content: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                          
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                                                                  
                                      FORM 8-K
                                          
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                                         
                  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
                                                                                  
                        NOVEMBER 11, 1996 (NOVEMBER 6, 1996)
                                                 
                                 AST RESEARCH, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                          
                                      DELAWARE
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                                                                                  
                     0-13941                        95-3525565
             (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
               16215 ALTON PARKWAY
                IRVINE, CALIFORNIA                    92718
          (Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)
  
                 Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                   (714) 727-4141
  
  
                                   NOT APPLICABLE
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
                                          
  
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
  On November 6, 1996, AST Research, Inc. (the "Company") signed a non-binding 
  letter of intent with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ("Samsung") to provide 
  certain additional financial support to the Company as consideration for
  shares of non-voting Preferred Stock.  The additional support includes a
  guaranty of a $100 million bank line of credit starting December 1, 1996, and a
  guaranty of an additional $100 million bank line of credit starting April 1,
  1997, both extending through December 31, 1998.  The additional financial 
  support contemplated in this letter of intent is in addition to the existing 
  Samsung guaranty of a $200 million credit facility, provided pursuant to an 
  Additional Support Agreement between the Company and Samsung, dated December 21,
  1996.
  
  The letter of intent anticipates that the Company will issue non-voting
  preferred stock, with an agreed upon value of approximately $15 million.  The
  shares would not be subject to mandatory redemption, but would be redeemable at
  the Company's option for cash or shares of the Company's common stock, beginning
  in 1999.  The preferred shares would carry a cumulative dividend, beginning in
  1999, at a rate to be agreed upon.  The letter of intent also requires the
  Company to repay a $50 million loan provided by Samsung to the Company on
  October 11, 1996, upon the availability of funds under the credit line
  contemplated by the letter of intent.  The additional support transaction,
  including the exact valuation, redemption provisions and preferred dividend
  rate, is subject to definitive documentation and approvals.
  
  The Company also announced that Roger W. Johnson has been named as a member of
  the Company's Board of Directors.  In addition, the Company released results of
  the third quarter of fiscal year 1996, reporting a net loss of $135.3 million,
  or $2.41 per share.
  
  A copy of the press releases announcing the letter of intent, the addition of 
  Roger W. Johnson to the Board of Directors and announcing third quarter results
  are attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Report, and are incorporated 
  herein by this reference.  A copy of the Letter of Intent is attached as Exhibit
  99.3, and is incorporated herein by this reference.  A copy of the $50 million 
  loan and related promissory note is attached as Exhibit 99.4, and is 
  incorporated herein by this reference.
  
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
  Exhibit
  Number    Description
  
  99.1      Press release issued by the Registrant on November 7, 1996, reporting
            third quarter results, announcing a non-binding letter of intent with
            Samsung pursuant to which Samsung will provide additional financial
            support to the Company, and announcing that Roger W. Johnson has
            been named as a Board Member.
  
  99.2      Press release issued by the Registrant on November 7, 1996, announcing
            that Roger W. Johnson has been named as a Board Member.
  
  99.3      Loan Agreement and Promissory Note dated October 11, 1996 by and
            between AST Research, Inc., and Samsung  Electronics America, Inc.
  
  99.4      Letter of Intent, dated November 7, 1996 by and between AST Research,
            Inc., and Samsung.
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                      AST Research, Inc.
                           _______________________________________
                                         (Registrant)
  
  
                                By  /s/WON S. YANG
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Won S. Yang
                                    Senior Vice President
                                    and Chief Financial Officer (Acting)
  
  
  Date:     November 11, 1996
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AST RESEARCH INC /DE/", "cik": "0000725182", "assigned-sic": "3571", "irs-number": "953525565", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-13941", "film-number": "96661295"}, "business-address": {"street1": "16215 ALTON PKWY", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92718", "phone": "7147274141"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                          
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                                                                  
                                      FORM 8-K
                                          
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                                         
                  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
                                                                                  
                        NOVEMBER 11, 1996 (NOVEMBER 6, 1996)
                                                 
                                 AST RESEARCH, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                          
                                      DELAWARE
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
                                                                                  
                     0-13941                        95-3525565
             (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
               16215 ALTON PARKWAY
                IRVINE, CALIFORNIA                    92718
          (Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)
  
                 Registrant's telephone number, including area code
                                   (714) 727-4141
  
                                   NOT APPLICABLE
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
                                          
  
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
  On November 6, 1996, AST Research, Inc. (the "Company") signed a non-binding 
  letter of intent with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ("Samsung") to provide 
  certain additional financial support to the Company as consideration for
  shares of non-voting Preferred Stock.  The additional support includes a
  guaranty of a $100 million bank line of credit starting December 1, 1996, and a
  guaranty of an additional $100 million bank line of credit starting April 1,
  1997, both extending through December 31, 1998.  The additional financial 
  support contemplated in this letter of intent is in addition to the existing 
  Samsung guaranty of a $200 million credit facility, provided pursuant to an 
  Additional Support Agreement between the Company and Samsung, dated December 21,
  1996.
  
  The letter of intent anticipates that the Company will issue non-voting
  preferred stock, with an agreed upon value of approximately $15 million.  The
  shares would not be subject to mandatory redemption, but would be redeemable at
  the Company's option for cash or shares of the Company's common stock, beginning
  in 1999.  The preferred shares would carry a cumulative dividend, beginning in
  1999, at a rate to be agreed upon.  The letter of intent also requires the
  Company to repay a $50 million loan provided by Samsung to the Company on
  October 11, 1996, upon the availability of funds under the credit line
  contemplated by the letter of intent.  The additional support transaction,
  including the exact valuation, redemption provisions and preferred dividend
  rate, is subject to definitive documentation and approvals.
  
  The Company also announced that Roger W. Johnson has been named as a member of
  the Company's Board of Directors.  In addition, the Company released results of
  the third quarter of fiscal year 1996, reporting a net loss of $135.3 million,
  or $2.41 per share.
  
  A copy of the press releases announcing the letter of intent, the addition of 
  Roger W. Johnson to the Board of Directors and announcing third quarter results
  are attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 to this Report, and are incorporated 
  herein by this reference.  A copy of the Letter of Intent is attached as Exhibit
  99.3, and is incorporated herein by this reference.  A copy of the $50 million 
  loan and related promissory note is attached as Exhibit 99.4, and is 
  incorporated herein by this reference.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
  Exhibit
  Number    Description
  
  99.1      Press release issued by the Registrant on November 7, 1996, reporting
            third quarter results, announcing a non-binding letter of intent with
            Samsung pursuant to which Samsung will provide additional financial
            support to the Company, and announcing that Roger W. Johnson has
            been named as a Board Member.
  
  99.2      Press release issued by the Registrant on November 7, 1996, announcing
            that Roger W. Johnson has been named as a Board Member.
  
  99.3      Loan Agreement and Promissory Note dated October 11, 1996 by and
            between AST Research, Inc., and Samsung  Electronics America, Inc.
  
  99.4      Letter of Intent, dated November 7, 1996 by and between AST Research,
            Inc., and Samsung.
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                      AST Research, Inc.
                           _______________________________________
                                         (Registrant)
  
                                By  /s/WON S. YANG
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Won S. Yang
                                    Senior Vice President
                                    and Chief Financial Officer (Acting)
  
  Date:     November 11, 1996