--- title: NEC PC 8001 categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - Japan years: - '1979' cpus: - uPD 780c-1 params: name: PC 8001 image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_2.jpg company: /companies/nec company_name: NEC specs: - label: NAME value: PC 8001 - label: MANUFACTURER value: NEC - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: Japan - label: YEAR value: '1979' - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: BASIC interpreter - label: KEYBOARD value: Full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad, 5 function keys, JIS standard layout - label: CPU value: uPD 780c-1 (compatible with Z80) - label: SPEED value: 4 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: ìPD3301D (CRT controller), ìPD8257C-5 (DMA controller) - label: RAM value: 16 KB (upgradable to 32 KB and 64 KB) - label: VRAM value: 3 KB - label: ROM value: 24 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 36x20, 36x25, 40x20, 40x25, 72x20, 72x25, 80x20, 80x25 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 160 x 100 (320 x 200 in option) - label: COLORS value: '8' - label: SOUND value: Built-in beeper - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 440 x 265 x 80 mm / 4 Kg - label: I/O PORTS value: Centronics, RS232c, IEEE 488 (optional), cassette interface (600 baud) - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: One or two 5.25'' disk-drives (PC-8031) - label: OS value: N-BASIC, CP/M optional - label: POWER SUPPLY value: AC100V±10% 50/60Hz, 20w - label: PERIPHERALS value: Fixed expansion unit with dual 5'' 163 KB FDD, extra 32 KB of RAM, 2 x RS232C, IEEE488 and Parallel interfaces - label: PRICE value: 168,000 yens (Japan, 1979) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - connectors - software - emulators - links forum_thread: 188 photos: - title: PC-8001 subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_4.jpg - title: SYSTEM + PRINTER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_3.jpg - title: IN USE subtitle: '' text: Complete system in use, including NEC dual 5.25" floppy drives unit, hard disk unit and printer image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8000_inuse_1.jpg - title: PC-8001A subtitle: '' text: U.S. version of the PC-8001 image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_system_1.jpg - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM subtitle: '' text: Complete system with PC-8012 I/O unit and PC-8031 dual floppy drive unit image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_completesyst_1.jpg - title: SIDE VIEWS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_sides_1.jpg - title: KEYBOARD subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_keyboard_1.jpg - title: REAR SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Reset switch\ **(2)** Tape recorder DIN plug\ **(3)** Monochrome composite video output\ **(4)** Colour TTL RGB output\ **(5)** Parallel printer connector\ **(6)** Z80 bus extension connector image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_rearside_1.jpg - title: INSIDE subtitle: '' text: On the U.S. version, the mainboard is covered with a metallic protection against magnetic fields. The switching power supply unit occupies the whole width of the computer. image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_inside_1.jpg - title: MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** 16 x 4116 chips (here Nec µPD416-30) hold 32 KB of RAM\ **(2)** 3 x 8K 2364 ROM hold the NBASIC interpreter. One socket remains empty\ **(3)** Z80 processor (Nec D780C version)\ **(4)** Nec 8257 DMA controller\ **(5)** Nec D3301, manages video and colours\ **(6)** Nec 8251 USART (Synchronous/Asynchronous receiver/transmitter)\ **(7)** Keyboard connectors\ **(8)** Nec D2316, video RAM chip\ **(9)** Parallel printer connector\ **(10)** External bus connector image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mainboard_1.jpg - title: ROM & RAM AREA subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mainboard_2.jpg - title: USER MANUALS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_manuals_1.jpg adverts: - title: FRENCH ADVERT (APRIL1982) subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/nec_pc8000_french-pub_1.jpg - title: FRENCH ADVERT (APRIL 1982) subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/nec_pc8000_french-pub_biset.jpg hardware: - title: PC-8012 EXPANSION BOX subtitle: '' text: The expansion box is here fitted with a 64 KB RAM board. image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pc8001_expbox_1.jpg - title: PC-8031 FD EXTENSION subtitle: '' text: This unit uses two 140 KB single side 5.25" TEAC floppy drives. A Z80 processor manages the controller board. image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pc8001_fdbox_1.jpg - title: DUAL 5.25'' FLOPPY DISCS UNIT subtitle: '' text: |- Dual 5.25" Double-side, double-density 320 KB floppy drive unit.\ The unit uses the 8255 parallel interface. It can be also used with PC-8001/mkII, PC-8801 Series, PC-9801/E/F/M etc. image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pc8001mk2sr_fdunit-s1.jpg connectors: - title: COMPOSITE VIDEO DIN PLUG subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** VDD 12V\ **(2)** GND\ **(3)** Video Out\ **(4)** NC\ **(5)** Light pen image: /media/museum/connectors/nec_pc8001_compositeplug_1.jpg - title: RGB VIDEO DIN PLUG subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** VDD 12V\ **(2)** GND\ **(3)** Color clock\ **(4)** H-SYNC\ **(5)** V-SYNC\ **(6)** R\ **(7)** G\ **(8)** B image: /media/museum/connectors/nec_pc8001_rgbplug_1.jpg screenshots: - title: BOOT SCREEN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/nec_pc8001_boot.jpg emulators: - title: M88 emulator url: http://retropc.net/cisc/m88/ platform: Windows text: Japanese emulator - title: PC88 Emulator url: http://home.highway.ne.jp/soltin/pc88win.html platform: Windows text: Japanese emulator - title: QUASI88 url: http://www.117.ne.jp/~show/pc8801/pc88emu2.html platform: Multiplatform text: Multiplatform emulator links: - title: Junyo Kubota's PC-8001 page url: http://my.reset.jp/~toragiku/kopa/8001.htm text: Interesting (japanese) - title: PC-8001 Page url: http://tje12.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~mino/PC-8001/PC-8001.html text: It looks interesting but it's all japanese ;-) related: - /museum/nec-pc-8001-mk-2 - /museum/nec-pc-8001-mk-2-sr - /museum/nec-pc-8801 - /museum/nec-pc-8801-fa - /museum/nec-pc-8801-fe - /museum/nec-pc-88va oc_id: 178 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601101546/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=178 date: '2023-06-01' --- In 1979, the NEC PC-8001 was an excellent machine, offering 8 colors when most of its competitors were still monochrome. There is even a (low) graphic resolution of 160 x 100 dots. It could display capital and small letters. The PC-8001 had great success with Japanese businesses, where it was widely used. At the time, NEC claimed that the PC-8001 represented at least 45% of their home japanese market. This is when the PC serie from NEC and MZ serie from Sharp started competing! The base system was 32K, but a company in Concord, CA. made a thing called the "WEDGE" that mounted below the Base system and added the needed 32K plus it had analog and digital input ports and other goodies. The US version of the PC-8001 was named **PC-8001A**. --- **Contributors :** Jeff Denno
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.