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Difference between revisions of "PC-9801"

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| pc98_date_jp=1982-10-13 {{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20021020223812/http://www.nec.co.jp/press/ja/0210/1004.html#chu4}}
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| pc98_rrp_jp=298,000
 
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The '''PC-9801''' is a computer released by [[NEC]] in 1982, and the first computer in the [[PC-9800]] series.
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The '''PC-9801''' is a computer released by [[NEC]] in 1982, and the first computer in the [[PC-9800 series]].
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
 
The PC-9801 was envisioned as a high-end business machine by NEC, being built around a 16-bit [[µPD8086]] processor (NEC's version of Intel's 8086) and two [[µPD7220]] graphics chips, developed by NEC to efficiently display the kanji character set (at a high enough resolution to read). In this original setup, one is used for graphics, and the other for text.
 
The PC-9801 was envisioned as a high-end business machine by NEC, being built around a 16-bit [[µPD8086]] processor (NEC's version of Intel's 8086) and two [[µPD7220]] graphics chips, developed by NEC to efficiently display the kanji character set (at a high enough resolution to read). In this original setup, one is used for graphics, and the other for text.
  
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This PC-9801 shares much in common with the original [[PC-8801]], released a year prior, expecting that the user purchase external disk drives in order to interface with the machine. No operating system is built-in to the unit (unlike the [[PC-8000 series]], [[PC-6000 series]] and the [[PC-8800 series]]), and as these models did not ship with a hard drive, a boot disk (such as CP/M or MS-DOS) is usually required, meaning disk drives were usually sold in pairs.
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This PC-9801 shares much in common with the original [[PC-8801]], with many peripherals designed for the PC-8801 (such as monitors) being compatible with both machines. Built into ROM is [[N88-BASIC (86)]], which derives from the PC-8801's [[N88-BASIC]]; the two are very similar, and though the languages are not completely interchangable, often only minor changes were required to make a PC-8801 BASIC program run on a PC-9801.
  
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While not strictly designed for gaming, its popularity in business inevitably led to video games being produced for the system (not dissimilar to the IBM PC in the West). While theoretically faster, the graphics modes on offer mean PC-9801 are often visually very similar to the PC-8801. Much like the PC-8801, sound hardware is limited to a simple "beeper".
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The PC-9801 was significantly more expensive than the PC-8801 at launch; as well as taking into account for the computer itself, customers were expected to purchase an external [[PC-9881]] 8-inch disk drive in order to interface with the machine. Likewise while the default PC-9801 can handle some types of kanji characters, if the user wanted to make full use of word processing software, a [[PC-9801-01]] expansion board would need to be purchased for JIS kanji level 1. Were a printer required as well, the combined cost would reportedly total nearly {{price|1,000,000|region=JP}}.
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While not strictly designed for gaming, the PC-9801's popularity in business inevitably led to video games being produced for the system (not dissimilar to the IBM PC in the West). The PC-9801 has higher resolution graphics than most of its contemporaries, but is limited to 8 colours. Much like the PC-8801, sound hardware is limited to a simple "beeper".
  
 
===Technical specifications===
 
===Technical specifications===
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**640×200, 2 colours, 6 pages
 
**640×200, 2 colours, 6 pages
 
*'''RAM:''' 128KB
 
*'''RAM:''' 128KB
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*'''VRAM:''' 48KB
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*'''VRAM:''' 96KB
 
*'''Sound:''' Internal "beeper"
 
*'''Sound:''' Internal "beeper"
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*'''Expansion Slots''': 6 slots
  
 
==List of games==
 
==List of games==
 
{{BulletPointGameList|PC98}}
 
{{BulletPointGameList|PC98}}
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==Promotional material==
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<gallery>
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PC-9801 JP advert.jpg
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PC9801 JP Flyer.pdf|JP Flyer
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</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 14:34, 3 May 2024

PC9801.jpg
PC-9801
Manufacturer: NEC
Release Date RRP Code
PC-9801
JP 		¥298,000298,000

{{#seo: 

|image=https://necretro.org/images/f/f4/PC9801.jpg
|site_name=NEC Retro
|locale=en_GB
}}

The PC-9801 is a computer released by NEC in 1982, and the first computer in the PC-9800 series.

Hardware

The PC-9801 was envisioned as a high-end business machine by NEC, being built around a 16-bit µPD8086 processor (NEC's version of Intel's 8086) and two µPD7220 graphics chips, developed by NEC to efficiently display the kanji character set (at a high enough resolution to read). In this original setup, one is used for graphics, and the other for text.

This PC-9801 shares much in common with the original PC-8801, with many peripherals designed for the PC-8801 (such as monitors) being compatible with both machines. Built into ROM is N88-BASIC (86), which derives from the PC-8801's N88-BASIC; the two are very similar, and though the languages are not completely interchangable, often only minor changes were required to make a PC-8801 BASIC program run on a PC-9801.

The PC-9801 was significantly more expensive than the PC-8801 at launch; as well as taking into account for the computer itself, customers were expected to purchase an external PC-9881 8-inch disk drive in order to interface with the machine. Likewise while the default PC-9801 can handle some types of kanji characters, if the user wanted to make full use of word processing software, a PC-9801-01 expansion board would need to be purchased for JIS kanji level 1. Were a printer required as well, the combined cost would reportedly total nearly ¥1,000,0001,000,000.

While not strictly designed for gaming, the PC-9801's popularity in business inevitably led to video games being produced for the system (not dissimilar to the IBM PC in the West). The PC-9801 has higher resolution graphics than most of its contemporaries, but is limited to 8 colours. Much like the PC-8801, sound hardware is limited to a simple "beeper".

Technical specifications

  • CPU: µPD8086 clocked at 5MHz
  • Graphics: 2x µPD7220 clocked at 2.5MHz
    • 640×400, 8 colours, 1 page
    • 640×400, 2 colours, 3 pages
    • 640×200, 8 colours, 2 pages
    • 640×200, 2 colours, 6 pages
  • RAM: 128KB
  • VRAM: 96KB
  • Sound: Internal "beeper"
  • Expansion Slots: 6 slots

List of games

Promotional material

  • PC-9801 JP advert.jpg

  • JP Flyer

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nec.co.jp/press/ja/0210/1004.html#chu4 (Wayback Machine: 2002-10-20 22:38)


PC-9800 series hardware
PC-9800 series Desktop hardware
PC-9801 (1982) | PC-9801 F (E) (1983) | M (1984)

V30 Computers: U | VF | VM (21) | UV (21) | CV (1985-1988)
286 Computers: VX | UX | RX | EX | DX | UR | UF (1986-1991)
386 Computers: RA | RS | ES | DA | DS | CS | FS | FX | US (1988-1992)
486+ Computers: FA | BX | BA | BX2 | BS2 | BA2 | BA3 | BX4 (1993-1995)
Other: DO | DO+ | GS (1989-1990)

PC-9800 series Laptop hardware
V30 Computers: PC-9801 LV (1988)

286 Computers: PC-9801 LX (1989)
386 Computers: PC-9801 LS (1988) | PC-9801 T (1990-1991)
V50 Computers(9801 Incompatible): PC-98LT (1986) | PC-98HA (1993)
Other: PC-9801 P (1993)

PC-9800 series Notebook hardware
V30 Computers: PC-9801 N (1989))

V30HL(286) Computers: PC-9801 NV (1990-1991) | PC-9801 NL/(R)(A) (1992-1994)
386 Computers: PC-9801 NC (1991) | PC-9801 NS/(E)(T)(L)(R)(A) (1990-1994)
486 Computers: PC-9801 NA/(C) (1992) | PC-9801 NX/C (1993)

PC-9800 series Workstation hardware
286 Computers: PC-98XA (1985) | PC-98XL (1986)

386 Computers: PC-98XL² (1987) | PC-98RL (1990)
386/486 Computers: PC-H98 (1990-1992)

PC-9800 series Peripherals
Not sure how to organize this one
stuff
Okay so I have no idea how best to do this
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