Difference between revisions of "PC-9801 VX"

Latest revision as of 11:56, 10 May 2024

PC-9801 VX

Manufacturer: NEC

Release	Date	RRP
JP (VX0)	1986-11	¥353,000353,000
JP (VX2)	1986-11	¥433,000433,000
JP (VX4)	1986-11	¥693,000693,000
JP (4/WN)	1986-11	¥730,000730,000
JP (VX01)	1987-06	¥353,000353,000
JP (VX21)	1987-06	¥433,000433,000
JP (VX41)	1987-06	¥630,000630,000
JP (41/WN)	1987-07	¥658,000658,000

{{#seo:

|image=https://necretro.org/images/1/1b/PC9801VX2.jpg
|site_name=NEC Retro
|locale=en_GB

}}

This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.

The PC-9801 VX is a computer released as part of the PC-9800 series.

Hardware

The PC-9801 VX is an upgrade over the PC-9801 VM, and introduced an 80286 processor essentially starting a new generation of PC-9800 computers.

286-spec versions of the PC-9800 series arrived later than their IBM PC counterparts in the West, owed in part to NEC's use of the V30; a home-grown update to Intel's 8086 processor used in prior machines. Despite having extra features, the V30 was envisioned as simply a faster 8086 for the PC-9800 series, and NEC instructed developers not to tap into its extra features (presumably anticipating a switch to 286-based processors when production costs allowed). However, as some developers ignored this advice, the PC-9801 VX and UX were forced to include a V30 as well, alongside a backwards compatible mode to support it.

In addition to this change, the amount of on-board RAM was increased to 640KB as standard. Also included was an Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC) which builds on the Graphic Charger (GRCG) of earlier models (and is backwards compatible). The EGC is a more capable chip that can render graphics more efficiently, but screen resolutions and colour counts are a match for the GRCG.

As with the VM line, a PC-9801 VX0, VX2 and VX4 variants were offered with differing numbers of drives. The 286 was clocked at 8MHz, however after Epson released the PC-9800-series compatible PC-286 (which used the same processor, albeit clocked at 10MHz), NEC responded with VX01, VX21 and VX41 variants also clocking the processor at 10MHz.

The PC-9801 VX4/WN and PC-9801 VX41/WN variants were the first NEC machines to come installed with Microsoft Windows (in this case, version 1.0).

Technical specifications

PC-9801 VX0

Main processor: 80286 clocked at 8MHz
Secondary processor: V30 clocked at 8-10MHz
Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220
Graphics: Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC)
RAM: 640KB
Text VRAM: 12KB
Graphics VRAM: 256KB
ROM: 96KB
Floppy Disk drive(s): None
Sound: Internal "beeper"
General Expansion Slot(s): 4 slots

PC-9801 VX2

Main processor: 80286 clocked at 8MHz
Secondary processor: V30 clocked at 8-10MHz
Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220
Graphics: Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC)
RAM: 640KB
Text VRAM: 12KB
Graphics VRAM: 256KB
ROM: 96KB
Floppy Disk drive(s): 2× 5¼-inch 2HD (1MB formatted)^{[fn 1]}
Sound: Internal "beeper"
General Expansion Slot(s): 4 slots

PC-9801 VX4(/WN)

Main processor: 80286 clocked at 8MHz
Secondary processor: V30 clocked at 8-10MHz
Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220
Graphics: Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC)
RAM: 640KB
Text VRAM: 12KB
Graphics VRAM: 256KB
ROM: 96KB
Hard Disk drive(s): 20MB (SASI)
Floppy Disk drive(s): 2× 5¼-inch 2HD (1MB formatted)^{[fn 1]}
Sound: Internal "beeper"
General Expansion Slot(s): 4 slots

PC-9801 VX01

Main processor: 80286 clocked at 8-10MHz
Secondary processor: V30 clocked at 8-10MHz
Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220
Graphics: Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC)
RAM: 640KB
Text VRAM: 12KB
Graphics VRAM: 256KB
ROM: 96KB
Floppy Disk drive(s): None
Sound: Internal "beeper"
General Expansion Slot(s): 4 slots

PC-9801 VX21

Main processor: 80286 clocked at 8-10MHz
Secondary processor: V30 clocked at 8-10MHz
Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220
Graphics: Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC)
RAM: 640KB
Text VRAM: 12KB
Graphics VRAM: 256KB
ROM: 96KB
Floppy Disk drive(s): 2× 5¼-inch 2HD (1MB formatted)^{[fn 1]}
Sound: Internal "beeper"
General Expansion Slot(s): 4 slots

PC-9801 VX41(/WN)

Main processor: 80286 clocked at 8-10MHz
Secondary processor: V30 clocked at 8-10MHz
Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220
Graphics: Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC)
RAM: 640KB
Text VRAM: 12KB
Graphics VRAM: 256KB
ROM: 96KB
Hard Disk drive(s): 20MB (SASI)
Floppy Disk drive(s): 2× 5¼-inch 2HD (1MB formatted)^{[fn 1]}
Sound: Internal "beeper"
General Expansion Slot(s): 4 slots

List of games

4D Boxing
4D Driving
4D Tennis
A Ressha de Ikou 4
Alantia: Legend of Blue Star
Amaranth II
Amaranth III
Amaranth IV
Ancient Dragon
Atlantia
Battle
Beast Lord II
Beast Lord: Haou e no Michi
Big Honour
Black Rainbow
Black Rainbow II
Brandish 2 Renewal
Brandish Renewal
Burning Dragon
Burning Dragon Plus
Carmen Sandiego in Japan
Castles
Castles II: Brittany Touitsu Senki
Centurion: Defender of Rome
Company
CRW Metal Jacket
Curse of the Azure Bonds
Dead Force
Death Knights of Krynn
Derby Stallion Expert
Desert Dragoon: Sabaku no Ryuukihei
Diadrum
Dr. Brain Puzzle no Shiro
Dragon Half
Dungeon Conquest
Ecology Magic
Eisei Meijin III
Eiyuu Densetsu III mo Hitotsu no Eiyuu Tachi no Monogatari: Shiroki Majo
El Dominion: Shintairiku no Hasha
Elm Knight
Elvira
Epic
Eve Burst Error
Final Breaker
First Queen III
Flashback
Gage
Gekitotsu! Nichibei Kidou Butai
Gendai Daisenryaku EX
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu IV
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu IV EX Kit
Gods
Godzilla
Grand Prix Circus
Hamlet
High Reward
Jangou 3
Jangou 4
Jinn Eien no Yuushi
Karateka
Kidou Senshi Gundam MS Field 2 '93
King's Bounty
Kono Yo no Hate de Koi o Utau Shoujo Yu-No
Kuugun Daisenryaku
Lemmings
Libros de Chilam Balam
Lord of Panzers
Lunatic Dawn
Madou Monogatari A-R-S
Master of Monsters
Mega Lo Mania
Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra
My Home Dream 2
Nirvana
Oerstedia
OoEdo Renaissance
Pac-Man
Photo Genic
Pixy Garden
Police Quest 2
Prince of Persia
Pro Yakyuu Fan Telenet Stadium
Puyo Puyo
Puzznic
Rall 3 Kakuseihen
Re-No: Stayin' Alive
Reach for the Stars
Ring Master 2: Eiennaru Omoi
Rommel: Sabaku no Kitsune no Densetsu
Saint Diary: Sei-chan no Nikki
Saisoku Densetsu Racer X
Sangokushi Eiketsuden
Sargon V World Class Chess
Senryaku Kuugun
SimAnt
SimFarm
Slayers
Solid Lancer
Sotsugyou II Neo Generation
Star Cruiser II: The Odysseus Project
Star Trader
Star Wars: Attack on the Death Star
Stronghold: Koutei no Yousai
Sword Dancer
Taikou Risshiden II
Tanjou: Debut
Tennis Tennis
Tesserae
Tokyo Twilight Busters: Kindan no Ikenie Teito Jigokuhen
True Love: Jun'ai Monogatari
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Wings
Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence
XZR: Hakai no Guuzou
Youtoden
Yuugiri: Ningyoushi no Isan
Zark Legend Special
Zero Senki

Gallery

PC9801VX0.jpg

PC-9801 VX0
PC-9801 VX2
PC9801VX4.jpg

PC-9801 VX4
PC9801VX01.jpg

PC-9801 VX01
PC-9801 VX21
PC9801VX41.jpg

PC-9801 VX41

Promotional material

JP flyer

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Can also read 2D and 2DD disks.

References

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 \| BX3 \| BX4 \| BX4-P (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)
PC-9800 series Peripherals
Not sure how to organize this one
stuff
Okay so I have no idea how best to do this

[Can_also_read_2D_and_2DD_disks.-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Can also read 2D and 2DD disks.

[fn 1]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | add-ons=
 | releases={{releasesPC98
-| pc98vx_date_jp=1986-11
+| pc98vx_date_jp_VX0=1986-11
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_VX0=353,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_VX2=1986-11
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_VX2=433,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_VX4=1986-11
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_VX4=693,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_4/WN=1986-11
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_4/WN=730,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_VX01=1987-06
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_VX01=353,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_VX21=1987-06
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_VX21=433,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_VX41=1987-06
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_VX41=630,000
+| pc98vx_date_jp_41/WN=1987-07
+| pc98vx_rrp_jp_41/WN=658,000
 }}
 }}
@@ Line 15: / Line 30: @@
 ==Hardware==
-The PC-9801 VX is an upgrade over the [[PC-9801 VM]], and with the [[PC-9801 UX]] (succeeding the [[PC-9801 UV]]) introduced an 80286 processor essentially starting a new generation of PC-9800 computers.
+The PC-9801 VX is an upgrade over the [[PC-9801 VM]], and introduced an 80286 processor essentially starting a new generation of PC-9800 computers.
 -spec versions of the PC-9800 series arrived later than their IBM PC counterparts in the West, owed in part to [[NEC]]'s use of the [[V30]]; a home-grown update to Intel's 8086 processor used in prior machines. Despite having extra features, the V30 was envisioned as simply a faster 8086 for the PC-9800 series, and NEC instructed developers not to tap into its extra features (presumably anticipating a switch to 286-based processors when production costs allowed). However, as some developers ignored this advice, the PC-9801 VX and UX were forced to include a V30 as well, alongside a backwards compatible mode to support it.
@@ Line 26: / Line 41: @@
 ===Technical specifications===
+====PC-9801 VX0====
+{{SystemSpecs
+| cpu=[[80286]]
+| cpuclock=8MHz
+| cpu2=[[V30]]
+| cpu2clock=8-10MHz
+| gpu=2x [[µPD7220]]
+| graphics=egc
+| ram= 640KB
+| tvram=12KB
+| gvram=256KB
+| rom=96KB
+| sound=Internal "beeper"
+| bus=4 slots
+}}
+====PC-9801 VX2====
+{{SystemSpecs
+| cpu=[[80286]]
+| cpuclock=8MHz
+| cpu2=[[V30]]
+| cpu2clock=8-10MHz
+| gpu=2x [[µPD7220]]
+| graphics=egc
+| ram= 640KB
+| tvram=12KB
+| gvram=256KB
+| rom=96KB
+| diskdrivecount=2
+| diskdrivedimensions=5
+| diskdrivedensity=2hd
+| 2hddiskformat=1MB
+| diskdrivenote=Can also read 2D and 2DD disks.
+| sound=Internal "beeper"
+| bus=4 slots
+}}
+====PC-9801 VX4(/WN)====
+{{SystemSpecs
+| cpu=[[80286]]
+| cpuclock=8MHz
+| cpu2=[[V30]]
+| cpu2clock=8-10MHz
+| gpu=2x [[µPD7220]]
+| graphics=egc
+| ram= 640KB
+| tvram=12KB
+| gvram=256KB
+| rom=96KB
+| hdd=20MB
+| hddformat=SASI
+| diskdrivecount=2
+| diskdrivedimensions=5
+| diskdrivedensity=2hd
+| 2hddiskformat=1MB
+| diskdrivenote=Can also read 2D and 2DD disks.
+| sound=Internal "beeper"
+| bus=4 slots
+}}
+====PC-9801 VX01====
+{{SystemSpecs
+| cpu=[[80286]]
+| cpuclock=8-10MHz
+| cpu2=[[V30]]
+| cpu2clock=8-10MHz
+| gpu=2x [[µPD7220]]
+| graphics=egc
+| ram= 640KB
+| tvram=12KB
+| gvram=256KB
+| rom=96KB
+| sound=Internal "beeper"
+| bus=4 slots
+}}
+====PC-9801 VX21====
+{{SystemSpecs
+| cpu=[[80286]]
+| cpuclock=8-10MHz
+| cpu2=[[V30]]
+| cpu2clock=8-10MHz
+| gpu=2x [[µPD7220]]
+| graphics=egc
+| ram= 640KB
+| tvram=12KB
+| gvram=256KB
+| rom=96KB
+| diskdrivecount=2
+| diskdrivedimensions=5
+| diskdrivedensity=2hd
+| 2hddiskformat=1MB
+| diskdrivenote=Can also read 2D and 2DD disks.
+| sound=Internal "beeper"
+| bus=4 slots
+}}
+====PC-9801 VX41(/WN)====
+{{SystemSpecs
+| cpu=[[80286]]
+| cpuclock=8-10MHz
+| cpu2=[[V30]]
+| cpu2clock=8-10MHz
+| gpu=2x [[µPD7220]]
+| graphics=egc
+| ram= 640KB
+| tvram=12KB
+| gvram=256KB
+| rom=96KB
+| hdd=20MB
+| hddformat=SASI
+| diskdrivecount=2
+| diskdrivedimensions=5
+| diskdrivedensity=2hd
+| 2hddiskformat=1MB
+| diskdrivenote=Can also read 2D and 2DD disks.
+| sound=Internal "beeper"
+| bus=4 slots
+}}
 ==List of games==
@@ Line 44: / Line 173: @@
 PC9801VX JP Flyer.pdf|JP flyer
 </gallery>
+==Footnotes==
+{{footnotes}}
 ==References==