website/content/museum/tei-terminal-processor.md

---
title: TEI Terminal Processor
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1977'
cpus:
- Intel 8080A
params:
  name: Terminal Processor
  image: /media/museum/photos/tei_terminal-processor_1.jpg
  company: /companies/tei
  company_name: TEI
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Terminal Processor
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: TEI
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1977'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke detachable keyboard with function keys and numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8080A
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: None
  - label: RAM
    value: 32 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 2 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 chars x 24 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: None
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel ports (3) - Serial Ports (3, from 75 to 19200 bauds), RS232C and TTL outputs
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: |-
      5'' 1/4 Shugart SA400 - 80 KB (IBM compatible format)\
      The controller can handle 4 drives.
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in Power Supply Unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      PT-112 $5,895.00 (shipping weight 80 lbs)\
      PT-212 $8,150.00 (the most popular model sold)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  photos:
  - title: PT-112 / 412
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/tei-pt112-312.jpg
  - title: PT-208 / 408
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/tei-pt208-408.jpg
  - title: MAINFRAME VERSION
    subtitle: ''
    text: These obscure mainframe versions featured a S-100 Bus back-plane and a strong power supply unit. They were sold as empty cases or equipped according to specific customer needs.
    image: /media/museum/photos/tei-mcs122-rm22.jpg
  - title: S-100 SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      A typical mainframe S-100 system equipped with:\
      **(1)** A CPU board\
      **(2)** Two RAM boards\
      **(3)** A floppy drives controller board\
      **(4)** An I/O board.
    image: /media/museum/photos/tei_ptseries_pcboards.jpg
  - title: TEI 'PT' PRODUCTION LINE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Assembly and burn in area of TEI plant.\
      TEI was a much large supplier of this type of equipment than most people realize, shipping several hundred units a month (1976-1982 - S100 market)

      Thanks to **Wallace Berry**
    image: /media/museum/photos/tei-productionline_s2.jpg
  - title: TEI PACKING LINE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Boxed for shipment.

      Thanks to **Wallace Berry**
    image: /media/museum/photos/tei-productionline_s1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: TEI BROCHURE COVER
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/tei-manual%20cover.jpg
  comments:
  - author: Scott L
    date: Tuesday 15th September 2015
    text: |-
      Picture of the TEI that I have circa 1977

      $IMG$http://i60.tinypic.com/23uwk0j.jpg$/IMG$

      $IMG$http://i60.tinypic.com/21oht4.jpg$/IMG$
  - author: DAKOTA (jayess)
    date: Monday 29th April 2002
    text: are you going to sell the TEI Terminal
  oc_id: 410
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230329074233/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=410
    date: '2023-03-29'
---

For more than ten years, TEI has been a low profile manufacturer of electronic products for some of the largest OEM's in America. The company was vertically integrated, starting with raw materials and manufacturing all the parts needed for the end product.

In 1977, they started to produce a full line of computers based around the Intel 8080 microprocessor and CP/M operating system aimed at small business companies and liberal professions.

The **PT-112** was the basic system of the **PT** series, Featuring 32 KB of RAM, a 24 x 80 display, a 5.25" 80 KB Shugart SA400 floppy drive and 5 available expansion slots.\
The **PT-212** was the same machine, with a 512 KB 8" Shugart SA800 floppy drive.\
The **PT-312** was sold with a dual 80 KB Floppy drive unit, and\
The **PT-412** with a dual 8" 512 KB unit.

The Terminal Processor family also included some versions, called **PT-208** and **PT-408** with a special case that provided 5.25" floppy drives housing on both sides of the screen.

Thanks to **Wallace Berry** for information and pictures

<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>