---
title: Hitachi MB-6890 / Basic Master Level 3
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1980'
cpus:
- Motorola 6809
params:
  name: MB-6890 / Basic Master Level 3
  image: /media/museum/photos/hitachi_mb6890_2.jpg
  company: /companies/hitachi
  company_name: Hitachi
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: MB-6890 / Basic Master Level 3
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Hitachi
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1980'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Hitachi Level-3 Basic Version 1.0 (Copyright Microsoft)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: QWERTY full-stroke keyboard, separated numeric keypad, 5 function keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Motorola 6809
  - label: SPEED
    value: 1 Mhz
  - label: RAM
    value: 48k ?
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16k
  - label: ROM
    value: 24k (Basic Interpreter)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 x 28 / 40 x 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 80 x 100 / 160 x 100 / 160 x 200 / 320 x 200 / 640 x 200
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: 6 expansion slots, RS232c, Tape-recorder
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Tape-recorder, printer interface board, light-pen, Chinese character ROM board, 8088 CPU board, Disk Interface board, Z80 CPU board, RAM expansion boards
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  forum_thread: 31
  photos:
  - title: MB 6890
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/hitachi_basic_master_level3_mb-6890_3.jpg
  - title: THE KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Ueda's Page](http://www.japan-net.ne.jp/~a-ueda/oldcom/) for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/hitachi_mb6890_1.jpg
  links:
  - title: Ueda's Page
    url: http://www.japan-net.ne.jp/~a-ueda/oldcom/
    text: Lot of infos and pictures here ! (japanese)
  oc_id: 2
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230413210407/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=2
    date: '2023-04-13'
---

This japanese computer seems quite powerful. The main board is located into the main case, under the monitor.

Inside this main case there are 6 expansion slots which is quite enough ! Thus a lot of expansion boards were available (disk, printers, 8088, Z80 boards, etc).

An interesting feature is that there's a little trap-door on the keyboard which reveals some cool control switches : a power switch, a text mode switch (80 / 40 columns), a reset button and volume control knob. Quite useful !