The Museum of HP Calculators


HP 9830 Features

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.
Display and Keyboard HP 9830
Display type LED
Display format 1 32 char line
FIXed number format Yes
SCIentific number format Yes
ENGineering number format -
STanDard / ALL number format Yes
Alpha messages and prompts Yes
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay -
Softkeys labeled by display menus -
Softkeys with neither labeling system -
Status annunciators -
Redefinable keyboard -
Logic HP 9830
Logic system BASIC
Stack levels -
Last x -
Undo -
Precedence Yes
Parentheses Yes
Storage Addition (STO +) Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷) Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^) -
Recall Arithmetic -
Named variables Yes
Multiple data types BASIC types
Directories -
Math HP 9830
+, −, ×, ÷ Yes 
1/x -
Yes
x2 -
LOG x Yes
10x -
LN x Yes
ex Yes
yx Yes
π Yes
% Yes
% change -
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value Yes
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.) Most (rest +)
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.) +
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads) 3
Advanced Math HP 9830
Solver / root finder +
Numeric integration -
Complex numbers +
Matrix operations Option
Matrix writer -
Equation writer -
Symbolic operations -
Fractions -
Plotting and graphics (display) -
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter) Option
Statistical HP 9830
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables) +
Σ of n, x, x2 +
Σ of n, x, x2, y -
Σ of n, x, x2, y, xy -
Σ of n, x, x2, y, y2, xy -
Σ of lists -
Random number generator Yes
Linear regression, estimate  +
Curve fitting +
Correlation coefficient -
Normal distribution -
Factorial +
Gamma +
Combinations and permutations -
Scientific and Time HP 9830
Polar / rectangular conversions +
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16) Octal option
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16 -
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...) -
Selectable word size (1-64 bits) -
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned) -
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions +
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic -
Time of day clock -
Timer -
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate) -
Alarms -
Unit Conversions HP 9830
Centimeters / inches -
Millimeters / inches -
Meters / feet -
Kilograms / pounds (mass) -
Newtons / pounds (force) -
British thermal units / joules -
Liters / gallons -
° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit -
Other -
User-defined units -
Time Value of Money HP 9830
Number of payments (n) -
Interest rate (i) -
Present Value (PV) -
Payment (PMT) -
Future Value (FV) -
Cash Flow Analysis HP 9830
Net present value (NPV) -
Internal rate of return (IRR) -
Amortization HP 9830
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT) +
Balance (BAL) +
Depreciation HP 9830
Straight line (SL) -
Sum of the years digits (SOYD) -
Declining balance (DB) -
Bonds and calendar functions HP 9830
Bond price -
Bond yield -
Date arithmetic / calendar functions -
Memory and Programming HP 9830
Programming language(s) BASIC
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers 3520 bytes
Max # of program steps Variable*
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM 7616 bytes
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM Variable*
Merged program steps  Highly
Manual register / program memory allocation  -
Automatic register / program memory allocation Yes
Overlapped register and program memory -
Continuous memory -
Flags -
Conditional tests 6
Subroutine levels Unlim
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0) Yes
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end) Yes
Multiple index / loop registers Yes
Line number addressing Yes
Branching by relative line number -
Global program label addressing -
Local program label addressing -
Indirect / computed addressing and control Yes
Multiple indirection registers Yes
Pause Yes
Alpha messages and prompts in programs Option
Alpha program listings Yes
Alpha string manipulation Option
Program step insert / delete Yes
I/O and Expansion Features HP 9830
ROM modules Yes
RAM modules or expansion option Yes
General expansion slots / connector Yes
Magnetic card reader/writer -
Tape drive Yes
Disk drive Yes (hard disk)
Upgradeable firmware -
Optical wand -
Serial port -
Infrared input -
Infrared output -
Printer Option
Networking -
Other Digitizer,
plotter,
BCD & gen I/O
optical card reader,
large display,
paper tape reader,
typewriter coupler,
etc.
General HP 9830
Sounds Yes
Self test -
Hard case (in addition to soft case) -
Additional Features -
Batteries -
Length (inches) 25"
Width 16"
Height 7"
Weight (oz or lbs) ~ 40 lbs
Year of introduction 1972
Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Unlim means limited only by available memory.
HP 9830 notes:
  • Memory was reallocated from registers to program as needed. Because lines where highly variable in length there is no fixed maximum # of line
  • Batch BASIC option allowed the machine to accept and execute BASIC programs on marked or punched cards. Terminal ROM allowed the machine to act as a terminal. Advanced Programming II ROM added sort, search etc. for database applications
  • Only the Math pac is included above so far. No other ROMS/pacs

Go to the feature comparison page
Go back to the main exhibit hall