---
title: Hewlett Packard HP-87
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- '''Capricorn'' custom HP 8-bit CPU'
params:
  name: HP-87
  company: /companies/hewlett-packard
  company_name: Hewlett Packard
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: HP-87
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Hewlett Packard
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: September 1982
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: '1984'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: HP Basic interpreter
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full stroke 93 keys with numeric keypad and user definable keys
  - label: CPU
    value: '''Capricorn'' custom HP 8-bit CPU'
  - label: SPEED
    value: 0.625 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Custom HP I/O circuits
  - label: RAM
    value: 32 KB up to 534 KB max.
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 48 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 chars x 16 or 24 lines (software switch)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 544 x 240 dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: Tone Generator
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Four I/O Ports, HP-IB
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: None
  - label: OS
    value: Built-in BASIC language. Optional CP/M O.S. Needed external FD/HD unit
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit - 110V / 240V switchable
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: |-
      Speech Synthesis module, modem\
      Various extension cards: GP-IB, Serial, FDD/HDD controller, I/O routines, Parallel, BASIC extensions
  - label: PRICE
    value: $2495, (HP-87), $2995 (HP-87XM)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - emulators
  - links
  photos:
  - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: HP-IB INTERFACE
    subtitle: ''
    text: This interface allowed to connect in chain up to 14 peripherals - mass storage, printers, plotters - using HP-IB or IEEE-488 protocol.
    image: null
  - title: EXPANSION CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: Mainly used for RAM/ROM expansions.
    image: null
  - title: RUNNING CP/M
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  emulators:
  - title: Emulator for the HP85B & HP86B/87
    url: http://olivier.2.smet.googlepages.com/HPSERIES80
    platform: Windows
    text: Open source GNU licence
  - title: HP 86 / 87(+) emulator
    url: http://www2.akso.de/files/series_80/Emulator/
    platform: Windows
    text: ''
  links:
  - title: HP Series 80 Web Site
    url: http://www.series80.org/
    text: Nice website dedicated to HP Series 80 computers (manuals, programs, ROMs, articles, accessories, etc.).
  - title: The Museum of HP Calculators
    url: http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp85.htm
    text: Some useful infos here
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: Lots of further info and links on the Series 80
  comments:
  - author: Ryan Schweitzer (United States)
    date: Saturday 13rd July 2019
    text: The local public safety/911 dispatch center back in the ''80s in my town (Bismarck, ND) had an HP-87 at their dispatch console that was used to control the outdoor warning sirens (for tornado alerts and such) across town. It was loaded with a custom software package for such, IIRC.
  related:
  - /museum/hewlett-packard-hp-85
  - /museum/hewlett-packard-hp-86
  oc_id: 926
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230417024943/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=926
    date: '2023-04-17'
---

The HP-87 was the follow-on model to the [HP-85](/museum/hewlett-packard-hp-85/) in the 'Series 80'. It was a logical development, keeping the same processor and clock speed, but with the following changes:

• Basic language extended ie long variable names added, support for larger graphical display, total 48K in ROM.\
• Allows programs to address memory above 64K, through use of an extended memory controller.\
• HP-87 has 32K RAM built in, and allows up to 4 extra RAM modules of either 32K, 64K or 128K ie 534K max.\
• Built in HP-IB interface, together with software support for basic I/O, mass-storage and printing without additional ROMs.\
• Bigger screen allowing 80 column text, with either 16 or 25 lines.\
• No built in tape or printer.\
• Support for multiple (up to 5) binary programs in RAM.

The HP-87 was followed by the [HP-86](/museum/hewlett-packard-hp-86/) and HP-87XM. The HP-86 lost the internal monitor in favour of an external monitor, and lost the built in HP-IB connector in favour of a Centronics parallel printer port and two connectors for HP floppy disks.

The HP-86 also had 64K RAM while the HP-87XM included 128K RAM. The final machine in the series 80 family was the **HP-86B**, which went back to having a built-in HP-IB port and featured 128K of RAM.

Thanks to **John Shadbolt** and his [site](http://www.vintagecomputers.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm) for this information