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BBC Micro

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Created page with "'''Home * Hardware * BBC Micro''' [[FILE:BBC Micro.jpeg|border|right|thumb| BBC Micro <ref>[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BBC_Micro.jpeg Image] a..."
'''[[Main Page|Home]] * [[Hardware]] * BBC Micro'''

[[FILE:BBC Micro.jpeg|border|right|thumb| BBC Micro <ref>[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BBC_Micro.jpeg Image] assumed by [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:StuartBrady Stuart Brady], December 26, 2005, The expansion socket to the left of the keyboard is not a standard fitting and has been added afterwards, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Commons Wikimedia Commons]</ref> ]]

'''BBC Micro''', (BBC Microcomputer System)<br/>
a series of 8-bit [[6502]] based [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_computer home computers] by [[Acorn Computers Ltd]], initially designed by a team including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Furber Steve Furber] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Wilson Sophie Wilson], first released in December 1981. The Micro was contracted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)] after a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_for_bids call for bids] for a computer to accompany the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Computer_Programme TV series] and literature for their ''Computer Literacy Project'' <ref>[http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/7182/BBC-Computer-Literacy-Project/ BBC - Computer Literacy Project - Computing History]</ref> <ref>[http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/pdf/acorn/BBC-Computer-Literacy-Project.pdf BBC Continuing Education Television - Computer Literacy Project] (pdf)</ref> <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dIcOXx3Exc&list=PLOtimvwAoYtnCtLiLspq_Gnng1XusYwPU The Computer Programme (BBC2, 1982)], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube YouTube] Videos</ref>, which was won by Acorn with the Proton, a successor of the [[Acorn Atom]] - renamed the BBC Micro. Acorn also employed the machine to simulate and develop the [[ARM2|ARM architecture]] which, many years later, has become hugely successful <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro BBC Micro from Wikipedia]</ref>.

=Hardware=
The BBC Micro had a [[6502]] processor running at full 2 MHz speed, accessing fast [[Memory#RAM|DRAM]], alternating concurrently with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6845 MC6845] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_display_controller video display controller], featuring eight display modes for text and graphics varied between 20 and 40-column text suitable for a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television#Electronic TV], to 80-column text requiring an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video#RGB_analog_component_video RGB-connected] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_monitor video monitor]. As noted by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Furber Steve Furber] in a recent interview <ref>[[BBC Micro#Video|Steve Furber's Video Interview]] at 8:50</ref>, the alternating fast 4 MHz RAM access required some address [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplexing multiplexing] using exactly the 81LS95 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-state_logic tri-state] octal buffer <ref>[http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/114739/NSC/DM81LS95A.html DM81LS95A Datasheet] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Semiconductor National Semiconductor]</ref> from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Semiconductor National Semiconductor] - for unknown reasons, 81LS95 from other vendors were not working.
Multiple [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Input/output input/output] ports were available to connect with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral peripherals] or other machines, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port serial] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-423 PS-423] ports, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port parallel ports], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_signal analogue] input ports with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog-to-digital_converter ADC] for instance used by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joystick joystick], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pen light pen] input, an expansion connector (the "1 MHz bus") to expand the system with additional hardware such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro_expansion_unit BBC Micro expansion], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_(BBC_Micro) Tube interface] to connect a secondary processor. The BBC Micro had an integrated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_keyboard keyboard] and a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Cassette#Data_recording cassette interface]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk Floppy disks] were optional through the [[Intel]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8085#MCS-85_family 8271] programmable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy-disk_controller floppy disk controller], in later models replaced by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Digital Western Digital's] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Digital_FD1771 FD1771]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments Texas Instruments] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_SN76489 SN76489] was responsible for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound sound]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme Phoneme] based [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_synthesis speech synthesis] using TI's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_LPC_Speech_Chips TMS5220] speech chip with a custom Acorn ROM of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Kendall Kenneth Kendall's] voice was optional <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro BBC Micro from Wikipedia]</ref>.
<span id="Electron"></span>
=Models=
The initial BBC Micro was shipped as Model '''A''' with 16 KiB of user RAM, and Model '''B''' with 32 KiB. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Electron Acorn Electron] was a budget version of the B-Model released by Acorn in 1983. Two export models were developed for the US <ref>[http://wouter.bbcmicro.net/pictures/computer/usa_bbc/index.html USA model BBC micro]</ref> and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany West Germany] in 1983 <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100221035416/http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk:80/Computers/BBCBDE.html Chris's Acorns: German BBC Microcomputer Model B], hosted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine Wayback Machine]</ref>. As a sideline, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Business_Computer Acorn Business Computer (ABC)] range of machines was announced in October 1984 <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro BBC Micro from Wikipedia]</ref>.
The Model '''B+''' in mid 1985, increased the total RAM to 64 KiB, the '''B+128''' came with an additional 64 KiB (4 × 16 KBi "Sideways" RAM banks) to give a total RAM of 128 KiB <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro BBC Micro from Wikipedia]</ref>. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Master BBC Master] with integrated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk floppies] followed in 1986 with an enhanced [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDC_65C02 65SC12] CPU, and expandable 128 KiB RAM as default, and remained in production until 1993 <ref>[http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/SN/Acorn_SalesNews72.pdf Acorn Sales News Issue 72] (pdf) April 19, 1993</ref>.

=Software=
The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_MOS Acorn Machine Operating System] (MOS) was held in 16 KiB of [[Memory#ROM|ROM]] on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherboard motherboard]. A further 16 KiB ROM contained the [[Basic#BBC|BBC BASIC]] interpreter. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acornsoft Acornsoft] was the major publisher of software for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron, who released [[Acornsoft Chess]] written by [[Arthur Norman]] and [[Nick Pelling]]. Other British companies in the fast growing software market were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Power Micro Power] , [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xara Computer Concepts, Ltd.] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug-Byte Bug-Byte].

=Chess Programs=
* [[Beeb Chess]]
* [[Acornsoft Chess]]
* [[Chess (David Thompson)]]
* [[Colossus Chess|Colossus Chess 4.0]]
* [[Micro Power Chess]]
* [[White Knight]]
<span id="Go"></span>
=First Computer Go Tournament=
The BBC Micro [[Go]] Tournament was held in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London London], on January 7 and 8, 1984, sponsored by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acornsoft Acornsoft]. All eight programs ran on BBC Micro. The Go playing program by [[Bronyslaw Przybla]] won the event <ref>[http://www.computer-go.info/events/acorn/1984/index.html Computer Go - Past Events - Acorn 1984]</ref>.

=See also=
* [[Acorn Atom]]
* [[Acorn Archimedes]]
* [[BBC Micro Bit]] <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Bit Micro Bit from Wikipedia]</ref>

=Publications=
* John Vaux ('''1983'''). ''Micro takes on Chess Machine''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_User Acorn User], No. 8, [http://acorn.huininga.nl/pub/magazines/Acorn%20User/Acorn_User_Number_008_1983-03_Addison-Wesley_GB.pdf pdf]
* [[Tony Harrington]] ('''1983'''). ''University Challenge - Martin Bryant and White Knight''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Computer_World Personal Computer World], [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/publication_archive_1983.html August 1983], [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/PCW_August_1983.pdf pdf] hosted by [[Mike Watters]]
* [[Alex Bell]] ('''1983'''). ''[http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/themicrouser/issues/01-10/chess.htm Chess for three gives the White Knight a winning gambit]''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Micro_User The Micro User Magazine], December 1983
* [[Arthur Norman]], [http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2774369.Gillian_Cattell Gillian Cattell] ('''1983'''). ''[http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/info_books/electron/acornsoft_adder/Lisp.html LISP on the BBC Microcomputer]''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acornsoft Acornsoft] » [[LISP]] <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acornsoft_LISP Acornsoft LISP from Wikipedia]</ref>

=Manuals=
<ref>[http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Manuals/Manuals.html Chris's Acorns: Acorn Manuals]</ref>
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coll John Coll], [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/41935/David-Allen-and-Steve-Lowry-The-BBC-Micro-and-Computer-Literacy-Project/ David Allen] (ed.) ('''1984'''). ''BBC Microcomputer System User Guide''. [http://bbc.nvg.org/doc/BBCUserGuide-1.00.pdf pdf]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Computers Acorn Computer] ('''1985'''). ''BBC Microcomputer Service Manual''. Section 1, Models A + B, [http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Manuals/Acorn_BBCSMOct85_Sec1.pdf pdf]
: [http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Manuals/Acorn_BBCCctDiagram.pdf Circuit Diagram] (pdf)

=Forum Posts=
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=228177 Okay, i know now: Colossus and BBC ACORN A: White Knight] by [[Frank Phillips]], [[CCC]], May 06, 2002
: [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=228190 those good old times... in the 70-80ties] by [[Thorsten Czub]], [[CCC]], May 06, 2002

=External Links=
==BBC Micro==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro BBC Micro from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro_expansion_unit BBC Micro expansion unit from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_(BBC_Micro) Tube (BBC Micro) from Wikipedia]
* [https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/collection/bbc-b.htm BBC Microcomputer Model B] by [http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/collection/index.htm Terry Stewart] (Tezza)
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/182/acorn-bbc-micro-model-b/ Acorn BBC Micro Model B - Computing History]
* [http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/bbc-micro/index.html DigiBarn Systems: BBC Microcomputer by Acorn]
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/40132/Chris-Turner-Acorn-and-the-BBC-Micro/ Chris Turner - Acorn and the BBC Micro - Computing History]
* [http://wouter.bbcmicro.net/index.html Wouter's BBC micro software, scans, pictures, etc.]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Electron Acorn Electron from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Master BBC Master from Wikipedia]
* [http://rougol.jellybaby.net/meetings/2012/PaulFellows/index.html ARX, Arthur and RISC OS] by [http://rougol.jellybaby.net/meetings/2012/oct.html Paul Fellows], [http://www.rougol.jellybaby.net/ RISC OS User Group Of London], October 15, 2012 » [[Acorn Archimedes]]
==Software==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_MOS Acorn MOS from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_BASIC BBC BASIC from Wikipedia] » [[Basic#BBC|BBC BASIC]]
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/cgi/archive.pl?type=Software&platform=BBC%20Micro BBC Micro Software at the Centre for Computing History]
* [http://bbcmicro.co.uk/index.php Complete BBC Games Archive]
* [https://www.stairwaytohell.com/bbc/sthcollection.html BBC Games Archive - The Stairway To Hell]
* [http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/profs/electron/cats/acornsoft.html Acornsoft - BBC Micro/Acorn Electron Professional Games - Acorn Electron World]
* [http://www.bbcmicrogames.com/micropower.html BBC Games from the past - MicroPower Games]
* [http://www.8bs.com/othrdnld/manuals/games.shtml BBC Computer Related Manuals: Games]
==Chess Programs==
* [http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=1065 Beeb Chess - Complete BBC Games Archive] » [[Beeb Chess]]
* [http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=955 Chess - Complete BBC Games Archive] » [[Chess (David Thompson)]]
* [http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=796 Chess (Micro Power) - Complete BBC Games Archive] » [[Micro Power Chess]]
* [http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=924 Chess (V2.1) - Complete BBC Games Archive] » [[Acornsoft Chess]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/bbc-micro_/colossus-chess-4/adblurbs Colossus Chess 4 for BBC Micro (1986) Ad Blurbs] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames] » [[Colossus Chess]]
==Computer Literacy Project==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Computer_Programme The Computer Programme from Wikipedia]
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/7182/BBC-Computer-Literacy-Project/ BBC - Computer Literacy Project - Computing History]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Making_the_Most_of_the_Micro Making the Most of the Micro from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Live Micro Live from Wikipedia]
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/41935/David-Allen-and-Steve-Lowry-The-BBC-Micro-and-Computer-Literacy-Project/ David Allen and Steve Lowry - The BBC Micro and Computer Literacy Project - Computing History]
==Misc==
* [http://www.computer-go.info/events/acorn/1984/index.html Computer Go - Past Events - Acorn 1984] » [[Go]]
* <span id="Video"></span>Building the BBC Micro (The Beeb) with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Furber Steve Furber] - Computerphile, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube YouTube] Video
: {{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4WG549i3YY|alignment=left|valignment=top}}
* [http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/collection/bbc-b.htm The BBC Model B Microcomputer System]: As seen in [http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/collection/index.htm Tezza's classic computer collection], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube YouTube] Video
: {{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9oAAcRk2Ys|alignment=left|valignment=top}}

=References=
<references />
'''[[Hardware|Up one Level]]'''
[[Category:Videos]]

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