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Tandy Corporation Press Release
For Release April 21, 1988 RS-88-061
For Further Information Contact:
Ed Juge (817) 390-3549
TANDY ANNOUNCES HIGH PERFORMANCE 80386 MICROCOMPUTER
NEW YORK CITY -- Tandy Corporation today introduced its most powerful personal
computer, the Tandy 5000-MC desktop MicroComputer. Operating at 20 megahertz
(MHz), this Intel 80386-based desktop computer utilitizes a high-speed memory
cache controller for superior speed and performance.
"Not only is the Tandy 5000 MC the most powerful personal computer we've ever
offered," emphasized John V. Roach, president, chairman of the board and chief
executive officer of Tandy Corporation, "it is also a very unique product
which contains a combination of features never before offered by a major
microcomputer manufacturer all in an unusually compact desktop computer."
Based on the latest in PC technology, the Tandy 5000 MC computer is a full-
featured personal computer designed for more demanding business applications
requiring the power of the 80386 microprocessor, video graphics array (VGA),
high-speed memory caching and IBM Micro Channel-type architecture.
In the 80386 computer market, Tandy customers now have a choice between the
Tandy 5000 MC with the IBM Micro Channel-type bus and the Tandy 40000 computer
with the industry-standard AT bus.
The Tandy 5000 MC has VGA capability on the main logic board that provides
CGA, EGA, MCGA and VGA software compatibility. For customers needing extended
VGA capabilities in the future, an IBM Micro Channel-compatible slot includes
the required video extension features.
Operating enviornments for the 5000 MC range from the single-user MS-DOS 3.3
operating system to multi-user SCO XENIX 386 and multi-tasking Microsoft OS/2
operating systems.
The Tandy 5000 MC features the Intel 82385 memory cache controller with 32
kilobytes (kB) of static random access memory (SRAM). This allows the 5000 to
achieve an effective zero wait state performance.
As with the Tandy 4000 personal computer, the 5000 MC utilizes state-of-the-
art, highly-reliable single in-line memory modules (SIMM) for memory
expansion. Standard configuration of the Tandy 5000 MC includes two megabytes
(Mb) of dynamic RAM (DRAM) using 256 Kb SIMM devices. An additional 2 Mb can
be added to a dedicated memory board using 256 memory devices. A maximum
system memory of 16 Mb may be achieved using 1 Mb SIMMs.
The system has a total of five IBM Micro Channel-compatible expansion slots in
addition to two 32-bit proprietary memory expansion slots. The dedicated
memory slots allow memory transfers, which do not come from the cache memory,
to occur at even faster rates.
Included with the base configuration is a 1.44 Mb, 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
with room for three additional half-height storage devices. The front
accessible device slots will accomodate an additional 3.5-inch and two 5.25-
inch internal devices to allow customers to select the storage options which
they prefer.
Other standard features include a socket for an optional 20 MHz 80387 math
coprocessor, serial and parallel ports, dedicated mouse port, real-time
battery backup clock, 101-key enhanced keyboard, and a key lock.
One of the standard configurations includes a super high-performance Micro
Channel-type ST-506 hard drive controller and a 3.5inch, 15 millisecond 84 Mb
hard drive, both designed specifically for the 5000 MC.
The controller card is the highest performance ST-506 disk controller
available. It features full track buffering and read-ahead cache. It also
maintains a one-to-one interleave factor while bursting data across the Micro
Channel-type bus at 4 Mb per second. This high-speed performance meets the
needs of the most demanding business applications such as computer-aided
design, manufacturing and engineering as well as users who require large
amounts of data manipulation and number crunching.
In keeping with Tandy's philosophy of flexibility in options, mass storage
devices include all three of the industry-standard interfaces - ST-506, ESDI
and SCSI. All of Tandy's current hard drives may be used with the system.
The Tandy 5000 MC computer is targeted to Fortune 1000 companies as well as
small and medium-sized businesses which require multi-user and multi-tasking
capabilities. Additionally, specific vertical markets will be addressed
through Tandy's Value-Added Reseller, Marketing Assistance Professional and
Consultant Liason Programs.
The Tandy 5000 MC (Catalog number 25-6000) has a suggested retail price of
$4,999 for the base system without a hard drive, and $6,499 for a 40 Mb hard
drive version. The Tandy 5000 MC with the 84 Mb hard drive and ST-506
controller has a suggested retail price of $6,999.
Suggested retail prices are good at Radio Sack Computer Centers, Radio Shack
Plus Computer Centers and participating dealers nationwide.
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