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Personal Typing System

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Personal Typing System, 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)
FateSucceeded original IBM PC line
SuccessorNone
Headquarters
Armonk, New York
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsPersonal computers (desktop, tower, all-in-one, portable, laptop, notebook)
OwnerIBM
ParentInternational Business Machines Corporation

The IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) was a series of personal computers created by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Launched in 1987, the PS/2 represented IBM's second generation of PCs, succeeding the original IBM PC line, which was discontinued following the PS/2 introduction in April 1987. The majority of PS/2 units incorporated IBM's proprietary Micro Channel architecture (MCA) bus, an effort by IBM to reassert dominance in the PC industry. Nevertheless, certain budget-friendly models retained the widely adopted, largely open-standard Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus used in earlier PC designs. The PS/2 range encompassed various form factors including desktop units, tower configurations, all-in-one systems, portable computers, laptops, and notebooks.

Notes

Legend
Clarifications
  • Models with IBM part numbers (P/N) intended for sales outside North America are not listed.
  • Unless otherwise noted, built-in or optional displays are CRT monitors.
  • The Space Saving Keyboard is a compact 87-key variant of the Model M lacking a numeric keypad.
  • The Model 25 Collegiate was designed for university students and came equipped with two 720 KB floppy drives, up to 640 KB of RAM, the official PS/2 Mouse, Windows 2.0, and blank floppy disks.
  • Financial workstation variants featured a dedicated 50-key function keypad tailored for banking software.
  • LS ("LAN Stations") models were diskless workstations without floppy or hard disk drives, connecting through Ethernet or Token Ring network adapters.
  • Ultimedia versions included integrated 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

IBM PS/2 Model Lineup
Model IBM P/N CPU Clock Speed Bus Type Slot Count Drive Bays Floppy Drives Optical Drives Base RAM Maximum RAM Graphics Adapter Display Chassis Type Release Date Remarks
25 8525-001 Intel 8086 8 MHz (0 wait states) ISA, 8-bit 2 2 One 720 KB None 512 KB 640 KB MCGA 12-inch monochrome All-in-one August 1987 Space Saving Keyboard included
25 8525-004 Intel 8086 8 MHz (0 wait states) ISA, 8-bit 2 2 One 720 KB None 512 KB 640 KB MCGA 12-inch color All-in-one August 1987 Space Saving Keyboard included
25 Collegiate 8525-C02 Intel 8086 8 MHz (0 wait states) ISA, 8-bit 2 2 Two 720 KB floppy drives None 640 KB 640 KB MCGA 12-inch monochrome All-in-one August 1987 Space Saving Keyboard included; aimed at college students
25 SX 8525-K00 Intel 386SX 20 MHz ISA, 16-bit 3 2 One 1.44 MB None 1 MB Up to16 MB VGA 12-inch color All-in-one April 1992
30 & variants || Intel 8086 /80286 || ISA,16-bit ||3 ||2 || up to40 MB ESDI ||640 KB–4 MB || MCGA/VGA || Desktop ||1987–1991 || Optional financial workstation features 35 SX / LS / SLC || Intel i386SX / IBM386SLC || ISA,16-bit ||3 ||2 || up to80 MB IDE/SCSI ||2–16 MB || VGA || Desktop ||1991–1992 || Ethernet and Token Ring networking options available 50 /50 Z || Intel80286 || MCA,16-bit ||4 ||3 || up to60 MB ESDI ||1–2 MB || VGA || Desktop ||1987–1988 || 55 SX / LS || Intel i386SX || MCA,16-bit ||3 ||2–3|| up to80 MB ESDI/SCSI||2–8 MB|| VGA|| Desktop||1989–1991|| 56 SX / LS / SLC / SLC LS|| IBM486SLC/i386SX|| MCA,16-bit||3||2–3|| up to160 MB SCSI/IDE||4–16 MB|| XGA-2|| Desktop||1992–1994|| Ethernet and Token Ring support; multimedia editions available 57 SX / SLC / Ultimedia M57 SLC|| IBM486SLC/i386SX|| MCA,16-bit||5||4|| up to540 MB SCSI||4–16 MB|| XGA-2|| Desktop||1991–1994|| 60 / variants|| Intel80286|| MCA,16-bit||8||4|| up to70 MB ESDI||1–7 MB|| VGA|| Tower||1987 || 65 SX|| Intel i386SX || MCA,16-bit ||8 ||4 || up to320 MB SCSI ||2–8 MB || VGA || Tower ||1990 || 70 series (386/486) || Intel i386/i486/DX2/DX4 || MCA,32-bit ||3 ||3 || up to160 MB ESDI/SCSI/IDE ||1–64 MB || VGA/XGA-2 || Desktop/Tower ||1988–1994 || 80 series (386) || Intel i386/i486/DX2/DX4 || MCA,32-bit ||8 ||5/6|| up to320 MB SCSI/ESDI/IDE||1–64 MB|| VGA/XGA-2/S3-928|| Tower||(1987)–1991 || 90 XP series (486) || Intel i486SX/DX/DX2/DX4|| MCA,32-bit||4–8||4||(up to)1 GB SCSI/ESDI/IDE||(up to)64 MB||(E)XGA/XGA-2||(Desktop/Tower)||1990–1993||(Optional OS/2 and Windows compatibility) 95 XP series (486)|| Intel i486SX/DX/DX2/DX4|| MCA,32-bit|| 7–8|| 4|| up to1 GB SCSI|| 4–64 MB|| (E)XGA/XGA-2|| Tower|| 1990– (early '90s)|| Premium tower systems supporting multimedia features and OS/2.
Model Processor Bus Architecture Slots Drive Bays Hard Drive Capacity RAM (Base/Max) Graphics Adapter Form Factor Launch Year Comments
Entry-Level and Midrange Desktop Systems


PS/2 Server

IBM PS/2 Server variants
Model IBM P/N CPU Frequency
(MHz)		 Bus architecture Expansion
slots		 Drive
bays		 FDD HDD capacity Installed
RAM		 Maximum
RAM		 Video card Monitor availability Chassis type Launch date Remarks
Server 85 9585-0X6 Intel 486SX 33 MCA, 32-bit 8 7 single 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 single 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 single 2.88 MB 208 MB/212 MB (SCSI) 8 MB 64 MB SVGA optional Tower Template:Date table sorting


Portables

IBM PS/2 Portable Series
Model IBM P/N CPU Clock Speed
(MHz)		 Bus Type Expansion
Slots Count		 Drive Bays Count FDD HDD Base RAM Max RAM Video Card Display Type Design Release Date Remarks Ref(s).
P70 8573-031 Intel 386 16 MCA, 32-bit 2 (one 16-bit, one 32-bit) 0 one 1.44 MB 30 MB (ESDI) 2 MB 8 MB VGA Monochrome gas plasma Portable Template:Date table sorting Supports optional i387 math co-processor slot
P70 8573-061 Intel 386 20 MCA, 32-bit 2 (one 16-bit, one 32-bit) 0 one 1.44 MB 60 MB (ESDI) 2 MB 8 MB VGA Monochrome gas plasma Portable Template:Date table sorting Includes slot for optional i387 co-processor
P70 8573-121 Intel 386 20 MCA, 32-bit 2 (one 16-bit, one 32-bit) 0 one 1.44 MB 120 MB (ESDI) 2 MB 8 MB VGA Monochrome gas plasma Portable Template:Date table sorting Features slot for optional i387 math co-processor
P75 8573-161 Intel 486 33 MCA, 32-bit 4 (two 16-bit, two 32-bit) 0 one 1.44 MB 160 MB (SCSI) 4 MB 16 MB VGA Monochrome gas plasma Portable Template:Date table sorting Integrated SCSI controller on the planar board
P75 8573-401 Intel 486 33 MCA, 32-bit 4 (two 16-bit, two 32-bit) 0 one 1.44 MB 400 MB (SCSI) 4 MB 16 MB VGA Monochrome gas plasma Portable Template:Date table sorting Includes onboard SCSI controller on planar board
L40 SX 8543-A44 Intel 386SX 20 ISA, 16-bit 0 (one with AT bus expansion port) 0 one 1.44 MB 60 MB (IDE) 2 MB 18 MB VGA Monochrome LCD Laptop Template:Date table sorting
N51SX 8551-033 Intel 386SX 16 style="background:#FFC" Proprietary bus 2 (PC Card slots) \u2014 one 1.44 MB 40 MB (IDE) 2 MB 10 MB Video Graphics Array (VGA) Monochrome LCD Notebook \u2014 \u2014
\u2014 N51SLC N51SLC] \u2014 8551-025 \u2014 IBM 386SLC \u2014 16 \u2014 Proprietary bus >2 PC Card slots \u2014 — >one 1.44 MB >80 MB (IDE) >2 MB >10 MB >Video Graphics Array (VGA) >Monochrome LCD >Notebook \u2014 \u2014
\u2014 N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] N33SX] \u2014 A35 A35 A35 A35 A35 A35 A35 A35 A35 A35] \u2014 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386 i386] \u2014 Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary] \u2014 PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card] \u2014 single single single single single single single single single single] \u2014 IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE] \u2014 unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown] \u2014 unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown] \u2014 Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD Monochrome LCD] \u2014 Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook Notebook] \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014]
\u2014 CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX CL57 SX] \u2014 A45 A45 A45 A45 A45 A45 A45 A45 A45 A45] \u2014 IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM IBM] \u2014 Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary] \u2014 PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card PC Card] \u2014 single single single single single single single single single single] \u2014 IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE IDE] \u2014 two two two two two two two two two two] \u2014 sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen sixteen] \u2014 VGA VGA VGA VGA VGA VGA VGA VGA VGA VGA] \u2014 Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT Color TFT] \u2014 Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop Laptop] \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014 \u2014]


Related systems

... [similar entries for other Academic Systems omitted for brevity] ... Clinical Workstation ... [similar entries for EduQuest series omitted for brevity] ... Industrial Computer lineup (models include: 7552-040, 7552-140, 7541,7542,7561,7562,7546,7568-040,7568-150,7568-C40,7568-D40) Processors: Variants of Intel 80286, i386, and i486 running at frequencies from 10 to 50 MHz. Bus architecture: Mainly Micro Channel architecture (MCA), with certain units featuring hybrid configurations incorporating Industry Standard Architecture (ISA). Expansion slots: Between three and eight modular slots available. Drive bays: Typically three to four bays; floppy drives generally one or two with capacities of either 1.44 or 2.88 MB. Storage capacity: Hard disks vary from none up to several hundred megabytes utilizing interfaces such as ESDI and SCSI. Memory: Base RAM ranges from as little as 512 KB to multiple megabytes; expandable between approximately 3 MB and at least up to16 MB. Video output: Predominantly VGA adapters; monitors offered optionally. Chassis styles: Available as benchtop units, rack-mounted systems, or rugged portable industrial designs. Release period: From October1986 through September1991. Distinguished as durable modular industrial computers featuring early MCA adoption prior to PS/2 introduction; also marketed under "Gearbox" and "Gearbox Model800" names. Personal Typing System series (models numbered from6901-001 through -006, including Personal Typing System/2 variants) Processors: Intel 8086 and 80286 CPUs operating mainly at around8 MHz in earlier versions and up to10 MHz in the /2 models. Bus system: Primarily ISA with early models using an8-bit configuration; some later versions employ enhanced ISA setups. Expansion slots: Generally zero to two slots provided. Drive bays: Usually two bays; floppy drives typically one or two units supporting either720 KB or up to1.44 MB capacity. Storage options: Optional hard disk drives ranging from none up to approximately30 MB using ST-506 or ESDI interfaces. Memory specifications: Default RAM typically between640 KB and1 MB; maximum usually equal to default. Video adapters: Standard MCGA; monitors mostly monochrome or color displays around12 inches in size. Form factor: Desktop all-in-one machines designed primarily for word processing and office use. Launch timeframe: Between July1987 and July1989. Focused on the business word processing sector with bundled software packages and optional IBM Wheelwriter or Quietwriter peripherals; network interface cards were also available.
IBM PS/2-associated models
Model IBM P/N CPU Clock speed
(MHz)		 Bus type Number of
slots		 Number of
drive bays		 FDD HDD Default
RAM		 Maximum
RAM		 Video card Monitor Chassis type Launch date Remarks Ref(s).
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 ROMP processor installed 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 ROMP processor mounted on daughter card; incompatible with simultaneous use alongside the 286 CPU
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
7690 Intel 8086 8 (0 w) ISA, 8-bit 4 none single 1.44 MB none installed 640 KB up to 8 MB MCGA Monochrome LCD screen Mobile workstation form factor Template:Date table sorting


See also

References

Related profiles

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