---
title: WELECT W86
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- France
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Intel 8086
params:
  name: W86
  image: /media/museum/photos/welect_w86_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/welect
  company_name: WELECT
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: W86
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: WELECT
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: France
  - label: YEAR
    value: June 1983
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: AZERTY mechanical keyboard, 96 keys with functions keys and numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8086
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Z80A for CP/M compatibility, optional Intel 8087 arithmetic processor
  - label: RAM
    value: 128 KB (up to 1 MB)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 24 x 80
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Semi-graphics characters are optional
  - label: COLORS
    value: Black & white display. Monochrome monitor (green phosphor)
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: serial, parallel
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 8'' floppy disk drives (1 MB each)
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M 86 and MS-DOS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 20 MB Cynthia hard disk
  - label: PRICE
    value: 58 500 FF (march 1984)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  forum_thread: 1304
  photos:
  - title: W86 ON ITS STAND
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: PROMOTIONAL PICTURE (JUNE 1983)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (DEC. 1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (FEB. 1983)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (SEPTEMBER 1983)
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      from Micro-Systèmes magazine (N°34)\
      The advert is for the Welect line of products.\
      The system pictured is a W86.
    image: /media/museum/pubs/welect_pub_ms34_sept-83%5B1%5D.jpg
  oc_id: 1339
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608162814/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1339
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

The W86 is a french computer released in 1983 by Welect. It's the second computer released by Welect after the [W80.2](/museum/welect-80-2/).

The W86 is powered by an Intel 8086 (hence its name) to catch up with the IBM PC compatible trend of the moment and is thus able to run MS-DOS. But the W86 is also equipped with a Z80A to also be CP/M 86 compatible. It's thus an hybrid machine typical of the mid-80s when the professional industry was moving from CP/M to MS-DOS.

There are 128 KB RAM available that can be expanded up to 1 MB. The two built-in 8'' floppy drives (double sided, double density) can store 1 MB each, for a total of 2 MB data storage. They were marketed as identical to the IBM 3600 standard... Up to six 20 MB Cynthia hard disks could also be connected to the computer.

The display features are basic with a 24x80 text resolution. Semi-graphics and blinking characters are in option. The monitor is monochrome (green phosphor).

The Welect W86 apparently had no success as it is very difficult to find a specimen nowadays. Its exaggerated price (65 230 FF in June 1983) must have prevented a lot people from buying one. But Welect was used to have big french companies as clients, often nationalized ones (PTT, INSEE, Météorologie Nationale, Charbonnage de France, Renault, Éducation Nationale, Ministère des Équipements et des Transports, etc). They thought that they could continue to sell them average systems to a very high price, which was apparently not the case...

<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>