Files
website/content/museum/osm-computer-corporation-zeus-3x.md
yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 b274874139 All machines linked to their forum thread (full comment import)
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves.

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

3.1 KiB

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params
title categories types origins years cpus params
OSM Computer Corporation Zeus 3X
Computers
Professional Computer
U.S.A.
1983
Zilog Z80A
name image company company_name specs forum_thread oc_id source
Zeus 3X /media/museum/photos/osm_zeus-3x_1.jpg /companies/osm-computer-corporation OSM Computer Corporation
label value
NAME Zeus 3X
label value
MANUFACTURER OSM Computer Corporation
label value
TYPE Professional Computer
label value
ORIGIN U.S.A.
label value
YEAR 1983
label value
CPU Zilog Z80A
label value
SPEED 4 MHz
label value
RAM 64 Kb + 64 Kb x number of users (up to 32) = 2.1 Mb max.
label value
TEXT MODES 80 x 25 CP/M standard
label value
GRAPHIC MODES none
label value
COLORS monochrome through terminal display
label value
SOUND None
label value
SIZE / WEIGHT 10x19x27 inches / 60 lbs
label value
I/O PORTS 4 x serial ports (2 users, 2 master), 1 x parallel port, 1 x 3270 synchronous port
label value
BUILT IN MEDIA Hard disk (from 12 to 140 Mb) + 20 Mb tape cartridge storage
label value
OS CP/M, M/PM, MUSE or ZMOS
label value
POWER SUPPLY Built-in PSU
label value
PRICE USA (1983) : $10,800 (4 users systems) / $2,294 (4 users increment)
1301 1336
url date
https://web.archive.org/web/20230202150823/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1336 2023-02-02

OSM Computer Corporation, based in Santa Clara California, produced several multi-user CP/M computers called Zeus.

The Zeus 3X was released in 1983, and is a natural follow-up of previous systems: Zeus, Zeus II, Zeus 3. The Zeus 3X was available as the same time as theZeus 4, in which it differs in some features (more users, more memory, tape drive, real time clock, etc.) making it more suited for larger companies.

The OSM Zeus 3X is a Z80 based multi-user computer that supports a single hard drive (from 12 to 140 Mb) and up to 32 users (8 only for the Zeus 4) via dumb terminals plugged into RS232 ports. The ports supports several terminal emulations as well as serial printers and modems.

The Zeus computer uses MUSE (Multi User System Executive) as its operating system, a CP/M compatible OS for multi-user computers from OSM. It incorporates all the standard features of CP/M, while adding file management capabilities such as multi-user file sharing, password protection, print spooling, data security and auto-searching. Later, the ZMOS operating system, another multi-user CP/M compatible OS, was also available.

In the november 1984's issue of Computerworld, there is an article describing how Pepsi bought and used Zeus 3X computers to help them cope with orders processing through these multi-user file sharing systems.

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.