---
title: Sharp X1 (CZ-800C)
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Sharp Z80 A
params:
  name: X1 (CZ-800C)
  company: /companies/sharp
  company_name: Sharp
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: X1 (CZ-800C)
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Sharp
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1982'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard
  - label: CPU
    value: Sharp Z80 A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 4 KB (up to 48 KB)
  - label: ROM
    value: 6 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 / 80 x 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 x 200 / 640 x 200
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: 3 voices PSG
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: 2 x I/O ports, 2 x joysticks (Atari), audio out, keyboard, printer
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: Tape
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M ?
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  - label: PRICE
    value: 155,000 yen (Japan)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  - software
  - links
  - videos
  photos:
  - title: GREY MODEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: RED MODEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  hardware:
  - title: TOP VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: This original extension was at least usable with the X1 Turbo serie...
    image: null
  - title: I/O EXPANSION BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: This box was used to multiply the input/output connectors and thus, possibilities of the X1 systems.
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: BACK
    subtitle: ''
    text: This extension box offers 4 I/O ports.
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: This extension was used to generate titles for video-tapes, among other things...
    image: null
  - title: BACK
    subtitle: ''
    text: A lot of connectors can be found at the back of the unit...
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  links:
  - title: Class X1
    url: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~ITTO/x1/x1menu.html
    text: In Japanese
  - title: Japanese Computer Emulation Center
    url: http://www.jcec.co.uk/x1games.htm
    text: Lot of games for X1
  videos:
  - title: Sharp X1 japanese commercial
    url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QxhgniF8Pg
    text: 'Length: 15 s'
  related:
  - /museum/sharp-x1-c-cz-801c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-ck-cz-804c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-cs-cz-803c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-d-cz-802c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo-iii
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo-z-cz-880c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo-z-iii
  software:
  - /software/hydlide-3-the-space-memories
  oc_id: 313
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604003944/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=313
    date: '2023-06-04'
---

This is the first member of the X1 family. Difficult to locate this computer in the Sharp family, it has some characteristics of the [MZ 2000](/museum/sharp-mz-2000/) but is not compatible with it.

The X1 family had a very great success in Japan, and the last models were very powerful. Go figure why Sharp didn't market these computers outside Japan… The most famous and strong feature of the X1 series is its Programmable Charactor Generator(PCG).

Tape Basic and Disk Basic were available but had to be loaded from tape. This is a concept that Sharp called "Clean Computer". X1 and MZ system (even X68000) do not have any Basic ROM or other OS ROM. They only have an "IPL ROM"(Initial Program Loader + IOCS) and a BIOS ROM. So if you want to use any OS with the X1 or MZ serie, you have to load it from external storage devices.

Sharp designed the X1 serie as an innovative multimedia system which could work with TV and video. The X1 serie has advanced features to display graphics and text over TV screens (superimpose feature). The X1 could achieve teletext functions without any additional peripherals (only the special X1 TV monitor which can be also used as a TV).

Sharp also released a "color image board" which was video capturing unit. Though it was working with 8 colours only, the result was astonishing for the time! The X1 was a real pionneer in multimedia market, but most people in Japan never realized this. The X68000 serie inherited from the X1 features.

**Joe Repka reports :**\
Bought one of these amazingly ahead-of-its-time computers when they first came out in Japan. First floppy device was a single-sided double-drive unit that cost 100,000 yen! SS floppy disks sold for about 1000 yen (USD 10.00) at that time.

<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>