Jump to content

IBM PS/2 Model 56 SLC

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article IBM PS/2 Model 56 SLC, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 2025
IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2)
Company typeProduct line
IndustryComputer hardware
PredecessorIBM PC
Founded1987
FounderInternational Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
Headquarters
Armonk
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsPersonal computers (desktop, tower, all-in-one, portable, laptop, notebook)
OwnerIBM

The Personal System/2 (PS/2), developed by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), represented a series of personal computers introduced in 1987. This lineup marked IBM's second wave of personal computing devices, succeeding the original IBM PC family, which was discontinued following the PS/2's unveiling in April 1987. A majority of PS/2 models incorporated IBM's proprietary Micro Channel architecture (MCA) bus, reflecting the company's strategy to reclaim dominance in the PC industry. However, certain entry-level variants preserved the use of the broadly adopted and cloned Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an open standard prevalent in earlier IBM PC models. The PS/2 portfolio encompassed a variety of configurations including desktop units, towers, integrated all-in-one systems, portable models, laptops, and notebooks.

Notes

Legend




Clarifying details
  • Models with IBM part numbers (P/N) designated for sales outside North America are not included.
  • Unless otherwise noted, integrated or optional displays are cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors.
  • The Space Saving Keyboard is an 87-key version of the Model M that omits the numeric keypad.
  • The Model 25 Collegiate edition was aimed at university students, featuring dual 720 KB floppy drives, a maximum RAM capacity of 640 KB, the official PS/2 Mouse, Windows 2.0, and blank floppy disks.
  • Financial workstation variants incorporated a 50-key function keypad tailored for banking-related tasks.
  • LS ("LAN Station") models were diskless workstations lacking floppy or hard drives, connecting through Ethernet or Token Ring network adapters.
  • Ultimedia editions came equipped with microphones, SCSI CD-ROM drives, M-Audio sound cards, volume controls, and front-panel headphone/microphone jacks.
  • Array models functioned as PS/2 Servers with support for RAID configurations.

Primary series

... [Subsequent models omitted for brevity; all maintain essential specifications such as CPU type, bus architecture, RAM capacity, video hardware, form factor, and launch date] ...
IBM PS/2 model lineup
Model IBM P/N Processor Clock speed
(MHz)		 Bus Number
of slots		 Number
of drive bays		 FDD HDD Base
RAM		 Maximum
RAM		 Video adapter Monitor Form factor Release date Notes Ref(s).
25 8525-001 Intel 8086 8 (0 w) ISA, 8-bit 2 2 one 720 KB none 512 KB 640 KB MCGA 12-in. monochrome All-in-one Template:Date table sorting Space Saving Keyboard
25 8525-004 Intel 8086 8 (0 w) ISA, 8-bit 2 2 one 720 KB none 512 KB 640 KB MCGA 12-in. color All-in-one Template:Date table sorting Space Saving Keyboard
IBM PS/2 Model 25 Collegiate 8525-C02 Intel 8086 8 (0 w) ISA, 8-bit 2 2 two 720 KB none 640 KB 640 KB MCGA 12-in. monochrome All-in-one Template:Date table sorting


PS/2 Server

IBM PS/2 Server variations
Model IBM P/N CPU Operating frequency
(MHz)		 Bus type Number of
slots		 Number of
drive bays		 FDD HDD Default
RAM		 Maximum
RAM		 Graphics adapter Display Chassis type Release date Remarks
Server 85 9585-0X6 Intel 486SX 33 MCA, 32-bit 8 7 one 2.88 MB 104 MB (SCSI) 8 MB 64 MB SVGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting
Server 85 9585-0X9 Intel 486SX 33 MCA, 32-bit 8 7 one 2.88 MB 160 MB (SCSI) 8 MB 64 MB SVGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting
Server 85 9585-0XA Intel 486SX 33 MCA, 32-bit 8 7 one 2.88 MB 208 MB/212 MB (SCSI) 8 MB 64 MB SVGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting
Key attributes: Each unit incorporates the Micro Channel architecture (MCA) bus, offering support for eight or nine expansion slots and multiple SCSI hard drives with capacities spanning from approximately 104 MB to beyond 3 GB. Memory configurations range from a base of 8 MB up to a maximum of 256 MB depending on the specific model. Video output primarily utilizes SVGA adapters, with monitors available as optional components. The majority of these servers employ a tower form factor.


Portables

IBM PS/2 P70IBM PS/2 P70IBM PS/2 P75
IBM PS/2 portable computer models
Model IBM P/N Processor type Clock speed
(MHz)		 Bus architecture Number of
slots		 Drive bays count FDD floppy disk drive HDD hard disk drive Base RAM capacity Maximum RAM capacity Graphics hardware Display type Device form factor Launch date Additional information
P70 8573-031 Intel 386 16 Micro Channel architecture (MCA), 32-bit Two slots: one 16-bit and one 32-bit

0

one 1.44 MB floppy drive

30 MB (ESDI)

2 MB

8 MB

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

Monochrome gas plasma display

Portable

Template:Date table sorting

Slot available for optional i387 math co-processor

-

8573-061

i386

20

style="background:#CCF" | MCA, 32-bit

Two slots (one each of 16-bit and 32-bit)

0

one1.44MB

60MB (ESDI)

2MB

8MB

VGA

Monochrome gas plasma

Portable

Template:Date table sorting

Supports optional i387 co-processor slot

8573-121

i386

20

style="background:#CCF" | MCA,32-bit

Two slots (one16-bit, one32-bit)

0

one1.44MB

120MB (ESDI)

2MB

8MB

VGA

Monochrome gas plasma display

Portable

Template:Date table sorting

Includes slot for optional i387 co-processor

8573-161

i486

33

style="background:#CCF" | MCA,32-bit

Four slots (two16-bit, two32-bit)

0

one1.44MB

160MB (SCSI)

4MB

16MB

VGA

Monochrome gas plasma

Portable

Template:Date table sorting

'SCSI controller integrated on planar board'
'IBM PS/2 P75' | '8573-401' | 'i486' | '33' | 'Micro Channel architecture (MCA),32-bit' | '4 (two16-bit,two32-bit)' | '0' | 'one1.44MB' | '400MB (SCSI)' | '4MB' | '16MB' | 'Video Graphics Array (VGA)' | 'Monochrome gas plasma' | 'Portable' | 'Template:Date table sorting\' | SCSI controller embedded on system board 'IBM PS/2 Model L40 SX' | '8543-A44' | 'i386SX' | '20' | 'Industry Standard Architecture (ISA),16-bit' | '0 (1 via AT bus expansion port)' | '0' | 'one1.44MB' | '60MB (IDE)' | '2MB' | '18MB' | 'Video Graphics Array (VGA)' | 'Monochrome LCD' | 'Laptop' | 'Template:Date table sorting\' | 'IBM PS/2 N51SX' | '8551-033' | 'i386SX' | '16' | Proprietary PC Card bus system | Two PC Card slots | Unknown drive bays count | One1.44MB floppy drive | Forty megabytes IDE hard disk drive capacity | Two megabytes RAM standard | Ten megabytes maximum RAM supported | VGA graphics adapter | Monochrome LCD display panel | Notebook form factor | Release date unknown | 'IBM PS/2 N51SLC' | '8551-025' | 'IBM386SLC' processor at sixteen MHz clock speed, Proprietary PC Card bus architecture with two PC Card slots, unknown number of drive bays, equipped with a single1.44MB floppy drive and an IDE hard disk ranging up to eighty megabytes, starting RAM at two megabytes expandable to ten megabytes, VGA video hardware, monochrome LCD screen, notebook design, release date not specified | 'IBM PS/2 N33SX'|'8533-A33'||'[i386SX]'|'16'||Proprietary PC Card bus||Two PC Card slots||Unknown||One1.44MB floppy||40MB IDE hard disk||||Monochrome LCD||Notebook||Release date unknown | 'IBM PS/2 N33SX|'8533-A35'||'[i386SX]'|'16'||Proprietary PC Card bus||Two PC Card slots||Unknown||One1.44MB floppy||80MB IDE hard disk||||Monochrome LCD||Notebook||Release date unknown | 'IBM PS/2 Model CL57 SX|'8554-045'||'[IBM386SLC]'|'16'||Proprietary PC Card bus||Two PC Card slots||Unknown||One1.44MB floppy||80MB IDE hard disk|'2MB'||16MB|'Video Graphics Array (VGA)'|'Color TFT'||Laptop||Release date unknown |
Model IBM P/N Processor Clock speed (MHz) Bus type Expansion slots Drive bays Floppy disk drive Hard disk drive capacity Standard RAM size Maximum RAM size Video card type Screen type Device type Release date Notes


Related systems

... [Table continues with Industrial Computers and Personal Typing Systems entries summarized similarly] ...
IBM PS/2-associated models
Model IBM P/N CPU Clock rate
(MHz)		 Bus type Expansion
slots count		 Drive
bays count		 FDD HDD Standard
RAM		 Maximum
RAM		 Graphics adapter Display Chassis type Launch date Remarks
Academic System 6152-022 Intel 80286
ROMP 032 		10 (286) MCA, 16-bit 8 4 single 1.44 MB 20 MB (ST-506) 2 MB 8 MB VGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting Contains ROMP processor on daughterboard; cannot operate concurrently with 286
Academic System 6152-024 Intel 80286
ROMP 032 		10 (286) MCA, 16-bit 8 4 single 1.44 MB 20 MB (ST-506) 4 MB 8 MB VGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting Features ROMP processor on daughterboard; incompatible for simultaneous use with 286
Academic System 6152-044 Intel 80286
ROMP 032 		10 (286) MCA, 16-bit 8 4 single 1.44 MB 44 MB (ST-506) 4 MB 8 MB VGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting
Academic System 6152-048 Intel 80286
ROMP 032 		10 (286) MCA, 16-bit 8 4 single 1.44 MB 44 MB (ST-506) 8 MB 8 MB VGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting Includes ROMP processor on daughterboard; cannot run simultaneously with the 286
Academic System 6152-074 Intel 80286
ROMP 032 		10 (286) MCA, 16-bit 8 4 single 1.44 MB 70 MB (ESDI) 4 MB 8 MB VGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting
Academic System 6152-078 Intel 80286
ROMP 032 		10 (286) MCA,16-bit 8 4 single1.44 MB 70MB(

ESDI)

8MB 8MB VGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting
Clinical Workstation 7690 Intel8086 8 (0

w)

style="background:#FCC"| ISA,8-bit

4

0

single1.44MB

none

640 KB

8 MB

MCGA

Monochrome LCD

Mobile workstation

Template:Date table sorting

EduQuestThirty >9603 >IBM386SLC >25 ISA,16-bit >4 >2 >single1.44MB >30MB(

IDE)

>1–4MB >20MB > SVGA >14-inch color >All-in-one Template:Date table sorting
EduQuestForty >9604 >i486SX >25 ISA,16-bit >4 >2 >single1.44MB >30MB(

IDE)

>4MB >20MB >SVGA >14-inch color >All-in-one 1993-03
EduQuestFifty >9605 >i486SX >25 ISA,16-bit >4 >2 >single1.44MB >30MB(

IDE)

>4MB >20MB >SVGA >14-inch color >All-in-one 1993-03
EduQuestThirty-cs >9606 >CyrixCx486SLC2 >25/50 ISA,16-bit >4 >2 >single1.44MB Unknown HDD and RAM specifications Unknown maximum RAM SVGA 14-inch color All-in-one 1994
EduQuestFifty-cs >9608 >Intel486DX2 >33 ISA,16-bit >4 >2 >single1.44MB Unknown HDD and RAM specifications Unknown maximum RAM SVGA 14-inch color All-in-one 1994
EduQuestThirty-five >9613 >CyrixCx486SLC2 >25/50 ISA,16-bit >4 >2 >single1.44MB =133/256/342MB IDE storage =4MB standard RAM Unknown max RAM SVGA 14-inch color All-in-one 1994-09
EduQuestFifty-five >9615 >i486 =33–100 MHz ISA,16-bit =4 slots =2 bays =single1.44MB FDD =170/360/540 MB IDE storage =4 MB standard RAM =64 MB max RAM =SVGA =14-inch color =All-in-one =1994-09
EduQuestForty-five >9614 =50 or66 MHz ISA,16-bit =4 slots =2 bays =single1.44MB FDD Unknown HDD =4 MB standard RAM Unknown max RAM =SVGA =14-inch color =All-in-one =1995-09
Executive Workstation =7496 =Intel8086 =8 MHz (0 wait states) ISA,8-bit =3 slots =0 drive bays =single720 KB FDD =none =640 KB standard RAM =640 KB max RAM =MCGA =Monochrome monitor =All-in-one form factor =1989-09
GE Fanuc Workmaster II =7186 =Intel386 =16 MHz MCA,32-bit =0 slots =0 drive bays =single1.44 MB FDD =30 MB ESDI HDD =2 MB standard RAM =8 MB max RAM =VGA video =Monochrome gas plasma display =Portable chassis =1990-03


See also

References

Related profiles

LList of IBM PS/2 modelsIIBM PS/2 Model 35 LSIIBM PS/2 Model 35 SXIIBM PS/2 Model 53 SLC2
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=IBM_PS/2_Model_56_SLC&oldid=28360"