IBM PC XT

IBM PC XT (model 5160)

[vin28]

The IBM PC XT, launched on March 8, 1983, was notable for its built-in 10 MB hard drive, which marked a significant advancement in personal computing storage at the time. It featured an Intel 8088 CPU running at 4.77 MHz, at least 128 KB of RAM (later versions up to 640 KB), and increased expansion slots from five to eight, enhancing hardware flexibility. Its importance lies in setting industry standards for open architecture, expanding storage capabilities, and influencing future PC designs, making it a pivotal model in the evolution of personal computers and a key milestone in making computing more accessible and versatile. The XT was pivotal because it helped make hard drives mainstream in personal computers and established the basic hardware platform that shaped the modern PC industry

Manufacturer: IBM
Type: Desktop computer
Release Date: March 8, 1983
Cost at release: USD $4,995 (CAD ~$17,000 adjusted for inflation)
Cost with peripherals: fully equipped system with color graphics and maximum RAM could approach USD $7,000 (CAD ~$25,000 adjusted for inflation)
MIPS: 0.25 (250 KIPS)

Hardware Specifications

• CPU: Intel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz
• Memory: Initially 128 KB, later models supported up to 640 KB RAM
• Storage: 10 MB Seagate ST-412 hard drive (standard), with later versions supporting larger drives like 20 MB
• Floppy Drive: 5.25-inch, 360 KB capacity
• Expansion Slots: 8 ISA slots (increased from 5 in the original IBM PC)
• Power Supply: 130 watts
• Graphics Options: Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA) or Color Graphics Adapter (CGA)

Operating System & Programming Languages 

• Operating System: IBM PC DOS, with version 2.0 included at launch. It also supported other operating systems such as IBM BASIC, PC/IX (IBM’s UNIX variant), SCO Xenix, and Minix.

• Supported Languages:
  • IBM BASIC (Cassette BASIC in ROM, Disk BASIC, and Advanced BASIC/BASICA)
  • Assembly language (via Intel 8088 assemblers)
  • Pascal (IBM Pascal compiler and third-party Pascal compilers)
  • C (early compilers like Small C and later Microsoft C became available)
  • FORTRAN and COBOL (via third-party compilers)
  • Other languages such as Forth and various interpreters/compilers were also available through third parties

Notables

• Often called the “IBM XT” where XT stands for “eXtended Technology.”

• First IBM PC to include a built-in hard drive (10 MB), a major leap from floppy-only storage.

• Helped standardize the PC architecture, influencing countless clones and the broader PC industry.

• Early models included a cassette port for backward compatibility with the original IBM PC’s cassette BASIC, despite the hard drive presence.

• It was sometimes seen as an incremental upgrade over the original IBM PC, rather than a revolutionary leap, but was still a commercial success and influential in shaping the future of personal computing.
• The XT’s legacy includes its role in standardizing PC hardware and software, influencing countless future designs and establishing the baseline for modern personal computers

Donated by: Arlen Michael