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PC-9801 U

From NEC Retro

PC9801U logo.png
PC9801U.jpg
PC-9801 U
Manufacturer: NEC
Release Date RRP Code
PC-9801 U
JP
¥298,000298,000

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

Hardware

The PC-9801 U was envisoned as a cost-reduced space saving model in the PC-9800 range, and the first to ship with a faster V30 (µPD70116) processor. It was announced and released at the same time as the high-spec PC-98XA.

This time 3½-inch double density floppy disk drives were included as standard, though the choice to move to this format specifically for this computer means older PC-9801 and PC-9801 F software cannot be run on the machine without purchasing more external floppy disk drives. Software written to take advantage of the PC-9801 M will also not work with the default PC-9801 U configuration, this time because the U has less RAM than the M.

The PC-9801 U is the first model to feature the V30 processor, the optional GRCG graphics chip and a 16-color display through the PC-9801 U-02 board.

Strictly speaking, while the computer calls itself a PC-9801 U, it was only made a available in a "PC-9801 U2" configuration, with the two floppy drives.

NEC's decision to split the market once more meant that although the PC-9801 U has its own set of software, it was not a popular machine. Some mistakes would be rectified with the launch of the PC-9801 UV one year later.

Technical specifications

  • Main processor: µPD70116 clocked at 8MHz
  • Graphics processor: 2x µPD7220 clocked at 2.5MHz
  • RAM: 128KB
  • Text VRAM: 12KB
  • Graphics VRAM: 96KB
  • ROM: 96KB
  • Floppy Disk drive(s): 2× 3½-inch 2DD (640KB formatted)
  • Sound: Internal "beeper"
  • General Expansion Slot(s): 2 slots

List of games

Promotional material

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
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