---
title: PROTEUS INTERNATIONAL Proteus III
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- France
years:
- '1978'
cpus:
- Motorola 6800
params:
  name: Proteus III
  company: /companies/proteus-international
  company_name: PROTEUS INTERNATIONAL
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Proteus III
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Proteus International
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: France
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1978'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Extended Basic
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full stroke keyboard, 53 keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Motorola 6800
  - label: SPEED
    value: 0.894 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: |-
      Proteus III-A : 16 KB\
      Proteus III-B : 32 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 1 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 8 KB (Basic)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 16 x 64
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Unknown
  - label: COLORS
    value: monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Tape (300 bauds), Video output (RF), V24 serial connector, RS232, printer serial connector
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Unknown
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: disk-drives, printer, tape recorder
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      Proteus III A : 8 820 FF (France, 1979)\
      Proteus III B : 10 758 FF (France, 1979)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  photos:
  - title: PROTEUS III
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: DRAWING
    subtitle: ''
    text: This is an artist impression of the Proteus III, which might not be exactly like the real system...
    image: null
  - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: Proteus III + monitor + disk-drive + printer + tape-recorder
    image: null
  - title: SYSTEM DIAGRAM
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Proteus system diagram. This diagram was actually a copy of the Proteus III sold in kit form by the French magazine Microsystème, and called Microsystème 1.\
      More information, as well as the binary content of the 8 BASIC EPROMs can be downloaded here.\
      Thanks to M. Lahaye from Belgium who sent us this information along with the following comment:\
      *Eprom1 to eprom8 is the binary content. It is orininaly delivered on 8 EPROMs of 1 Kbytes (27808). A hard error of tangent is present so I fix it but I must limit the length of the presentation message to recover a few bytes. It is the eprom 1b and 8b.*\
      *The pdf is the 3 pages of the magazine with the first article. This is enough if someone want to rebuilt the system as you will find the i/o addresses.*
    image: null
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (1979)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  oc_id: 197
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604070352/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=197
    date: '2023-06-04'
---

Little is known about this computer. Help welcomed.

The Proteus III was apparently made in France. It is powered by a Motorola 6800 CPU. There were two models : **Proteus III A** with 16 KB RAM, and **Proteus III B** with 32 KB RAM. There was even a third version (Proteus III C ?) with 48 KB RAM.

It can display 16 lines by 64 characters but has no specific graphical resolution, only semi-graphic characters which can be used to simulate graphics.

5.25'' disk-drives (Double Density) were available as an option. You could also connect a serial printer and tape recorder.

The extended Basic is stored in ROM and thus available as soon as the system is powered on. It has no edition feature but detect errors while typing commands.

It had apparently no great success as its main competitors were [Apple II](/museum/apple-ii/), [Commodore PET](/museum/commodore-pet-2001/) and [Tandy TRS-80 Model I](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-trs-80-model-i/).

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>