Enterprise 64
I have the main unit (CIB).
type computer
country UK
year 1985
os IS-Basic (cartridge), IS-DOS
cpu Zilog Z80A
speed 4 MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic 256 x 160 (16 colors)
colors 256
sound 3 channels
ports RGB video/audio out, expansion port,
tape interface, 2 x joysticks, pronter,
cartridge slot, RS432, RF
The Enterprise 64 — The Ambitious British Underachiever
Announced in September 1983 and finally released on 23 June 1985 — nearly two years late — the Enterprise 64 was one of the most technically impressive 8-bit home computers ever designed, and one of the most commercially disappointing. Developed by Intelligent Software (a British company known for chess software) under codenames including DPC, Samurai, Oscar, Elan, and Flan before Enterprise was chosen, the machine featured custom chips that delivered 256 colours, sophisticated sound, and display capabilities that the Sinclair Spectrum and Commodore 64 could not match — but arrived so late that the market had moved on.
NICK and DAVE — Custom Silicon
The Enterprise’s two custom chips — NICK (video, named after designer Nick Toop) and DAVE (sound, named after designer Dave Woodfield) — were among the most capable custom chips fitted to any 8-bit home computer. NICK provided display modes up to 672×512 pixels (interlaced, on the 128K model) with up to 256 colours, mixing character and bitmap modes with a flexibility that the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum couldn’t match. DAVE provided three-channel stereo sound plus noise, a real-time clock, and various I/O functions. The Nick chip reportedly had more integrated circuits than any other single chip of its era.
Arrival Too Late
The Enterprise’s two-year delay was catastrophic. When it was announced in 1983, its specifications were genuinely groundbreaking. By the time it reached shops in 1985, the market had been captured by the Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC — each with substantial software libraries and established user communities. The Enterprise’s BASIC was on a cartridge (meaning different languages could be used by swapping carts — an innovative feature), but the small software library available at launch gave buyers little reason to choose it over machines with thousands of existing titles.
Hungary’s Computer
While the Enterprise failed commercially in the UK, it found a remarkable second life in Hungary, where it became one of the most popular home computers of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Videoton, the Hungarian electronics company, manufactured and distributed the Enterprise 128 (the 128K variant) in Hungary, where it developed a serious fan base and a dedicated software community that continues to this day. The Enterprise is essentially a Hungarian national computer — far better known and more beloved there than in its country of origin.