Amstrad PC1640HD20
I have the main unit and Amstrad PC-MD monitor.
type computer
country UK
year 1986
os MS DOS 3.2
cpu Intel 8086
speed 8 MHz
ram 640 KB
rom 64 KB
disk 5,25″ drive
hd 20 MB HDD
graphic EGA-graphic modes max 640×350
colors 16 among 64
sound beeper
ports Centronics, RS323, mouse, four 8-bit ISA slots
The Amstrad PC1640HD20 — Bringing the IBM PC to the Masses
Released in 1986, the Amstrad PC1640 was a landmark machine in the history of personal computing. Building on the commercial success of the PC1512, the PC1640 delivered EGA graphics, a 20 MB hard drive, and full IBM PC compatibility at a price that dramatically undercut all established competitors. It played a significant role in making the IBM PC architecture the global standard for personal computing.
Amstrad Disrupts the PC Market
When IBM introduced the Personal Computer in 1981, it was priced well beyond the reach of most home and small business users. Amstrad’s entry into the PC market shocked the industry — here was a fully IBM-compatible machine at half the price of competitors. The PC1640 added EGA graphics and a hard drive while maintaining aggressive pricing. The machines were bundled with MS-DOS, GEM Desktop (a graphical user interface), and DR Logo — a remarkably complete package for the price.
Hardware
The PC1640HD20 was powered by an Intel 8086 processor running at 8 MHz — faster than the standard IBM PC’s 4.77 MHz 8088. It came with 640 KB of RAM, a 5.25-inch floppy drive, and a 20 MB hard disk drive. EGA graphics supported modes up to 640×350 pixels with 16 colours from a palette of 64 — significantly better than CGA. The Computer Museum Ata collection holds a PC1640HD20 with its original Amstrad PC-MD monitor, a complete and increasingly rare setup.
Legacy
The Amstrad PC1512 and PC1640 are credited with accelerating IBM-compatible PC adoption across Europe, particularly in the UK, France, and Germany. By making PC compatibility genuinely affordable, Amstrad helped ensure that the IBM PC architecture became the dominant global standard — a development whose consequences are still felt today in every Windows PC in existence.