History Platform / AcornArchimedes

* [[UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]]: Acorn VIDC (also used for sound.)

The Archimedes series was Acorn's follow-up to their reasonably successful Platform/BBCMicro line of computers. It's also probably the most important line of computers you've never heard of. The first systems were released in 1987, and like its contemporaries the Platform/{{Amiga}} and Platform/AtariST it had advanced features like a 32-bit processor, high-quality graphics and sound, and a GUI with features [[Platform/{{MicrosoftWindows}} Windows]] wouldn't get for years courtesy of the RISC OS. It therefore naturally disappeared into oblivion [[note]](Well, near oblivion; like the Platform/{{Amiga}}, it's kept alive by enthusiasts)[[/note]] along with the manufacturer in the mid-1990s. Like the BBC Micro, it mostly carved a niche for itself in the [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] educational market until it was supplanted by Windows [=PCs=] and [[Platform/MacOS Macs]]. The Archimedes line later developed into the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risc_PC RISC PC]].

The Archimedes was known for its library of edutainment AdventureGame[=s=] often designed around school history projects. Also, like the Platform/BBCMicro, it had a battery of cheerfully ripped-off classic arcade games (e.g., ''Meteors'' for ''Videogame/{{Asteroids}}''.)

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad and Android tablets. In November 2020, Apple began to transition its [[Platform/AppleMacintosh Mac]]s from Intel processors to in-house ARM chips by introducing its first ARM-based Macs, bringing the platform full circle back to its roots as an efficient desktop processor. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

The Archimedes series was Acorn's follow-up to their reasonably successful UsefulNotes/BBCMicro line of computers. It's also probably the most important line of computers you've never heard of. The first systems were released in 1987, and like its contemporaries the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} and UsefulNotes/AtariST it had advanced features like a 32-bit processor, high-quality graphics and sound, and a GUI with features [[UsefulNotes/{{MicrosoftWindows}} Windows]] wouldn't get for years courtesy of the RISC OS. It therefore naturally disappeared into oblivion [[note]](Well, near oblivion; like the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}}, it's kept alive by enthusiasts)[[/note]] along with the manufacturer in the mid-1990s. Like the BBC Micro, it mostly carved a niche for itself in the [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] educational market until it was supplanted by Windows [=PCs=] and [[UsefulNotes/MacOS Macs]]. The Archimedes line later developed into the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risc_PC RISC PC]].

The Archimedes was known for its library of edutainment AdventureGame[=s=] often designed around school history projects. Also, like the UsefulNotes/BBCMicro, it had a battery of cheerfully ripped-off classic arcade games (e.g., ''Meteors'' for ''Videogame/{{Asteroids}}''.)

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad and Android tablets. In November 2020, Apple began to transition its [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Mac]]s from Intel processors to in-house ARM chips by introducing its first ARM-based Macs, bringing the platform full circle back to its roots as an efficient desktop processor. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

What really makes the Archimedes interesting is the processor. Whilst other systems at the time tended to use the Motorola 68000 as the processor of choice, Acorn instead chose to design their own processor. Like other new CPU designs at the time, it used a RISC architecture, which gave their new CPU a relatively simple design that used little power, but gave high performance. This Acorn RISC Machine proved to be amazingly successful, but not for its original platform. The low-power-but-high-performance nature of the ARM design was recognised by, amongst others, Apple, who wanted to use the CPU in their notepad sized touch screen computer -- the Newton. This led to the processor side of Acorn to be spun off in into Advanced RISC Machines (now Arm Ltd, stylised as "arm"). The ARM design spread to many low-powered devices, and has outlived the original Acorn Computers by more than 20 years—longer than Acorn Computers existed.[[note]]Acorn Computers was founded in December 1978 and went under in January 1999. Arm Ltd was spun off in November 1990.[[/note]]

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad. And in November 2020, Apple began to transition its [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Mac]]s from Intel processors to in-house ARM chips by introducing its first ARM-based Macs, bringing the platform full circle back to its roots as an efficient desktop processor. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

[[/index]]

* Eight-channel stereo DMA, software wavetable.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acornarchimedes2_632.jpg]]

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Virus}} Zarch]]''

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad. And Apple announced in June 2020 that it would transition the [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Mac]] from Intel processors to in-house ARM chips, with the first ARM-based Macs scheduled to arrive by the end of 2020, bringing the platform full circle back to its roots as an efficient desktop processor. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

What really makes the Archimedes interesting is the processor. Whilst other systems at the time tended to use the Motorola 68000 as the processor of choice, Acorn instead chose to design their own processor. Like other new CPU designs at the time, it used a RISC architecture, which gave their new CPU a relatively simple design that used little power, but gave high performance. This Acorn RISC Machine proved to be amazingly successful, but not for its original platform. The low-power-but-high-performance nature of the ARM design was recognised by, amongst others, Apple, who wanted to use the CPU in their notepad sized touch screen computer -- the Newton. This led to the processor side of Acorn to be spun off in into Advanced RISC Machines (now Arm Holdings). The ARM design spread to many low-powered devices, and has outlived the original Acorn Computers by more than 20 years—longer than Acorn Computers existed.[[note]]Acorn Computers was founded in December 1978 and went under in January 1999. Arm Holdings was spun off in November 1990.[[/note]]

* Eight-channel stereo DMA.

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad. And Apple announced in 2020 that it would transition the [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Mac]] from Intel processors to in-house ARM chips, with the first ARM-based Macs scheduled to arrive in 2021, bringing the platform full circle back to it's roots as an efficient desktop processor. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad. And Apple announced in 2020 that it would transition the [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Mac]] from Intel processors to in-house ARM chips, with the first ARM-based Macs scheduled to arrive in 2021. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there.) If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

[[quoteleft:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acornarchimedes2_632.jpg]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acornarchimedes2_632.jpg

* [[GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]]: Acorn VIDC (also used for sound.)

The Archimedes series was Acorn's follow-up to their reasonably successful [[UsefulNotes/BBCMicro BBC Micro]] line of computers. It's also probably the most important line of computers you've never heard of. The first systems were released in 1987, and like its contemporaries the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} and UsefulNotes/AtariST it had advanced features like a 32-bit processor, high-quality graphics and sound, and a GUI with features Windows wouldn't get for years courtesy of the RISC OS. It therefore naturally disappeared into oblivion [[note]](well, near oblivion; like the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}}, it's kept alive by enthusiasts)[[/note]] along with the manufacturer in the mid-1990s. Like the BBC Micro, it mostly carved a niche for itself in the British educational market until it was supplanted by Windows [=PCs=] and Macs. The Archimedes line later developed into the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risc_PC RISC PC.]]

The Archimedes was known for its library of edutainment {{Adventure Game}}s often designed around school history projects. Also, like the UsefulNotes/BBCMicro, it had a battery of cheerfully ripped-off classic arcade games (e.g., ''Meteors'' for ''Videogame/{{Asteroids}}'').

What really makes the Archimedes interesting is the processor. Whilst other systems at the time tended to use the Motorola 68000 as the processor of choice, Acorn instead chose to design their own processor. Like other new CPU designs at the time, it used a RISC architecture, which gave their new CPU a relatively simple design that used little power, but gave high performance. This Acorn RISC Machine proved to be amazingly successful, but not for its original platform. The low-power-but-high-performance nature of the ARM design was recognised by, amongst others, Apple, who wanted to use the CPU in their notepad sized touch screen computer — the Newton. This led to the processor side of Acorn to be spun off into Advanced RISC Machines (now ARM Holdings). The ARM design spread to many low-powered devices, and has since outlived the original Acorn Computers.

Nowadays, ARM-based processors are used by most mobile phones, [=MP3=] players, a fair number of netbooks, and even the ARM-based iPad. It's often found in routers, set-top boxes, and other embedded applications (although MIPS architecture is more common there). If you've got some kind of handheld device like a mobile phone or an [=MP3=] player, it's probably running on an ARM CPU, and thus is a descendant of the Archimedes. The widespread usage of ARM processors has also given rise to a niche market of hobbyist-oriented computing devices based on ARM processors, some of which can even run RISC OS.

* [[UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit CPU]]: Acorn [=ARM2=], [=ARM3=], or [=ARM250=], 8-33 [=Mhz=].
* [[GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]]: Acorn VIDC (also used for sound).

* 512K to 16 MB.

* Early models: 160*256, 320*256, 640*256, or 640*512 resolution.
* Later models: Up to 1152*864 resolution.
* Up to 256 out of 4096 colours.

* Eight-channel stereo DMA.

* ''Ankh: The Tales of Mystery''
* ''Apocalypse''
* ''Corruption''
* ''The Crystal Maze''
* ''E-Type''
* ''Fish!''
* ''Hostages''
* ''James Pond''
* ''Jinxter''
* ''Magic Pockets''
* ''Provocator''

* ''Star Fighter''
* ''Top Banana''
* ''Twinworld''
* ''Wonderland''

* ''{{Abuse}}''
* ''Videogame/AloneInTheDark1992''
* ''BattleChess''

* ''Chuck Rock''

* ''Diggers''

* ''Gods''

* ''The Guild of Thieves''
* ''The Last Ninja''

* ''Lotus''
* ''Manchester United''

* ''{{Paradroid}}''
* ''The Pawn''
* ''PipeMania''

* ''Ravenskull''
* ''{{Repton}}''
* ''Sensible Soccer''

* ''SimonTheSorcerer''
* ''Speedball''
* ''Super Foul Egg''

* ''XOR''

* ''{{Elite}}''

* ''[[{{Pac-Man}} Pac-Mania]]''

The Archimedes series was Acorn's follow-up to their reasonably successful [[UsefulNotes/BBCMicro BBC Micro]] line of computers. It's also probably the most important line of computers you've never heard of. The first systems were released in 1987, and like its contemporaries the {{Amiga}} and AtariST it had advanced features like a 32-bit processor, high-quality graphics and sound, and a GUI with features Windows wouldn't get for years courtesy of the RISC OS. It therefore naturally disappeared into oblivion [[note]](well, near oblivion; like the {{Amiga}}, it's kept alive by enthusiasts)[[/note]] along with the manufacturer in the mid-1990s. Like the BBC Micro, it mostly carved a niche for itself in the British educational market until it was supplanted by Windows [=PCs=] and Macs. The Archimedes line later developed into the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risc_PC RISC PC.]]

The Archimedes was known for its library of edutainment {{Adventure Game}}s often designed around school history projects. Also, like the UsefulNotes/BBCMicro, it had a battery of cheerfully ripped-off classic arcade games (e.g., ''Meteors'' for ''{{Asteroids}}'').