---
title: Fujitsu FM 16 Beta
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Intel 8086 &amp
params:
  name: FM 16 Beta
  company: /companies/fujitsu
  company_name: Fujitsu
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: FM 16 Beta
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Fujitsu
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8086 & Zilog Z80A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 8 Mhz
  - label: RAM
    value: up to 2 MB
  - label: VRAM
    value: Unknown
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: Unknown
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 640x400
  - label: COLORS
    value: '16'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 5.25'' disk drives
  - label: OS
    value: 'CP/M 86. optional: CP/M 2.2, MS-DOS 1.1 (proprietary version), Concurrent CP/M 86,, PICK'
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Monochrome or colour monitor, 1 to 2 MB expansion RAM card (about $1,000/MB), SCSI 13 MB hard disk ($1300)
  - label: PRICE
    value: About $3,300 with colour monitor, 128 KB RAM and two DS/DD 5.25'' floppy drives
  oc_id: 382
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605124638/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=382
    date: '2023-06-05'
---

The model number was FM-16s, and it was sold in the USA from about 1983 to around 1985.

It had dual processors on daughter boards, one with a Zilog Z-80a and the other with an i8086 on a true 16-bit bus. Hard drives were external, connecting through a SCSI host adapter. The machine could have up to 2MB of RAM on a proprietary expansion card, and ran at 8MHz. It had a 640x480 16 color display and 104 keys keyboard.

CP/M-86, WordStar, SuperCalc and the C/PM-86 operating system were bundled with the basic purchase; but the FM-16 could also run CP/M 2.2, a proprietary version of MS-DOS 1.0, Concurrent CP/M-86 and PICK. If all were installed in partitions on the hard drive, you had a choice of OS at boot time.

**Ron Edelstein** adds:\
Actually, the FM-16s had a video of 640x400 (not 480). It was a double-scanned format using 16 colours. Much better and sharper than the later IBM EGA standard, even though IBM used 480 lines. Using a proprietary version of MS-DOS, it could run any software not requiring graphics (i.e. text mode). The difference in video prevented it from displaying IBM graphics displays unless they were specifically recompiled for the FM-16s, as were SuperCalc and WordStar.

<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>