The Museum of HP Calculators


HP-41CX 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-41CX
Display type LCD
Display format 1 Line
FIXed number format Yes
SCIentific number format Yes
ENGineering number format Yes
STanDard / ALL number format -
Alpha messages and prompts Yes
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay Yes
Softkeys labeled by display menus -
Softkeys with neither labeling system -
Status annunciators Yes
Redefinable keyboard Yes
Logic HP-41CX
Logic system RPN
Stack levels 4
Last x Yes
Undo -
Precedence -
Parentheses -
Storage Addition (STO +) Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷) Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^) -
Recall Arithmetic -
Named variables -
Multiple data types -
Directories -
Math HP-41CX
+, −, ×, ÷ Yes 
1/x Yes
Yes
x2 Yes
LOG x Yes
10x Yes
LN x Yes
ex Yes
yx Yes
π Yes
% Yes
% change Yes
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value Yes
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.) Yes
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.) Option
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads) 3
Advanced Math HP-41CX
Solver / root finder Option
Numeric integration Option
Complex numbers Option
Matrix operations Option
Matrix writer -
Equation writer -
Symbolic operations -
Fractions -
Plotting and graphics (display) -
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter) Option
Statistical HP-41CX
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables) 2
Σ of n, x, x2 Yes
Σ of n, x, x2, y Yes
Σ of n, x, x2, y, xy Yes
Σ of n, x, x2, y, y2, xy Yes
Σ of lists -
Random number generator -
Linear regression, estimate  Option
Curve fitting Option
Correlation coefficient Option
Normal distribution Option
Factorial Yes
Gamma +
Combinations and permutations -
Scientific and Time HP-41CX
Polar / rectangular conversions Yes
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16) Octal+Option
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16 -
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...) Option
Selectable word size (1-64 bits) -
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned) -
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions Yes
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic Yes
Time of day clock Yes
Timer Yes
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate) -
Alarms Yes
Unit Conversions HP-41CX
Centimeters / inches Option
(some)
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-41CX
Number of payments (n) Option
Interest rate (i) Option
Present Value (PV) Option
Payment (PMT) Option
Future Value (FV) Option
Cash Flow Analysis HP-41CX
Net present value (NPV) Option
Internal rate of return (IRR) Option
Amortization HP-41CX
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT) Option
Balance (BAL) Option
Depreciation HP-41CX
Straight line (SL) Option
Sum of the years digits (SOYD) Option
Declining balance (DB) Option
Bonds and calendar functions HP-41CX
Bond price Option
Bond yield Option
Date arithmetic / calendar functions Yes
Memory and Programming HP-41CX
Programming language(s) RPN
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers 319
Max # of program steps 1000-2231*
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM -
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM -
Merged program steps  Yes
Manual register / program memory allocation  Yes
Automatic register / program memory allocation -
Overlapped register and program memory -
Continuous memory Yes
Flags 56
Conditional tests 10
Subroutine levels 6
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 -
Branching by relative line number -
Global program label addressing Yes
Local program label addressing Yes
Indirect / computed addressing and control Yes
Multiple indirection registers Yes
Pause Yes
Alpha messages and prompts in programs Yes
Alpha program listings Yes
Alpha string manipulation Yes
Program step insert / delete Yes
I/O and Expansion Features HP-41CX
ROM modules Yes
RAM modules or expansion option Yes
General expansion slots / connector Yes
Magnetic card reader/writer Option
Tape drive Option
Disk drive Option
Upgradeable firmware -
Optical wand Option
Serial port Option
Infrared input -
Infrared output Option
Printer Option
Networking HP-IL option
Other Various
General HP-41CX
Sounds Yes
Self test -
Hard case (in addition to soft case) -
Additional Features Ext. Funcs.*
Batteries 4 N cells
Length (inches) 5.6"
Width 3.1"
Height 1.2"
Weight (oz or lbs) 7 oz
Year of introduction 1983
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-41CX notes:
  • HP-41CX instructions occupied a variable number of bytes so the maximum number of steps is expressed as a range.
  • Extended memory modules could be added to increase memory further than the maximums listed above but this memory was not directly accessible. The HP-41CX included the Extended Functions ROM which included the commands to access this memory. The Extended Functions ROM was optional on other models.
  • Some features marked Option were supplied in the Advantage ROM. This module was released late in the 41 production run to give it the features of the newer models.

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