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yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 b274874139 All machines linked to their forum thread (full comment import) 
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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 17:26:43 +02:00

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---
title: LAMBDA ELECTRONICS LTD PC 8300
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Hong Kong
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- NEC D780C-1
params:
name: PC 8300
image: /media/museum/photos/power-3000_1s.jpg
company: /companies/lambda-electronics-ltd
company_name: LAMBDA ELECTRONICS LTD
specs:
- label: NAME
value: PC 8300
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Lambda Electronics Ltd
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: Hong Kong
- label: YEAR
value: '1983'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Basic
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Flat membrane rubber keyboard, 42 keys, QWERTY
- label: CPU
value: NEC D780C-1 (Z80A clone)
- label: SPEED
value: 3,25 MHz
- label: RAM
value: 2 KB
- label: ROM
value: 8 KB
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 32 x 24
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 64 x 48 (through semi-graphic symbols)
- label: COLORS
value: Black & white
- label: SOUND
value: 1 voice sound generator
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 295 x 150 x 55 mm / 700 gr
- label: I/O PORTS
value: DC Power in, Tape interface (EAR & MIC), Composite video output, RF TV video output, expansion bus, joystick connector
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: External power supply (12v) - -(o- +
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: 16 KB & 32 KB RAM memory upgrades, Color Kit expansion, joystick, printer
- label: PRICE
value: $29.95 (USA, 198x)
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
- hardware
- software
- emulators
- links
- docs
forum_thread: 1138
photos:
- title: PC 8300
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to Riotutgut for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/power-3000_1.jpg
- title: BACK OF THE SYSTEM
subtitle: ''
text: |-
From left to right :
\- Power in from external PSU (12v, - -(o- +)\
\- Tape interface (EAR & MIC)\
\- Video composite output\
\- Expansion bus used here by a 16 KB RAM memory upgrade\
\- joystick connector\
\- RF TV video output
Thanks to Riotutgut for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/power-3000_back.jpg
adverts:
- title: US ADVERT (1985?)
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This is an advert for the Power 3000 released in the USA.
Thanks to [Adam's Lambda 8300 page](http://hem.passagen.se/clab/adam/lambda/) for this picture.
image: /media/museum/pubs/lambda_8300_pub_1.jpg
hardware:
- title: 32 KB RAM EXPANSION
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This expansion turns your PC 8300 into a 32 KB RAM computer !
Was priced $19.95 in 1985 (?)
Thanks to [Adam's Lambda 8300 page](http://hem.passagen.se/clab/adam/lambda/) for this picture.
image: /media/museum/hardware/lambda_8300_32k_1.jpg
- title: COLOR KIT
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This expansion gives colour (and hires graphic ?)possibilities to the PC 8300. It connects to the expansion bus of the system AND to the video output of the computer, as it replaces the video hardware of the PC 8300.
It was priced $19.95 in 1985 (?)
More info needed !
Thanks to [Adam's Lambda 8300 page](http://hem.passagen.se/clab/adam/lambda/) for this picture.
image: /media/museum/hardware/lambda_8300_color-kit_1.jpg
- title: 64 KB
subtitle: from Suntroncis
text: Suntronics T/S 1000 & ZX81 64K Memory Pack (Male Socket on Back, Female Socket on Front).
image: /media/museum/hardware/timex_1000-suntronics-64k_1.jpg
- title: TIMEX SINCLAIR 1016
subtitle: 16k RAM extension
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/timex_sinclair-1000_16kram-1016.jpg
screenshots:
- title: BOOT SCREEN
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/software/lambda_8300_boot_ss.gif
emulators:
- title: EightyOne
url: http://www.chuntey.com/eightyone/
platform: Windows
text: Excellent emulator emulating nearly all ZX computers (80, 81, Spectrums, Timex, etc.). As well as emulating the machines themselves, numerous addon cards are supported, including hi-res graphics, custom character sets, sound and colour cards.
- title: VB81
url: http://freestuff.grok.co.uk/vb81/
platform: Windows
text: Sinclair ZX81 Emulator (with Visual Basic sources). Excellent emulator
- title: X-Tender
url: http://www.delhez.demon.nl/
platform: Windows
text: The best ZX emulator for PC compatibles
- title: ZX 81 Homepage
url: http://www.maxon.de/homes/r_kurz/
platform: Windows
text: ''
- title: ZX81
url: http://www.w-4.de/~kurz/
platform: Apple
text: ''
- title: XZ81
url: http://www.zx81.nl/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: And other ZX-81 emulators there...
- title: ZX-81 Emulator 2.1
url: http://www.hh.schule.de/hhs/mjaap/ftp/zx81_v21.zip
platform: Atari
text: ''
- title: Java ZX81 Emulator
url: http://home.clara.net/rsergeant/
platform: Other platform
text: Java emulator
- title: Timex/Sinclair 1000 Emulator (Java)
url: http://www.vavasour.ca/jeff/trs80.html#ts1000
platform: Other platform
text: With this JAVA emulator, you'll be able to run a Timex/Sinclair 1000 in your browser window
- title: zx81emu
url: http://www.tlienhard.com/ap800.shtml
platform: Other platform
text: ZX-81 Emulator for the SonyEricsson P800 Smart Phone
- title: MESS
url: http://www.mess.org
platform: Multiplatform
text: MESS emulates the ZX-81, Lambda 8300, Power 3000 and other clones !
links:
- title: Achromic's ZX81 Site
url: http://zx81.achromic.co.uk/
text: A small, ZX81 fan site. With games and links to some emulators
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://www.8bit.ht.st/
text: The Lil Old Sinclair Computer Technical Information Repository
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/sinclair.zx81/
text: ZX-81 on-line manual. Great work !
- title: Jame's Sinclair ZX-81 Page
url: http://james.istop.com/zx81/
text: Some technical infos and links
- title: Lambda 8300 page
url: http://hem.passagen.se/clab/adam/lambda/
text: The only website dedicated to this system !
- title: Planet Sinclair
url: http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/zx81/zx81.htm
text: Planet Sinclair has very interesting information on the ZX-81
- title: Sinclair ZX Hardware Website
url: http://www.xs4all.nl/~echorod/zx/index.htm
text: Features designs to build your own Sinclair computer
- title: The ZX81 Hardware and Software Collection
url: http://zx81.atspace.com/
text: Online museum for ZX81 hardware, software and literature
- title: TS1000.US
url: http://www.ts1000.us/
text: Documentation, software, hardware tips and more
- title: Zebra Systems, Inc.
url: http://www.zebrasystems.com/zebrasystems/zx81/index.html
text: Website where you can buy Timex/Sinclair products including ZX-81 kits !
- title: ZX81 Collection
url: http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/
text: Online collection of ZX81 tapes, books and hardware
- title: ZX-81 forum
url: http://zx81.tlienhard.com/
text: A new ZX-81 forum. cool.
- title: ZX81 Home Page
url: http://www.honneamise.u-net.com/zx81/
text: FAQ and ZX81 Charts.
- title: ZX-81 The Archive
url: http://www.imarshall.karoo.net/zx81/zx81technical.htm
text: Lot of info here
- title: ZX-81 webring
url: http://www.zx81.de/webring/index.htm
text: Very useful to explore other ZX-81 related sites
- title: ZX-Team Homepage
url: http://www.zx81.de/
text: Quite a reference for the ZX-80, ZX-81, TS1000-1500, PC8300, Lambda and Jupiter Ace !
- title: ZX-TEAM-homepage & ZX-81 Web-Ring
url: http://www.zx81.de/
text: Logically useful
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: Sinclair computers
docs:
- title: SINCLAIR ZX-81 BASIC PROGRAMMING
url: ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/books/ZX81BASICProgramming.pdf
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx81_basic-programming.jpg
text: |-
[**SINCLAIR ZX-81 BASIC PROGRAMMING**](ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/books/ZX81BASICProgramming.pdf)written by Sinclair Research Limited / Steven Vickers
 compiled/archived by Robin Stuart\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 5,2 MB\
 source : [www.worldofspectrum.org](http://www.worldofspectrum.org/)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
- title: TIMEX SINCLAIR 1000 - USER MANUAL
url: http://www.ts1000.us/usermanuals.htm
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/timex-sinclair_1000_user-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**TIMEX SINCLAIR 1000 - USER MANUAL**](http://www.ts1000.us/usermanuals.htm)written by Timex / Sinclair / Steven Vickers
 compiled/archived by Bill Hicks\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 3.5 MB\
 source : [www.ts1000.us](http://www.ts1000.us/)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
- title: THE COMPLETE TIMEX TS1000 & SINCLAIR ZX81 ROM DISASSEMBLY
url: null
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx81_rom-disasembly.jpg
text: |-
**THE COMPLETE TIMEX TS1000 & SINCLAIR ZX81 ROM DISASSEMBLY**\
written by Dr. Ian Logan & Dr. Frank O'Hara
 compiled/archived by Bill Hicks\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 5 MB\
 source : [www.ts1000.us](http://www.ts1000.us/)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
- title: TIMEX SINCLAIR 2020 COMPUTER PROGRAM RECORDER
url: null
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/ts2020_tape-recorder_manual.jpg
text: |-
**TIMEX SINCLAIR 2020 COMPUTER PROGRAM RECORDER**\
written by Timex Computer Corporation
 compiled/archived by Bill Hicks / www.ts1000.us\
 type of document : Online reader
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
related:
- /museum/czerweny-cz-1000
- /museum/czerweny-cz-1000-plus
- /museum/microace
- /museum/sinclair-zx-80
- /museum/sinclair-zx-81
- /museum/timex-sinclair-1000
- /museum/tonel-pc
oc_id: 1168
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608083336/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1168
date: '2023-06-08'
---
The Lambda 8300 is basically a [ZX-81](/museum/sinclair-zx-81/) clone. Made in Hong-Kong (by Lambda Electronics LTD? DEF?), it was designed as a cheap computer for initiation and was licenced to many companies throughout the world. This explains why the same computer can be found under many different brands and names (DEF 3000, Power 3000, Basic 2000, Basic 3000, PC 2000, PC 8300, Marathon 32K, IQ 8300, Futura 8300, Your Computer, etc.). But on all mainboards is written a generic "PC 8300", which explains why 8300 or 3000 are often used in licenced names.
The system is thus a cloned [ZX-81](/museum/sinclair-zx-81/) with a modified ROM (to avoid legal problems), a better keyboard, more RAM (2 KB), sound features, a composite video output and even a joystick connector (Atari compatible). These represent in fact all the upgrades ZX-81 users usually wanted to add first to their system, but all bundled for a cheaper price.
With its modified ROM, the PC-8300 was only ZX-81 compatible with Basic programs. But soon, a ZX-81 ROM was available to turn your system into a real [Sinclair ZX-81](/museum/sinclair-zx-81/) machine, being able to run all software including machine code.
Different addons were available : 16 KB and 32 KB RAM upgrades, color (and high resolution graphics ?) expansion, joysticks, printers... The expansion bus is supposed to be compatible with the ZX-81 one (to be confirmed).
---
Lambda in Norway, by **Knut-Ivar Robertsen**:\
I do believe that the Lambda was marketed in Norway by some sort of "order through mail company" with the name Marathon. A friend of mine had one. He had a memory expansion pack plugged in the bus on the back of it which gave it a total amount of memory of 32kB. It was as far as I can rememberer completely compatible with the ZX 81. We typed in some ZX 81 games in BASIC from magazines on it and they worked fine.
Lamda in Denmark, by **Michael Hansen**:\
In Denmark it was sold as the "Lambda". It was in the shops and a hell of a lot better than the ZX-81 - if you can use the term "better" about a machine that has less computing power than today's average shaver :-)\
The main advantage of this machine was the "ghost" and "car" keys... It gave the games an unreal feel of reality, hehe!
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