Schneider Euro PC

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Schneider Euro PC
Schneider Euro PC.jpg
ManufacturerSchneider
TypePersonal Computer
Release date14 August 1988; 33 years ago (1988-08-14)
Introductory price1800 DEM
Operating systemMS-DOS 3.3
CPUSiemens 8088 @ 4.77 to 9.54 MHz
Memory512 KB (expandable to 640 KB)
Storage31⁄2-inch floppy disk drive (720 KB)
SuccessorEuro PC II, EURO XT, Euro AT, Euro SX

The Schneider Euro PC was a PC compatible home computer, introduced in 1988 by the Schneider Computer Division.[1][2]

A follow-up to the success of the Schneider CPC series, the Euro PC offered an inexpensive entry into the emerging market for home PCs. The computer used a Siemens 8088 processor (clocked at 4.77, 7.15 or 9.54 MHz according to a BIOS setting or key combination), had 512 KB of RAM (expandable to 640 KB), and was shipped with MS-DOS 3.3 and Microsoft Works 1.0.[3]

As with many other home computers of its time, the computer circuit board was built into the keyboard housing.[4] A 12" amber monochrome monitor (MM12) and a 14" color monitor (CM14) were available for the system. The Euro PC had a graphics chip that could be switched between Hercules monochrome and CGA modes.[5] The power supply was external, an unusual feature for a PC.

A 31⁄2-inch floppy disk drive (720 KB) was installed as a mass storage device. An external 31⁄2-inch floppy disk drive with 720 KB (FD720), a 51⁄4-inch floppy disk drive with 360 KB (FD360), and a 20 MB hard disk (XT Attachment, similar to IDE / ATA ) were available as accessories. This could not be replaced by any other model, as the drive parameters were permanently programmed into the BIOS. However, it was possible to operate other hard drives with a corresponding controller in the expansion slot.

The computer was sold through large mail-order companies at a price of 1,800 DM. The highly competitive PC market left little room for new machines, but the Euro PC was still sold in considerable numbers thanks to its very low price and slim, home computer-like appearance.

An updated version, the Euro PC II introduced in 1989, had 768 KB RAM and a 8087 mathematical coprocessor.[1][6] Another version with further expansions was called EURO XT. The Euro AT offered a 80286 processor, 1MB of RAM, and a EGA graphics card. The Euro SX, introduced in 1992, came with a 80386SX processor.[7]

Technical details[]

Schneider Euro PC Series
Euro PC Euro PC II Euro XT Euro AT Euro SX
CPU 8088 8088 8088 80286 80386SX
Max. Speed 9,54 MHz 9,54 MHz 9,54 MHz 12 MHz 20 MHz
Standard Speed 7,17/4,77 MHz 7,17/4,77 MHz 7,17/4,77 MHz 6 MHz
Wait-State – – – 0
Coprocessor (optional) – 8087 8087 80287 80387SX
Expandable in motherboard
RAM 512 KB 512 KB* expandable 768 KB 640 KB + 128 KB 1 MB 4 MB
Disk Drives – 768 KB* – –
Expandable in system – – – 16 MB
ROM 32 KB BIOS with Setup 32 KB BIOS with Setup 32 KB BIOS with Setup 64 KB Phoenix-BIOS with Setup
Disk drives 1 × 3,5 " 1 × 3,5 " 1 × 3,5 " 1 × 3,5 " 1 × 3,5 "
Size 720 KB 720 KB 720 KB 1,44 MB 1,44 MB
Hard drives optional external (HD20) optional external (HD20) internal internal (Seagate ST-142A) internal
Size – – 21 MB 42 MB
Speed – – 157 kbit/s 664 kbit/s
Access time – – 68 ms 28 ms
Interleave – – – 1:1
Video board Hercules, CGA Hercules, CGA Hercules, CGA EGA, CGA and Hercules compatible VGA
Video Memory 64 KB 64 KB 64 KB 256 KB RAM, 32 KB EGA BIOS
Graphic modes
720 × 348, monochrome 720 × 348, monochrome 720 × 348, monochrome 720 × 348, monochrome
CGA 320 × 200, 4 colors, 16 colors 320 × 200, 4 colors, 16 colors 320 × 200, 4 colors, 16 colors 320 × 200, 4 colors
640 × 200, 2 colors, 4 colors 640 × 200, 2 colors, 4 colors 640 × 200, 2 colors, 4 colors 640 × 200 monochrome
EGA – – – 640 × 350, 16 from 64 colors
Schneider HI-RES Graphics – – – 640 × 480, 16 from 64 colors
– – – 752 × 420, 16 from 64 colors
– – – 800 × 600, 16 from 64 colors
Text (16 colors) 40 Columns × 25 Lines 40 Columns × 25 Lines 40 Columns × 25 Lines 40 Columns × 25 Lines
80 Columns × 25 Lines 80 Columns × 25 Lines 80 Columns × 25 Lines 80 Columns × 25 Lines
80 Columns × 21 or 43 Lines
100 Columns × 37 or 75 Lines
120 Columns × 21 or 43 Lines
132 Columns × 21 or 32 Lines
Optional graphics EGA/VGA EGA/VGA EGA, VGA, SVGA with EURO-VGA board VGA, SVGA with EURO-VGA board VGA
Interfaces
Serial (RS-232) 1 1 1 1
Parallel 1 1 1 1
Mouse/Joystick 1 1 1 1
External disc drives 1 1 1 1
External hard drives 1 1 – –
Expansion slots
Total 1 1 3 3
8 Bit 1 1 2 1
16 Bit 1
Schneider Expansion Port 1 1
Optional drive expansions
FD1200T – – – 5,25" disc drive with 1,2 MB
FD360 5,25" disc drive with 360 KB 5,25" disc drive with 360 KB 5,25" disc drive with 360 KB 5,25" disc drive with 360 KB
FD720 3,5" disc drive with 720 KB 3,5" disc drive with 720 KB 3,5" disc drive with 720 KB 3,5" disc drive with 720 KB
HD 20 20MB hard drive 21MB hard drive
STS40 Tape drive with 40 MB capacity
Keyboard 86 Keys, QWERTZ 86 Keys, QWERTZ MF2 compatible, 102 Keys, QWERTZ MF2 compatible, 102 Keys, QWERTZ
Operating system MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC, MS-WORKS MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC, MS-WORKS MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC
Monitor MM12 (Hercules), CM14 (CGA) MM12 (Hercules), CM14 (CGA) MM12 (Hercules), CM14 (CGA) MM12 (Hercules, EGA monochrome), CM14 (CGA), EM14 (EGA, CGA), MS14 ()

See also[]

  • PC compatible
  • PC AT
  • Sinclair PC200

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Schneider EuroPC II - MCbx". oldcomputer.info.
  2. ^ "Practical Computing". Electrical Electronic Press. November 10, 1989 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Juergen, Author (January 6, 2021). "Schneider EURO PC I". {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Heikkinen, Tero (March 12, 2013). "Old Machinery: Schneider EuroPC".
  5. ^ "Schneider Euro PC – The X86 Generation".
  6. ^ "Schneider Euro PC". www.spacereh.de.
  7. ^ Starr, Michael; Chapple, Craig (July 9, 2008). VINTROPEDIA - Vintage Computer and Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781409212775 – via Google Books.
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