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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: 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
<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>
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