---
title: NEC PC 6601
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1985'
cpus:
- ìPD780C-1
params:
  name: PC 6601
  image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc6601_1.jpg
  company: /companies/nec
  company_name: NEC
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PC 6601
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: NEC
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1985'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: N66 Basic + machine language monitor
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard, JIS standard layout, 5 function keys
  - label: CPU
    value: ìPD780C-1 (Z80A compatible)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 Mhz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: ìPD8049 (8 Mhz)
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB + 1KB (loppy disk interface)
  - label: VRAM
    value: 50 KB ?
  - label: ROM
    value: 32 KB (Basic + machine language monitor) + 32 KB (chinese characters) + 16 KB (voice data) + 16 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 20
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 80 x 40 (15 colors), 160 x 200 (15 colors), 320 x 200 (4 colors)
  - label: COLORS
    value: '15'
  - label: SOUND
    value: |-
      3 voices, 8 octaves (AY-3-8910)\
      optional speech synthesizer
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 365 (W) ×380 (D) ×113 (H) mm / 4.5 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Tape interface (600/1200 baud), RGB video output, composite video output, RF TV output, parallel interface, optional RS-232c interface
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: One or two 3.5'' floppy disk drive (SS/DD 143 KB)
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: PSU built-in
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Grpahics tablet, speech synthesizer
  - label: PRICE
    value: 143 000 yen (Japan, 1985)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - links
  - comments
  photos:
  - title: PC-6601
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc6601_monitor.jpg
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc6601_rear.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: JAPANESE ADVERT (1985)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Pugly's web site](http://www.pugly.juice.or.jp/pugly/oldpc/) for this picture.
    image: /media/museum/pubs/nec_pc6601_pub.jpg
  links:
  - title: Toragiku's Museum
    url: http://my.reset.jp/~toragiku/kopa/6601.htm
    text: Our info comes from this page. More interesting pictures there!
  comments:
  - author: MacDeath (France)
    date: Monday 28th February 2011
    text: |-
      As told concerning the PC 6001 MK II, this computer is quite similar to an Amstrad CPC... and Like the british CPC664 or CPC6128 is supplied with in-built diskDrive.

      But on CPC it was the "exotic" 3"inch diskdrive.

      Would be fun to see if the two computers may actually be compatible provided some minor Hacks or emulation...
  - author: stefo
    date: Friday 13rd August 2010
    text: This "Basic N66" is an enhancement of the Basic found in PC-6001 MK2 but is the same Basic that can be found on the PC-6001 MK2 SR (Basic N66 $ N66SR)
  oc_id: 395
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230606195003/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=395
    date: '2023-06-06'
---

The PC-6601 is basicaly a PC-6001 MK2 with a built-in 3.5'' disk drive. The second optional disk drive could also be mounted. The N60m Basic od the PC-6001 MK2 has been enhanced to the N66 Basic.

The japanese adverts focused on the fact that this computer could sing with its optional speech synthesizer!

More info badly needed!