website/content/museum/lambda-electronics-ltd-pc-8300.md

---
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
  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 :**
  comments:
  - author: Niels Bjarne Rasmussen (Danmark)
    date: Saturday 26th June 2021
    text: it has 32 k extra memory
  - author: Niels Bjarne Rasmussen (Danmark)
    date: Saturday 26th June 2021
    text: 'if anybody wants an old lambda 8300 for free you can pick it up in Virum, Denmark. e-mail to: nbkampp@gmail.com'
  - author: Kristian (Norway)
    date: Thursday 14th May 2020
    text: This was my first computer back in the early 80''s. Mine was given to me by my uncle and I remember it as "Lambda 2000". I learnt basic on this thing from reading the command words printed on the keys and experimenting. I had the big (and heavy!) 16KB ram expansion plugged in plus a small printer which I never really used. Eventually the soft touch keys started failing and I moved on to a C64, which was a huge leap back then :-)
  - author: Marcus (Sweden)
    date: Monday 17th September 2018
    text: My first contact with computers, My friend had one that we played around with. It was branded Lambda, i dont remember model nmbr.
  - author: Ronald (Denmark)
    date: Friday 6th May 2016
    text: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v$lfiSz_ZcCFw
  - author: Robcfg (Spain)
    date: Wednesday 17th June 2015
    text: 'You can find high quality scans and pictures of the Marathon here: http://www.zonadepruebas.com/viewtopic.php?f$40$t$3953'
  - author: Sascha2000 (Germany)
    date: Monday 26th November 2012
    text: |-
      It was possible to install different ROMs into the lambda to gain better ZX81 compatibility. I have made a multirom-board which can be seen here:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v$lH8igenBmuY$feature$watch_response
  - author: Dwayne Surdu-Miller (Canada)
    date: Wednesday 13rd July 2011
    text: The PC-8300 was distributed in Canada for a few years as surplus by Princess Auto. The manual included a little bit of English, but was mostly printed with Chinese block characters. The case and colour scheme are exactly as shown for Lambda Electronics PC-8300, though there was no such branding on the original box, the manual, or the computer.
  - author: Torsten
    date: Monday 9th August 2010
    text: The Lambda was my first computer inherited from a friend who got an Amstrad 464 around 1983-84. I used it to type Basic programs from magazines. I only had it about a year before I got an Amstrad and never looked back
  - author: Helge (Internet)
    date: Wednesday 7th July 2010
    text: |-
      I have been looking for info about that marathon-thing, because it was my first computer, and i found some here (messed up site):\
      http://www.homecomputer.de/pages/MachineInfo/Marathon_32K.html
  - author: Jostein Chr. Andersen (Sweden)
    date: Monday 12th April 2010
    text: Can that it was under the Marathon name in Norway. I had one like this around 1982-83 (probably ''82) under the name Marathon 32K and bought it in Oslo.
  - author: Carsten Krogh (Denmark)
    date: Thursday 7th February 2008
    text: |-
      Well, the Lambda 8300 was distributed in Denmark - probably also the rest of the nordics. It was an exact ZX81 clone (first cloning that I am aware of?) and ran Sinclair software just fine.\
      Best rgds. from Denmark, and do keep up the good work!
  - author: Murray Moffatt (New Zealand)
    date: Tuesday 11th September 2007
    text: |-
      The Lambda PC 8300's keyboard looks almost identical to the Panasonic JR-100 at http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=320&st=1

      Same style and layout and everything! This has to be more than just a coincidence...
  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!