---
title: Sharp MZ 80B
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1981'
cpus:
- LH0080A
params:
  name: MZ 80B
  image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b.jpg
  company: /companies/sharp
  company_name: Sharp
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: MZ 80B
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Sharp
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1981'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard, 92 keys. Numeric keypad and function keys.
  - label: CPU
    value: LH0080A ( Z 80A-CPU )
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Zilog Z-80A PIO Controller, Intel 8253-Compatible Precision Timer, Intel 8255-Compatible Peripheral Interface
  - label: RAM
    value: 32 KB Standard RAM (optional 32K Expansion Available)
  - label: VRAM
    value: 2 KB Text Video RAM
  - label: ROM
    value: 2 KB (Character Generator) + 2 KB (Initial Program Loader)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 or 40 chars. x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 x 200 (optional), one or two bitplans
  - label: COLORS
    value: Built-in 9'' monochrome (green) CRT (8 x 8 dot matrix)
  - label: SOUND
    value: 1 channel speaker (Max 400mW @ 440Hz, 8cm 32-Ohm)
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 450mm x 520mm x 270mm / 16 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Centronics, RS 232c, IEEE 488, 16-bit free programmable I/O card, Floppy interface (all optional)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: |-
      Remote controlled tape recorder (1800 bits/sec using Sharp PWM)\
      Optional 2 or 4 x 5.25'' Floppy Drive
  - label: OS
    value: Hu-BASIC (Hudson Soft), WICS(Carry Lab), Sharp BASIC, Disc BASIC (FDOS) or CP/M 2.2 loaded from FDD
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  - label: PRICE
    value: £1100
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - hardware
  - emulators
  - links
  forum_thread: 183
  photos:
  - title: MZ-80B
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_2.jpg
  - title: 'SIDE VIEW #1'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_left2.jpg
  - title: 'SIDE VIEW #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_left.jpg
  - title: 'SIDE VIEW #3'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_right.jpg
  - title: 'SIDE VIEW #4'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_vm_1.jpg
  - title: REAR SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: 'You can see the expansion box outputs. There are three cards in this machine : a home-made DAC card, a centronics card and a floppy disk drive interface.'
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_rear.jpg
  - title: UNDERSIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_dessous.jpg
  - title: DUST COVER
    subtitle: ''
    text: Protect your MZ 80B from dust !
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_80b_dust_cover.jpg
  - title: TAPE RECORDER CLOSE UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The cassette recorder uses standard audio cassette tape. The data transfer systems is called SHARP PWM and transfers data at 1800 bits/second.\
      The control is automatic (program) or manual (with dedicated keys on the keyboard).
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_80b_k7.jpg
  - title: KEYBOARD CLOSEUP
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The keyboard is pretty good.\
      You can see here the cassette tape deck control keys.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_80b_kbd.jpg
  - title: SHARP LOGO
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_logo_s1.jpg
  - title: 'CASE OPENED #1'
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      This version has 5 expansion cards:\
      **(1)** Parallel interface card\
      **(2)** Floppy disk controller card. Up to 4 FDD could be connected\
      **(3)** Graphics card #2 (2nd. graphics page)\
      **(4)** 32 KB RAM expansion card\
      **(5)** Graphics card #1 (1st. graphics page).
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_opened_s1.jpg
  - title: 'CASE OPENED #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: Another version with an additional I/O card.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_opened.jpg
  - title: MOTHERBOARD EXPLAINED
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** Gate Arrays : Display Controler & Char Generator\
      **(2)** Programable Interface Timer 8253\
      **(3)** 2KB CG-ROM\
      **(4)** 2KB V-RAM\
      **(5)** Monitor Connector\
      **(6)** CN15 connector (? 80 column / graphic card connector ?)\
      **(7)** Optional 8KB Graphic Card connector\
      **(8)** 4bit Binary Decoder\
      **(9)** LED connectors (RVS/SetGraph/Lock)\
      **(10)** Keyboard connector\
      **(11)** Programable Peripheral Interface 8255\
      **(12)** Cassette connector\
      **(13)** MZ80-EU Expansion box connector\
      **(14)** Optional 8KB Graphic card connector\
      **(15)** 4 x 16KB RAM\
      **(16)** 2KB IPL-ROM\
      **(17)** Gate Array : Memory Controler\
      **(18)** LH0080A (Z80 A by Sharp)\
      **(19)** Handshake signals connector for peripherals (not connected)\
      **(20)** PIO
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_80b_mb2.jpg
  - title: MZ-80B WITH DISK DRIVES
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_3.jpg
  - title: BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sharp_mz80b_box.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: GERMAN LIFLEAT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/sharp_mz80b_pub_1.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: MZ-80EU - EXPANSION UNIT
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      This module holds up to 6 expansion cards, and is inserted in the rear of the MZ 80B.\
      It is connected to the motherboard.\
      You can see four cards connected : a home-made ADC card, a MZ-8PB5I centronics card, a MZ-80GM Hi_res graphic card and a MZ-80FI floppy disk interface.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_mz80b_expansion.jpg
  - title: MZ-8PB5I PRINTER INTERFACE CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: This card provides an interface for a centronics-compatible printer.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_80bcentronics_card.jpg
  - title: MZ-80GMK HI-RES GRAPHIC CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: The MZ-80GMK is connected to the MZ-80GM card (graphic card plugged directly on the motherboard). It provides an enhanced display (320 x 200 x 2 bitplanes).
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_mz80b_graph_card.jpg
  - title: MZ-80FI - FLOPPY DISK I/O CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: This card allows connection of the MZ-80FD/FB/FBK Floppy Drive Units (or any FDD which uses a Ferranti MB-8866 controler).
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_80b_floppy_card.jpg
  - title: MZ-80FD - DUAL 5.25
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      This external dual-floppy drive is connected to the MZ-80FI interface card (fitted in the expansion box), and provides 2 drives (286KB).\
      Disk Geometry : 70 tracks (35 double-sided), 16 sectors, 256-Bytes per Sector.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_80b_fdd1.jpg
  - title: MZ-80FD - INSIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_80b_fdd2.jpg
  - title: FRENCH FDD UNIT
    subtitle: ''
    text: Instead of selling the original Sharp FDD unit, the Sharp French subsidiary (Sharp Burotype Machines) preferred to made their own unit. The case could hold up to 4 drives. The drives were Canon models.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_mz80b_frenchfdd_s1.jpg
  - title: MZ 80P3 - DOT MATRIX PRINTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_mz80k_printer.jpg
  - title: MZ-P4 PRINTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_printer_80b.jpg
  - title: MZ-P6 PRINTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/sharp_mz80_gp6.jpg
  emulators:
  - title: EMUZ-2000
    url: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~object/
    platform: Windows
    text: SHARP MZ-80B / 2000 / 2200 emulator for Windows
  - title: Michael Franzen's multi emulator
    url: http://www.sharpmz.org/MFRANZENEMU.HTM
    platform: Windows
    text: Multi system emulator ( 80K/A, 700, Spectrum, TRS80, ZX81, Coleco, and others )
  links:
  - title: Sharp Games
    url: http://sharpgames.atspace.com
    text: Some homebrew games in develoment for the MZ
  - title: The Sharp Users Club
    url: http://sharpusersclub.org
    text: Very useful web site done by the UK Sharp Users Club
  - title: www.sharpmz.org
    url: http://www.sharpmz.org
    text: THE website for all MZ fans !!
  related:
  - /museum/sharp-mz-2000
  - /museum/sharp-mz-2200
  - /museum/sharp-mz-2500
  - /museum/sharp-mz-2800
  - /museum/sharp-mz-3500
  - /museum/sharp-mz-5500-5600
  - /museum/sharp-mz-700
  - /museum/sharp-mz-800-mz-1500
  - /museum/sharp-mz-80a-mz-1200
  - /museum/sharp-mz-80c
  - /museum/sharp-mz-80k
  oc_id: 173
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230413210308/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=173
    date: '2023-04-13'
---

As the German magazine "mc" reported in its January 1981 first edition, the MZ-80B was shown first on the German Hannover show, in April 1981.

The MZ-80B was one of the nicer, if not the nicer, and well designed home computer ever built. It also featured an innovative 'Intelligent' cassette deck which was able to find and load a program anywhere in the cassette tape. All the cassette functions were remote controlled by software.

The MZ-80B was compatible with the other MZ 80x computers ([Sharp MZ 80A](/museum/sharp-mz-80a-mz-1200/), [Sharp MZ 80K](/museum/sharp-mz-80k/)), but unlike these ones, it was possible to have high graphic resolution thanks to one or two optional boards which provided one or two switchable graphic pages.

This computer, like all the computers of the Sharp MZ series, had no language in ROM, Basic (or any other language) had to be loaded from tape.