The Archimedes ran RISCReduced instruction set computer — a CPU design using simple, fast instructions. OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. on the ARM1/ARM2 CPUCentral processing unit — the primary chip that executes program instructions. Acorn created when 68000 and x86Intel's dominant CPU architecture family — the instruction set behind most PCs and servers for decades. chips seemed too power-hungry. ARMA CPU architecture family known for energy efficiency — dominates smartphones and growing in servers and laptops. went on to power every smartphone and Apple silicon Mac — but it started here in a British school computer. Developers wrote in BBC BASICBeginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code — an early programming language designed for ease of learning. and C on a architecture that now ships billions of chips a year.

The Archimedes was the first commercial product using the ARM architectureA family of CPU designs known for energy efficiency — dominates smartphones and increasingly servers and laptops..

ARMA CPU architecture family known for energy efficiency — dominates smartphones and growing in servers and laptops. processors in every phone and Apple M-series chip trace their lineage to this machine.