PC-8800 series
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The PC-8800 series (PC-8800シリーズ) is a range of Japanese home computers manufactured between 1981 and 1989 by NEC.
The PC-8800 series began with the launch of the PC-8801, and was initially marketed as a high-end home computer by the firm (a cheaper alternative being the PC-6000 series). It is the more logical successor to the PC-8000 series.
In October 1982 NEC launched the 16-bit PC-9800 series (beginning with the PC-9801), which over time became the new standard for higher-end computers offered by the company. The PC-8800 series continued to survive, however, becoming extremely popular as the price slowly fell.
During the first half of the 1980s, the PC-8800 series became one of the "big three" Japanese computers which dominated the market, sharing a platform with the Sharp X1 and its derivatives, and the FM-7 by Fujitsu. While many microcomputers were crushed by the rising MSX standard in 1983, the PC-8800 series continued to be supported until the early 1990s, where all Japanese computers were put under strain by the standards set by IBM PC compatibles.
Older PC-8800 series computers have an "N mode" video option, allowing for backwards compatibility with the PC-8000 series. This was removed with the PC-8801 mkII FR in November 1985.
Computers
Name | Date | Price | Processor | Clock Speed | RAM | Built-in 5¼ " FDD | Built-in CD-ROM | Video Modes | Sound |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC-8801 | 1981-11 | ¥228,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | No | No | N, V1 | Beeper |
PC-8801 mkII model 10 | 1983-11 | ¥168,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | No | No | N, V1 | Beeper |
PC-8801 mkII model 20 | 1983-11 | ¥225,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 1x 2DD | No | N, V1 | Beeper |
PC-8801 mkII model 30 | 1983-11 | ¥275,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | N, V1 | Beeper |
PC-8801 mkII SR model 10 | 1985-01 | ¥168,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | No | No | N, V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 mkII SR model 20 | 1985-01 | ¥213,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 1x 2DD | No | N, V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 mkII SR model 30 | 1985-01 | ¥258,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | N, V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 mkII TR | 1985-09 | ¥288,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | N, V1, V2 | |
PC-8801 mkII FR model 10 | 1985-11 | ¥99,800 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | No | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 mkII FR model 20 | 1985-11 | ¥148,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 1x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 mkII FR model 30 | 1985-11 | ¥178,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 mkII MR | 1985-11 | ¥238,000 | Z80A | 4MHz | 192kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2 | |
PC-8801 mkII MH | 1986-10 | ¥208,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 192kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 FH model 10 | 1986-11 | ¥98,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | No | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 FH model 20 | 1986-11 | ¥138,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | 1x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 FH model 30 | 1986-11 | ¥168,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 FH model 30 (black) | 1986-11 | ¥168,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-88 VA | 1987-03 | ¥298,000 | V30 | 8MHz | 512kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2, V3 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 FA | 1987-10 | ¥168,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
PC-8801 MA | 1987-10 | ¥198,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 192kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
PC-88 VA2 | 1988-03 | ¥298,000 | V30 | 8MHz | 512kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2, V3 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
PC-88 VA3 | 1988-03 | ¥398,000 | V30 | 8MHz | 512kB | 2x 2HD (+ 3½-inch 1x 2TD) | No | V1, V2, V3 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
PC-8801 FE | 1988-10 | ¥129,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 MA2 | 1988-10 | ¥168,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 192kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
PC-8801 FE2 | 1989-10 | ¥119,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 64kB | 2x 2DD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG |
PC-8801 MC model 1 | 1989-11 | ¥169,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 192kB | 2x 2HD | No | V1, V2 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
PC-8801 MC model 2 | 1989-11 | ¥199,000 | Z80H | 8/4MHz | 192kB | 2x 2HD | Yes | V1, V2 | FM, SSG, ADPCM |
Note: Floppy disk standards among NEC machines are both named and formatted slightly differently than Western counterparts:
- Double Density (2DD): 640kB
- High Density (2HD): 1.232MB
- Triple Density (2TD): 9.3MB
Graphics Modes
Four graphics modes exist for PC-8800 series hardware. No computer was equipped with all four, though every PC-8800 machine is guaranteed to have at least the V1 mode.
Name | Resolution | Available Colours | Palette |
---|---|---|---|
N | 160x100 | 8 | 8 |
V1 | 640x200 | 8 | 8 |
640x400 | 2 | 8 | |
V2 | 640x200 | 8 | 512 |
640x400 | 2 | 512 | |
V3 | 640x200 | 65536 | 65,536 |
640x400 | 256 | 65,536 | |
320x200 | 65536 | 65,536 | |
320x400 | 64 | 65,536 |
Promotional material
References
PC-8800 series hardware |
---|
PC-8801 (1981) | PC-8801 mkII (1983) | PC-8801 mkII SR (TR | FR | MR | FH | MH | FA | MA | FE | MA2 | FE2 | MC) (1985-1989) | PC-88 VA (VA2 | VA3) (1987-1988) |
stuff |
haven't worked it all out yet |