68000based

68000based refers to computer systems, boards, or devices that use the Motorola 68000 family of microprocessors as their primary CPU. Introduced in 1979, the 68000 is a 16/32-bit CISC processor with a 24-bit address bus and a 16-bit data path, featuring a large, orthogonal instruction set and multiple addressing modes. Its combination of performance and programming model made it a popular choice for mainstream personal computers, workstations, and embedded systems during the 1980s and into the 1990s.

Notable 68000based systems include the Apple Macintosh line (from the original Macintosh through the Plus and Quadra era variants), the Commodore Amiga, the Atari ST, and the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive home console and related arcade boards (the Genesis used the 68000 for main game logic with a Z80 as a sound controller in many revisions). The Neo Geo arcade and home systems also used a 68000 as their main CPU. These platforms helped establish a diverse ecosystem of software, tools, and development communities.

In later years, the 68000 family expanded with the 68020/68030/68040, and most 68000based systems were superseded by newer processors or architectures. Today, the term is mainly used in retro computing, emulation, and hobbyist hardware projects to describe machines or software that emulate or maintain compatibility with 68000-based environments.