Specifications of the IBM 5150 PC
- Released
: August 12, 1981.
- Processor
: Intel 8088 running at 4.77 MHz*. Optional Intel 8087 math Coprocessor.
- Language
: IBM Basic (written and licensed to IBM by Microsoft).
- Keyboard
: 83 Keys, 10 function keys, numeric key pad.
- Removable Storage
: zero, one or two Full Height 5.25" 160Kb floppy disk drives. Optional tape
drive or hard drive**.
- RAM Memory
(Random Access Memory): Anywhere
between 16 and 256Kb. (The very first
ones shipped with 16Kb and supported a maximum of 64Kb).
- ROM Memory
(Read Only Memory): 64 Kb.
- Graphics Capabilities
: Depends on installed Graphics card. Typically: Text mode 40 / 80
character X 40 lines) Graphic mode: Monochrome CGA was common (320 X 200 or 640 X 200).
- Tone generator
: Built in Speaker
- Internal Expansion Slots:
5 Internal 8-bit ISA slots.
*Maximum processor frequency is 5 MHz. IBM PC used one 14.31818 oscillator to drive both the CPU and video. For video it was divided it by 4 (14.31818 / 4 = 3.58 MHz), and for CPU it was divided by 3, which why it was running at 4.77 MHz, and not at 5 MHz.
**Initially, there was no IBM support for hard drives at all. The limits were:
- DOS 1.0 and 1.1 had no hard drive support.
- The BIOS on the 5150 motherboard has no support for hard drives.
- 'BIOS expansion ROM' functionality did not exist at this time.
- The IBM 5150's 63W power supply was inadequate to power both the 5150 and hard drives of the time.
However, some third-party solutions emerged. They involved an externally powered hard drive, and custom boot floppy.
Manuals
IBM 5150 Guide to Operations
IBM 5150 Technical Reference
Diagnostics
IBM PC 5150 Advanced Diagnostics Version 1.02
IBM PC 5150, 5155, 5160 Advanced Diagnostics Version 2.20
Utilities
Writing images to floppys you can use WinImage
WinImage 9.00 32 bits for Windows XP, 2003/2008 server, Vista, Seven
WinImage 8.10 32 bits for Windows NT4-x86, 2000, XP, 2003 server, Vista, 95/98/Me
Files
Files from the original ibm5150.net site
Links
Information about IBM 5155 Portable PC
Information about IBM IBM PC Convertible
Contact: mattias at ibm5150.net
Last updated 20 dec 2019