---
title: NORMEREL OPlite
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- France
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Intel 8088
params:
  name: OPlite
  image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_system_s1.jpg
  logo: /media/museum/logos/normerel_oplite_logo_2.gif
  company: /companies/normerel
  company_name: NORMEREL
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: OPlite
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Normerel
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: France
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Standard 83-key PC-type with 10 function keys and Numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8088
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4.77 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Motorola 6845 CRT controller
  - label: RAM
    value: 256 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 10 KB (8 KB BIOS, 2 KB Char. Generator)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 ot 80 columns x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: CGA - 640 x 200 dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: '16'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Beeper
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 52 (W) x 38 (D) x 26 (H) cm
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RGB, video composite, SCART, FDD controller, Parallel, Serial,4 expansion slots
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 1 or 2 x 5.25'' 360 KB FDD - Optional HDD
  - label: OS
    value: MS-DOS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in switching PSU
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 720 KB disk drives, 10 MB hard drive
  - label: PRICE
    value: 26 590 F HT (France, may 1985) (approx. 4800 )
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 1097
  photos:
  - title: LARGE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_system_s2.jpg
  - title: SIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_sideview_s1.jpg
  - title: REMOVABLE DISPLAY
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_sepdisp_s1.jpg
  - title: REAR PANEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_backpanel_s1.jpg
  - title: REAR CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      From left to right:

      • RVB connector for a CGA monitor\
      • Composite video output\
      • SCART connector, allows to connect a standard TV set\
      • Floppy disk controller connector, used to manage the internal FDDs\
      • Parallel DB25 connector\
      • Serial DB25 connector
    image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_rearcon_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** 4 PC-compatible expansion slots\
      **(2)** 256 KB RAM (32 x 4164)\
      **(3)** Intel 8088 processor\
      **(4)** Reset switch. Another reset swith is located next to the expansion slots\
      **(5)** 8 KB BIOS ROM chip (2764)\
      **(6)** Motorola 6845 CRT controller\
      **(7)** 2 KB character generator chip\
      **(8)** Dual double-sided, single density 360 KB mitsubishi floppy drives.
    image: /media/museum/photos/normerel_oplite_inside_s1.jpg
  oc_id: 1127
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230129160951/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1127
    date: '2023-01-29'
---

Almost ten years after having conceived the [Micral](/museum/r2e-micral-n/), world first commercial microprocessor based computer, André Thi T. Truong, joined the young Normerel Company managed by his old friend Jean René Tissot.

In a short time, he designed the OPlite, first computer Normerel would produce.

The Oplite was a PC compatible system featuring some innovative concepts. The case held a dual floppy disk drive and a removable 9-inch display. Standard connectors allowed an external colour TV set, a RGB or composite monitor to be used. The case also provided room for four long expansion cards.

To reach a high level of sales, Normerel joined together with Rank Xerox. The OPlite was thus sold in the large French 'Xerox Store's network alongside Apple, Toshiba and other well-known brands.

Later, Normerel would sell several PC and AT compatible systems. They made a joint-venture with [ADDX Systèmes](/museum/add-x-systeme-smp-8/) and formed ADDX-Normerel.

In 1989, the company which lost a lot of money, was bought by SMT-Goupil. Finally, Normerel closed its doors in July 1998, the same year as SMT.