Difference between revisions of "PC-9800 series"
From NEC Retro
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==Computers== | ==Computers== | ||
+ | The PC-9800 series adopted an arguably complex naming scheme for its hardware. "U" denotes built-in 3½-inch floppy disk drives, "X" usually suggests a 80286 processor (unless the machine was built after 1992), and numbers typically hint towards the capacity of the built-in hard drive (4 and 5 often suggest 20MB and 40MB respectively, though NEC were very inconsistent over the years). "W" means the computer shipped with a PC-98 version of Microsoft Windows, but the situation is not always clear cut - "A" models for example tend to be more powerful than "S" models, and there are multiple definitions for "F". | ||
+ | |||
+ | On top of this, longer product names were not printed on the casing. While there are technically five different [[PC-9801 VM]] models, identifying them from a distance is not always easy, particularly if the machine had been modified from its default state (and modifications were common - no PC-98 computer shipped with both a 5¼-inch and 3½-inch floppy drive - consumers had to choose between one or the other, though not all PC-98 software was distributed on both disk formats). | ||
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{| class="sortable" | {| class="sortable" | ||
!Name | !Name |
Revision as of 16:10, 26 September 2015
This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.
The PC-9800 series (PC-9800シリーズ) is a range of computers manufactured between October 1982 and 200x by NEC.
Starting with the PC-9801, the PC-9800 series became one of the dominant brands of home computers in Japan throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. It was one of the second "big three", competing against the Sharp X68000 and FM Towns.
PC-9800 computers started along the same lines as older machines by NEC, conforming to a bespoke standard which NEC hoped to capitalise on. Under pressure from IBM PC compatibles, particularly in the early 1990s, it was forced to open up to compete, though its proprietary standards ultimately gave way to the cheaper and more versitile nature of what had been set in motion by IBM and Microsoft.
When the series was forced to work with Microsoft to create a PC-9800 compatible version of Windows 95 (then 98, then 2000), it effectively became redundant, and NEC, like its peers in the computing industry began work on PC compatibles instead. In 1997 the firm released the PC compatible PC-98NX which in turn had revisions and successors - these are not covered by NEC Retro, as while compatibility layers were created for traditional PC-9800 software, they effectively stand as IBM PCs with NEC branding, as opposed to bespoke NEC hardware.
As a significantly more popular standard than prior attempts, the PC-9800 series branched into servers (the SV-9800 series), computers for industry (the FC-9800 series) and laptops.
Computers
The PC-9800 series adopted an arguably complex naming scheme for its hardware. "U" denotes built-in 3½-inch floppy disk drives, "X" usually suggests a 80286 processor (unless the machine was built after 1992), and numbers typically hint towards the capacity of the built-in hard drive (4 and 5 often suggest 20MB and 40MB respectively, though NEC were very inconsistent over the years). "W" means the computer shipped with a PC-98 version of Microsoft Windows, but the situation is not always clear cut - "A" models for example tend to be more powerful than "S" models, and there are multiple definitions for "F".
On top of this, longer product names were not printed on the casing. While there are technically five different PC-9801 VM models, identifying them from a distance is not always easy, particularly if the machine had been modified from its default state (and modifications were common - no PC-98 computer shipped with both a 5¼-inch and 3½-inch floppy drive - consumers had to choose between one or the other, though not all PC-98 software was distributed on both disk formats).
Name | Date | Price | Processor | Clock Speed | RAM | Built-in Hard Drive | Built-in 5¼ " FDD | Built-in 3½ " FDD | Built-in CD-ROM | Video Modes | Sound |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC-9801 | 1982-10 | ¥298,000 | μPD8086 | 5MHz | 128kB | No | No | No | No | 640x400, 8 colours | Beeper |
PC-9801 F1 | 1983-10 | ¥328,000 | 8086-2 | 5/8MHz | 128kB | No | 1x DD (640kB) | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 F2 | 1983-10 | ¥398,000 | 8086-2 | 5/8MHz | 128kB | No | 2x DD (640kB) | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 E | 1983-11 | ¥215,000 | 8086-2 | 5/8MHz | 128kB | No | No | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 F3 | 1984-10 | ¥758,000 | 8086-2 | 5/8MHz | 256kB | 10MB | 1x DD (640kB) | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 M2 | 1984-11 | ¥415,000 | 8086-2 | 5/8MHz | 256kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 M3 | 1985-02 | ¥838,000 | 8086-2 | 5/8MHz | 256kB | 20MB | 1x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 U2 | 1985-06 | ¥298,00 | V30 | 8MHz | 128kB | No | No | 2x DD (640kB) | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 VF2 | 1985-07 | ¥348,000 | V30 | 8MHz | 256kB | No | 2x DD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 VM0 | 1985-07 | ¥295,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 384kB | No | No | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 VM2 | 1985-07 | ¥415,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 384kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 VM4 | 1985-10 | ¥830,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 384kB | 20MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 UV2 | 1986-06 | ¥318,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 384kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 VM21 | 1986-11 | ¥390,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 VX0 | 1986-11 | ¥353,000 | 80286 / V30 | 8MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | No | No | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VX2 | 1986-11 | ¥433,000 | 80286 / V30 | 8MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VX4 | 1986-11 | ¥693,000 | 80286 / V30 | 8MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | 20MB | 2xHD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VX4/WN | 1986-11 | ¥730,000 | 80286 / V30 | 8MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | 20MB | 2xHD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VX01 | 1987-06 | ¥353,000 | 80286 / V30 | 10MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | No | No | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VX21 | 1987-06 | ¥433,000 | 80286 / V30 | 10MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VX41 | 1987-06 | ¥630,000 | 80286 / V30 | 10MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | 20MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 UV21 | 1987-06 | ¥318,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 VX41/WN | 1987-07 | ¥658,000 | 80286 / V30 | 10MHz / 10MHz | 640kB | 20MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 UX21 | 1987-10 | ¥348,000 | 80286 / V30 | 10MHz / 8MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 UX41 | 1987-10 | ¥545,000 | 80286 / V30 | 10MHz / 8MHz | 640kB | 20MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 UV11 | 1988-03 | ¥265,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 CV21 | 1988-03 | ¥355,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 RA2 | 1988-07 | ¥498,000 | i386DX / V30 | 20MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RA5 | 1988-07 | ¥736,000 | i386DX / V30 | 20MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RX2 | 1988-09 | ¥398,000 | 80286 / V30 | 12MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RX4 | 1988-09 | ¥566,000 | 80286 / V30 | 12MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 VM11 | 1988-11 | ¥328,000 | V30 | 10MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper? |
PC-9801 ES2 | 1989-04 | ¥448,000 | i368SX / V30 | 16MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 ES5 | 1989-04 | ¥638,000 | i368SX / V30 | 16MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 EX2 | 1989-04 | ¥348,000 | 80286 / V30 | 12MHz / 8MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 EX4 | 1989-04 | ¥488,000 | 80286 / V30 | 12MHz / 8MHz | 640kB | 20MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 RX21 | 1989-10 | ¥338,000 | 80286 / V30 | 12MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RX51 | 1989-10 | ¥508,000 | 80286 / V30 | 12MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RS21 | 1989-11 | ¥398,000 | i386SX / V30 | 16MHz / 8MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RS51 | 1989-11 | ¥398,000 | i386SX / V30 | 16MHz / 8MHz | 640kB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RA21 | 1989-11 | ¥498,000 | i386DX / V30 | 20MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 RA51 | 1989-11 | ¥668,000 | i386DX / V30 | 20MHz / 8MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | xx |
PC-9801 DX2 | 1990-11 | ¥318,000 | 80286 | 12MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DX/U2 | 1990-11 | ¥318,000 | 80286 | 12MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DX5 | 1990-11 | ¥468,000 | 80286 | 12MHz | 640kB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DX/U5 | 1990-11 | ¥468,000 | 80286 | 12MHz | 640kB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DS2 | 1991-01 | ¥358,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 640kB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DS/U2 | 1991-01 | ¥358,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DS5 | 1991-01 | ¥508,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 640kB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DS/U5 | 1991-01 | ¥508,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 640kB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DA2 | 1991-01 | ¥448,000 | i386DX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DA/U2 | 1991-01 | ¥448,000 | i386DX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DA5 | 1991-01 | ¥598,000 | i386DX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DA/U5 | 1991-01 | ¥598,000 | i386DX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DA7 | 1991-02 | ¥698,000 | i386DX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 100MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 DA/U7 | 1991-02 | ¥698,000 | i386DX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 100MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 UF | 1991-02 | ¥218,000 | V30HL | 8/16MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 UR | 1991-02 | ¥218,000 | V30HL | 16MHz | 640kB | No | No | 1x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 UR/20 | 1991-02 | ¥348,000 | V30HL | 16MHz | 640kB | 20MB | No | 1x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 CS2 | 1991-10 | ¥398,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 640kB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 CS5 | 1991-10 | ¥548,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 640kB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 CS5/W | 1991-11 | ¥675,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 3.6MB | 80MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FA/U2 | 1992-01 | ¥458,000 | i486SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FA5 | 1992-01 | ¥578,000 | i486SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FA/U5 | 1992-01 | ¥578,000 | i486SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FA7 | 1992-01 | ¥648,000 | i486SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | 100MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FA/U7 | 1992-01 | ¥648,000 | i486SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | 100MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FA2 | 1992-02 | ¥458,000 | i486SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FX2 | 1992-05 | ¥278,000 | i386SX | 12MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FX/U2 | 1992-05 | ¥278,000 | i386SX | 12MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FX5 | 1992-05 | ¥398,000 | i386SX | 12MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FX/U5 | 1992-05 | ¥398,000 | i386SX | 12MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FS2 | 1992-05 | ¥348,000 | i386SX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FS/U2 | 1992-05 | ¥348,000 | i386SX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FS5 | 1992-05 | ¥468,000 | i386SX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FS/U5 | 1992-05 | ¥468,000 | i386SX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FS7 | 1992-05 | ¥538,000 | i386SX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 100MB | 2x HD | No | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 FS/U7 | 1992-05 | ¥538,000 | i386SX | 20MHz | 1.6MB | 100MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 US | 1992-07 | ¥248,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 US40 | 1992-07 | ¥358,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | 40MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 US80 | 1992-07 | ¥418,000 | i386SX | 16MHz | 1.6MB | 80MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | FM, SSG |
PC-9801 BX/U2 | 1993-01 | ¥218,000 | i486SX2 | 20MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX/U6 | 1993-01 | ¥288,000 | i486SX2 | 20MHz | 3.6MB | 80MB | No | 1x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX/M2 | 1993-01 | ¥232,000 | i486SX2 | 20MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA/U2 | 1993-01 | ¥328,000 | i486DX2 | 40MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA/U6 | 1993-01 | ¥388,000 | i486DX2 | 40MHz | 3.6MB | 80MB | No | 1x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA/M2 | 1993-01 | ¥342,000 | i486DX2 | 40MHz | 1.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX2/U2 | 1993-11 | ¥178,000 | i486SX | 25MHz | 1.8MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX2/U7 | 1993-11 | ¥238,000 | i486SX | 25MHz | 3.6MB | 120MB | No | 1x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX2/M2 | 1993-11 | ¥192,000 | i486SX | 25MHz | 1.8MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BS2/U2 | 1993-11 | ¥238,000 | i486SX | 33MHz | 3.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BS2/U7 | 1993-11 | ¥278,000 | i486SX | 33MHz | 3.6MB | 120MB | No | 1x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BS2/M2 | 1993-11 | ¥252,000 | i486SX | 33MHz | 3.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA2/U2 | 1993-11 | ¥338,000 | i486DX2 | 66MHz | 3.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA2/U7 | 1993-11 | ¥378,000 | i486DX2 | 66MHz | 3.6MB | 120MB | No | 1x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA2/M2 | 1993-11 | ¥352,000 | i486DX2 | 66MHz | 3.6MB | No | 2x HD | No | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX3/U2 | 1995-01 | ¥98,000 | i486SX | 33MHz | 1.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX3/U2/W | 1995-01 | ¥163,000 | i486SX | 33MHz | 5.6MB | 210MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA3/U2 | 1995-01 | ¥138,000 | i486DX2 | 66MHz | 3.6MB | No | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BA3/U2/W | 1995-01 | ¥198,000 | i486DX2 | 66MHz | 7.6MB | 210MB | No | 2x HD | No | xx | Beeper |
PC-9801 BX4/U2 | 1995-07 | ¥98,000 | 486DX2 | 66MHz | 2MB | xx | No | 2x HD | No | xx | PCM |
PC-9801 BX4/U2/C | 1995-07 | ¥113,000 | 486DX2 | 66MHz | 2MB | xx | No | 2x HD | Yes | xx | PCM |
PC-9801 BX4/U2-P | 1995-09 | ¥98,000 | Pentium | 63MHz | 2MB | xx | No | 2x HD | No | xx | PCM |
PC-9801 BX4/U2/C-P | 1995-09 | ¥113,000 | Pentium | 63MHz | 2MB | xx | No | 2x HD | Yes | xx | PCM |
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) |
PC-9800 series Laptop hardware |
V30 Computers: PC-9801 LV (1988) 286 Computers: PC-9801 LX (1989) |
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) |
PC-9800 series Workstation hardware |
286 Computers: PC-98XA (1985) | PC-98XL (1986) |
PC-9800 series Peripherals |
Not sure how to organize this one |
stuff |
Okay so I have no idea how best to do this |