IMSAI 8080

IMSAI 8080
ManufacturerIMS Associates, Inc., later
IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation
TypeHobbyist computer,
aluminum casing,
22-slot motherboard, S-100 bus
Release dateDecember 1975; 48 years ago (1975-12)[1]
Discontinued1978 (1978)
Operating systemFirst commercial supplier of
Digital Research's CP/M, later followed by derived IMDOS
BASIC, FORTRAN
CPUIntel 8080/8085A @ 2 MHz/3 MHz
Memory256/4K bytes on a 4K board (static), 16K, 32K, 64K DRAM
StorageOptional Compact Cassette or 51⁄4" and 8" floppy drives,
hard drives (CDC Hawk—
5 MB fixed, 5 MB removable)[2]
Websitewww.imsai.net
Closeup of IMSAI 8080 front panel
A look inside the IMSAI 8080. The power transformer is on the right-hand side.
IMSAI VDP-40 desktop computer of 1977-1979. Intel 8085, 32/64KB RAM, 2× FDD 80/160KB, S-100 bus. 2KB monitor ROM, 2KB Video ROM

The IMSAI 8080 is an early microcomputer released in late 1975, based on the Intel 8080 (and later 8085) and S-100 bus.[1] It is a clone of its main competitor, the earlier MITS Altair 8800. The IMSAI is largely regarded as the first "clone" microcomputer. The IMSAI machine runs a highly modified version of the CP/M operating system called IMDOS. It was developed, manufactured and sold by IMS Associates, Inc. (later renamed to IMSAI Manufacturing Corp). In total, between 17,000 and 20,000 units were produced from 1975 to 1978.

  1. ^ a b "The History of IMSAI - The Path to Excellence, IMSAI of Fischer-Freitas Company (original text 1978)". Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2006.
  2. ^ "Press Release: IMSAI Announces Hard Disk" (PDF) (Press release). IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation. 1978.