BBC Micro Overview
Category: Acorn Computers — Last updated: July 2025
The BBC Micro (or BBC Microcomputer System) was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals produced by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project — a British Broadcasting Corporation television programme. It was introduced in December 1981 and became one of the most successful home computers of the 1980s, particularly in UK schools.
Key models
| Model | Year | RAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Model A | 1981 | 16 KB | Entry-level model with reduced I/O |
| BBC Model B | 1981 | 32 KB | The most common and capable 8-bit model |
| BBC Model B+ | 1983 | 64 KB | Enhanced Model B with additional RAM paging |
| BBC Master 128 | 1986 | 128 KB | Major upgrade; became the flagship 8-bit model |
| BBC Master Compact | 1986 | 128 KB | Compact form factor; integrated 3.5″ drive |
CPU & Architecture
All BBC Micro models used the MOS Technology 6502 processor (or the 65C12 in the Master series), running at 2 MHz. The machine included a dedicated custom ULA chip handling video and sound generation, making it far more capable than many contemporaries. The video subsystem supported a wide range of modes from 80-column monochrome text to 8-colour 160×256 graphics.
BBC BASIC
One of the machine’s standout features was BBC BASIC, written by Sophie Wilson (then Roger Wilson) at Acorn. It was significantly more powerful than other BASIC variants of the era, including a built-in assembler for 6502 machine code — making it equally suited to education and serious programming. The BASIC interpreter remained fast enough to run many real-time applications directly, without resorting to assembly.
Legacy
The BBC Micro had a profound impact on a generation of British programmers and engineers. Many of the UK’s games industry figures cut their teeth on it, and it remains a beloved and actively collected machine today. A thriving community at Stardot Forums continues to develop new software, hardware expansions, and 3D-printed accessories for it.
I produce several 3D-printed accessories for the BBC Micro range — see the BBC Micro section of the shop.
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