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PC-9800 series

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Revision as of 12:25, 15 February 2022 by Black Squirrel (talk | contribs) (→‎References)
PC9800 set.jpg

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The PC-9800 series (PC-9800シリーズ) is a range of Japanese home computers manufactured between October 1982 and 1995 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. The PC-98 was the best-selling home computer series in Japan up until 1999, when it had sold more than 18 million units in Japan.[1]

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. A successor, the PC-9821 series bridged the gap even further and maintained PC-9800 series support.

When the series was forced to work with Microsoft to create a PC-9800/PC-9821 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 2DD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 F2 1983-10 ¥398,000 8086-2 5/8MHz 128kB No 2x 2DD 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 2DD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 M2 1984-11 ¥415,000 8086-2 5/8MHz 256kB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 M3 1985-02 ¥838,000 8086-2 5/8MHz 256kB 20MB 1x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 U2 1985-06 ¥298,00 V30 8MHz 128kB No No 2x 2DD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 VF2 1985-07 ¥348,000 V30 8MHz 256kB No 2x 2DD 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 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 VM4 1985-10 ¥830,000 V30 10MHz 384kB 20MB 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 UV2 1986-06 ¥318,000 V30 10MHz 384kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 VM21 1986-11 ¥390,000 V30 10MHz 640kB No 2x 2HD 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 2HD 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 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 VX41 1987-06 ¥630,000 80286 / V30 10MHz / 10MHz 640kB 20MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 UV21 1987-06 ¥318,000 V30 10MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 VX41/WN 1987-07 ¥658,000 80286 / V30 10MHz / 10MHz 640kB 20MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 UX21 1987-10 ¥348,000 80286 / V30 10MHz / 8MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 UX41 1987-10 ¥545,000 80286 / V30 10MHz / 8MHz 640kB 20MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 UV11 1988-03 ¥265,000 V30 10MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 CV21 1988-03 ¥355,000 V30 10MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 RA2 1988-07 ¥498,000 i386DX / V30 20MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RA5 1988-07 ¥736,000 i386DX / V30 20MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RX2 1988-09 ¥398,000 80286 / V30 12MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RX4 1988-09 ¥566,000 80286 / V30 12MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 VM11 1988-11 ¥328,000 V30 10MHz 640kB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper?
PC-9801 ES2 1989-04 ¥448,000 i368SX / V30 16MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx xx
PC-9801 ES5 1989-04 ¥638,000 i368SX / V30 16MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx xx
PC-9801 EX2 1989-04 ¥348,000 80286 / V30 12MHz / 8MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 EX4 1989-04 ¥488,000 80286 / V30 12MHz / 8MHz 640kB 20MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 RX21 1989-10 ¥338,000 80286 / V30 12MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RX51 1989-10 ¥508,000 80286 / V30 12MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RS21 1989-11 ¥398,000 i386SX / V30 16MHz / 8MHz 640kB No 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RS51 1989-11 ¥398,000 i386SX / V30 16MHz / 8MHz 640kB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RA21 1989-11 ¥498,000 i386DX / V30 20MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 RA51 1989-11 ¥668,000 i386DX / V30 20MHz / 8MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx xx
PC-9801 DX2 1990-11 ¥318,000 80286 12MHz 640kB No 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DX/U2 1990-11 ¥318,000 80286 12MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DX5 1990-11 ¥468,000 80286 12MHz 640kB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DX/U5 1990-11 ¥468,000 80286 12MHz 640kB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DS2 1991-01 ¥358,000 i386SX 16MHz 640kB No 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DS/U2 1991-01 ¥358,000 i386SX 16MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DS5 1991-01 ¥508,000 i386SX 16MHz 640kB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DS/U5 1991-01 ¥508,000 i386SX 16MHz 640kB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DA2 1991-01 ¥448,000 i386DX 20MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DA/U2 1991-01 ¥448,000 i386DX 20MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DA5 1991-01 ¥598,000 i386DX 20MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DA/U5 1991-01 ¥598,000 i386DX 20MHz 1.6MB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DA7 1991-02 ¥698,000 i386DX 20MHz 1.6MB 100MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 DA/U7 1991-02 ¥698,000 i386DX 20MHz 1.6MB 100MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 UF 1991-02 ¥218,000 V30HL 8/16MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 UR 1991-02 ¥218,000 V30HL 16MHz 640kB No No 1x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 UR/20 1991-02 ¥348,000 V30HL 16MHz 640kB 20MB No 1x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 CS2 1991-10 ¥398,000 i386SX 16MHz 640kB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 CS5 1991-10 ¥548,000 i386SX 16MHz 640kB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 CS5/W 1991-11 ¥675,000 i386SX 16MHz 3.6MB 80MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FA/U2 1992-01 ¥458,000 i486SX 16MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FA5 1992-01 ¥578,000 i486SX 16MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FA/U5 1992-01 ¥578,000 i486SX 16MHz 1.6MB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FA7 1992-01 ¥648,000 i486SX 16MHz 1.6MB 100MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FA/U7 1992-01 ¥648,000 i486SX 16MHz 1.6MB 100MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FA2 1992-02 ¥458,000 i486SX 16MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FX2 1992-05 ¥278,000 i386SX 12MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FX/U2 1992-05 ¥278,000 i386SX 12MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FX5 1992-05 ¥398,000 i386SX 12MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FX/U5 1992-05 ¥398,000 i386SX 12MHz 1.6MB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FS2 1992-05 ¥348,000 i386SX 20MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FS/U2 1992-05 ¥348,000 i386SX 20MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FS5 1992-05 ¥468,000 i386SX 20MHz 1.6MB 40MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FS/U5 1992-05 ¥468,000 i386SX 20MHz 1.6MB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FS7 1992-05 ¥538,000 i386SX 20MHz 1.6MB 100MB 2x 2HD No No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 FS/U7 1992-05 ¥538,000 i386SX 20MHz 1.6MB 100MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 US 1992-07 ¥248,000 i386SX 16MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 US40 1992-07 ¥358,000 i386SX 16MHz 1.6MB 40MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 US80 1992-07 ¥418,000 i386SX 16MHz 1.6MB 80MB No 2x 2HD No xx FM, SSG
PC-9801 BX/U2 1993-01 ¥218,000 i486SX2 20MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX/U6 1993-01 ¥288,000 i486SX2 20MHz 3.6MB 80MB No 1x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX/M2 1993-01 ¥232,000 i486SX2 20MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA/U2 1993-01 ¥328,000 i486DX2 40MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA/U6 1993-01 ¥388,000 i486DX2 40MHz 3.6MB 80MB No 1x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA/M2 1993-01 ¥342,000 i486DX2 40MHz 1.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX2/U2 1993-11 ¥178,000 i486SX 25MHz 1.8MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX2/U7 1993-11 ¥238,000 i486SX 25MHz 3.6MB 120MB No 1x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX2/M2 1993-11 ¥192,000 i486SX 25MHz 1.8MB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BS2/U2 1993-11 ¥238,000 i486SX 33MHz 3.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BS2/U7 1993-11 ¥278,000 i486SX 33MHz 3.6MB 120MB No 1x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BS2/M2 1993-11 ¥252,000 i486SX 33MHz 3.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA2/U2 1993-11 ¥338,000 i486DX2 66MHz 3.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA2/U7 1993-11 ¥378,000 i486DX2 66MHz 3.6MB 120MB No 1x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA2/M2 1993-11 ¥352,000 i486DX2 66MHz 3.6MB No 2x 2HD No No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX3/U2 1995-01 ¥98,000 i486SX 33MHz 1.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX3/U2/W 1995-01 ¥163,000 i486SX 33MHz 5.6MB 210MB No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA3/U2 1995-01 ¥138,000 i486DX2 66MHz 3.6MB No No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BA3/U2/W 1995-01 ¥198,000 i486DX2 66MHz 7.6MB 210MB No 2x 2HD No xx Beeper
PC-9801 BX4/U2 1995-07 ¥98,000 486DX2 66MHz 2MB xx No 2x 2HD No xx PCM
PC-9801 BX4/U2/C 1995-07 ¥113,000 486DX2 66MHz 2MB xx No 2x 2HD Yes xx PCM
PC-9801 BX4/U2-P 1995-09 ¥98,000 Pentium 63MHz 2MB xx No 2x 2HD No xx PCM
PC-9801 BX4/U2/C-P 1995-09 ¥113,000 Pentium 63MHz 2MB xx No 2x 2HD Yes xx PCM

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

Promotional material

  • JP flyer

References

  1. ↑ Computing Japan. LINC Japan. 54-59: 18. 1999


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
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