website/content/museum/siemens-sme.md

---
title: Siemens SME
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Germany
years:
- '1978'
cpus:
- Intel 8085
params:
  name: SME
  image: /media/museum/photos/siemens_sme_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/siemens
  company_name: Siemens
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: SME
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Siemens
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Germany
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1978'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: ROM monitor
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke 62 keys managed by an Intel 8741 processor
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8085
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 Mhz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Intel 8080 I/O dedicated
  - label: RAM
    value: Up to 64 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 2 KB Boot ROM + 2 KB Monitor
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 columns x 25 rows
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Text only
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Multibus expansion slot
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 8'' floppy drive
  - label: OS
    value: ISIS operating system
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: EPROM programmer
  - label: PRICE
    value: Expensive!
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  - software
  photos:
  - title: BACK SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      DB25 connectors, from top to bottom:

      \- Serial port 1\
      \- Serial port 2\
      \- Paper tape puncher\
      \- Paper tape reader\
      \- Parallel printer\
      \- Eprom programmer

      Left connector and cable go to the keyboard.
    image: /media/museum/photos/siemens_sme_back_1.jpg
  - title: MOTHERBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** RAM memory chips area\
      **(2)** 8202 RAM controller chip\
      **(3)** 8219 bus controller chip\
      **(4)** EPROM chip holding the monitor program\
      **(5)** 8085 processor\
      **(6)** 8259 Programmable interrupt controller chips\
      **(7)** 8251 Programmable communication interface (USART) chips\
      **(8)** 8253 Programmable Interval Timer chip\
      **(9)** Data switches and leds.
    image: /media/museum/photos/siemens_sme_motherboard_2.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: 'F.D. CONTROLLER CARD #1'
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      These 2 boards (#1, #2)were necessary to connect a floppy drive to the MDS.\
      the controller was built around Intel's Series 3000 computing elements and had 4 MMI 6340 NiCR 512x8 PROMs for "firmware".\
      Data transfer is done using DMA.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/siemens_sme_fdcard_1.jpg
  - title: 'F.D. CONTROLLER CARD #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/siemens_sme_fdcard_2.jpg
  screenshots:
  - title: ISIS O.S.
    subtitle: ''
    text: ISIS Operating System label, and directory of the ISIS system diskette!
    image: /media/museum/software/siemens_sme_isis-os_1.jpg
  comments:
  - author: Tom (Switzerland)
    date: Friday 10th January 2003
    text: |-
      I used this system about 15 Year's ago for Software/Hardware develpment in Siemens-Albis AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

      I remeber that there were up to 10 drives, :F0: to :F9:, :F0: used to be the boot drive!

      each Filename had up to 6 characters, the Extension had up to 3 characters.
  oc_id: 711
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230603012045/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=711
    date: '2023-06-03'
---

In the late 70s Siemens licencied the Intel 8080 processor and became a 8080 chip second source European manufacturer.

After having translated the 8080 user's manual to German, they marketed the SME development system ( **S**iemens **M**icrocomputer **E**ntwicklungssystem) which was the same system as the Intel Intellec Series 2 MDS (Microcomputer Development System). The system had a 8080 processor in its first version, later an Intel P8080A-2 (an increased-speed 8080), then finally a 4 MHz. 8085.

For the major part, the SME was made by Intel in USA. The only difference between Intel and Siemens systems was the cabinet colour: grey for Siemens's, blue for Intel's.\
The SME system was very popular with german 8080 /8085 hardware and firmware developers.

Thanks to **Gottfried Silberhorn** from Germany for information and pictures.

<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>