8-K

                                        
                       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)
                                        
                                        
                       OCTOBER 11, 1996 (OCTOBER 9, 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 October 9, 1996, AST Research, Inc. (the "Company") announced the retirement
of Dennis R. Leibel, Senior Vice President, Legal, Administration and Secretary.
A copy of the press release is attached to this report, and is incorporated
herein by reference.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number    Description

99.1      Press Release dated October 9, 1996 announcing the retirement of
          Dennis R. Leibel, Senior Vice President, Legal, Administration and
          Secretary.

                                        
                                   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/ MARK P. DE RAAD
                                  ----------------------------------
                                  Mark P. de Raad
                                  Vice President, Finance, Treasurer
                                  and Principal Accounting Officer

Date:  October 11, 1996

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

                                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                   Media & Analyst Contact: Emory Epperson
                                                            (714) 727-7958

                  AST ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF DENNIS R. LEIBEL

IRVINE, Calif., October 9, 1996 -- AST Research Inc. (ASTA--NASDAQ) today
announced the retirement of Dennis R. Leibel, senior vice president, legal and
administration and an officer.  Mr. Leibel served the company for eleven years,
having previously been vice president of tax and financial planning at Smith
International.

     "Dennis will be widely missed at AST," said Y.S. Kim, AST president and
chief executive officer.

     Legal and administration staff who reported previously to Mr. Leibel will
now report to Mr. Kim.

     AST Research Inc., a member of the Fortune 500 list of America's largest
industrial and service companies, is one of the world's leading personal
computer manufacturers.  The company develops a broad spectrum of desktop,
mobile and server PC products that are sold in more than 100 countries
worldwide.  AST systems meet a wide range of customer needs, ranging from
corporate business applications to advanced home and office use.  Corporate
headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine,
California 92619-7005.  Telephone (714) 727-4141 or (800) 876-4278.  Fax (714)
727-9355.  Information about AST and its products can be found on the World Wide
Web at http://www.ast.com.
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