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.png) IBM Personal Computer with keyboard and monitor | |
| Also known as | IBM PC |
|---|---|
| Developer | International Business Machines (IBM) |
| Manufacturer | IBM |
| Product family | IBM PC |
| Type | Personal computer |
| Generation | First generation |
| Release date | August 12, 1981 |
| Lifespan | 1981–1987 |
| Introductory price | US$1,565 (equivalent to $5,240 in 2023) |
| Discontinued | April 2, 1987 |
| Operating system | |
| CPU | Intel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz |
| Memory | 16 KB – 256 KB (motherboard) (DRAM) |
| Removable storage | 5.25" Floppy drives (160 KB or 320 KB), Cassette |
| Display | IBM 5151 Monochrome Display, IBM 5153 Color Display |
| Graphics | MDA, CGA |
| Sound | PC speaker 1-channel square-wave/1-bit digital (PWM-capable) |
| Input | XT-Keyboard |
| Connectivity | Serial port, parallel port |
| Power | 120/240 V AC ～ |
| Dimensions | Approximately 20.25" (width) x 16.5" (depth) x 5.5" (height) or 51.4 cm x 41.9 cm x 14 cm |
| Mass | 24-30 lbs (10.9-13.6kg) |
| Model Number | IBM 5150 |
| Predecessor | IBM System/23 Datamaster |
| Successor |
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| Related | List of IBM Personal Computer models |
The IBM Personal Computer (model 5150, commonly known as the IBM PC) is the first microcomputer released in the IBM PC model line and the basis for the IBM PC compatible de facto standard. Released on August 12, 1981, it was created by a team of engineers and designers at International Business Machines (IBM), directed by William C. Lowe and Philip Don Estridge in Boca Raton, Florida.
Powered by an x86-architecture Intel 8088 processor, the machine was based on open architecture and third-party peripherals. Over time, expansion cards and software technology increased to support it. The PC had a substantial influence on the personal computer market; the specifications of the IBM PC became one of the most popular computer design standards in the world. The only significant competition it faced from a non-compatible platform throughout the 1980s was from Apple's Macintosh product line, as well as consumer-grade platforms created by companies like Commodore and Atari. Most present-day personal computers share architectural features in common with the original IBM PC, including the Intel-based Mac computers manufactured from 2006 to 2022.