Acorn · 1989

Acorn Archimedes A3000

Ran on Acorn's own ARM chip, the ancestor of the processor in almost every phone today.

0people started on one
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Then vs now

Memory1 MBA 2025 phone has about 8,192× more
Clock speed8 MHzA phone core ticks about 375× faster
Launch price£649Base model at launch
MakerAcorn
Released1989
ProcessorARM2, 8 MHz
Memory1 MB
Storage3.5" floppy
Launch price£649
Big inUK, schools

Launch price is for the base model in its home market and is approximate. US prices adjusted with the US Consumer Price Index (BLS).

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Where people started on one

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Memories of the Acorn Archimedes A3000

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Questions and answers

When did the Acorn Archimedes A3000 come out?

The Acorn Archimedes A3000 was released in 1989 by Acorn.

How much did the Acorn Archimedes A3000 cost when it was new?

About £649 for the base model at launch.

How much memory and speed did the Acorn Archimedes A3000 have?

1 MB of memory and a ARM2 processor at 8 MHz. A typical 2025 flagship phone has about 8,192 times more memory.

How many people had the Acorn Archimedes A3000 as their first computer?

Nobody has added it to the First Computer Atlas yet. If it was yours, add it.

Where was the Acorn Archimedes A3000 popular?

It was especially popular in UK, schools.

Can you still buy the Acorn Archimedes A3000?

Only second-hand. Working units turn up on eBay and at retro computing fairs; boxed, tested machines cost the most. Check sold listings rather than asking prices to judge what one is worth.

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Other first computers from around 1989