari flag. This did not happen, but it is interesting to note that the original [Atari ST](/museum/atari-130-st-260-st/) series computers, released a year later, featured almost exactly the same graphics modes and palette depth as the Mindset micro.

More information about this notable entry in computing history can be found at [this on-line version](http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v11n2/50_Mindset_micro_pushing_th.php) of a Feb. '85 *Creative Computing* review.

Thanks to **Blake Patterson** for information.