Acorn A7000
The A7000 and A7000+ were Acorn Computers' entry level computers based somewhat on the Risc PC architecture.

Launched in 1995, the A7000 was considered a successor to the A5000, fitting into Acorn's range between the A4000 and Risc PC600, featuring a 32 MHz ARM7500 system-on-a-chip (SoC) and either 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB of RAM soldered to the motherboard, with a single memory slot permitting up to 128 MB of additional RAM. In performance terms, the A7000 was described as being three to four times faster than the A4000 and slightly faster than a Risc PC 600 model without video RAM fitted, also having comparable MIPS and Dhrystone performance ratings to 66 MHz Intel 486DX2 systems.

Unlike the Risc PC, the A7000 had been "designed with the rigours of school life in mind", aiming for "a 7-year classroom lifespan". The machine's case was similar to the Acorn Online Media set-top box design incorporating the same SoC, and the product was considered to have been "created specifically to satisfy the education market".

The A7000+ was launched in 1997 and featured a 48 MHz ARM7500FE SoC, thus being "the first time an ARM-based Acorn has shipped with hardware floating point as standard". On-board RAM was upgraded to a standard 8 MB, with the same single memory slot capable of holding 128 MB of RAM, but with the memory speed doubled to 32 MHz from the 16 MHz of the A7000. This apparently brought the machine's general performance into line with a 40 MHz Risc PC700 with 1 MB of video RAM, permitting various display resolutions and colour depths that were not possible on the earlier model. Despite using a related SoC to the earlier model, the A7000+ was upgraded to the extent that it was apparently almost sold as the A8000.

After the breakup of Acorn Computers in 1998, Castle Technology bought the rights to continue production of the A7000+.

Specifications and technical details

The ARM7500 system-on-a-chip combined into a single chip an ARM704 CPU, memory management unit, a video controller "similar but not identical to the VIDC20", much of the functionality of the Risc PC's I/O controller, plus support for PS/2 keyboards and joysticks.

Modifications
A user modification (dubbed the A7KP) to rehouse an A7000+ as a portable weighing  was seen in 2011.

References

External links
 Technical history of Acorn
 Enhancements and diversification - Online Media, Risc PC updates and handhelds (1994 to 1996)
 Exciting times - the StrongARM Risc PC and the A7000+ (1996 to 1997)Technical history of Acorn of StrongARM and A7000+
 Chris's Acorns - Castle Technology
 Castle announce the A7000+ Odyssey

Acorn Computers
ARM-based home computers
Personal computers