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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

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---
title: Compaq Portable III
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1987'
cpus:
- Intel 80286
params:
name: Portable III
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s2.jpg
company: /companies/compaq
company_name: Compaq
specs:
- label: NAME
value: Portable III
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Compaq
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1987'
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: Unknown
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: None
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Typewriter type 92 keys with 12 function keys and numeric keypad
- label: CPU
value: Intel 80286
- label: SPEED
value: 12 MHz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: Socket for a 80287 math coprocessor
- label: RAM
value: 640 KB up to 2 MB
- label: VRAM
value: Unknown
- label: ROM
value: 16 KB
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 640 x 200 dots (CGA resolution)
- label: COLORS
value: Monochrome orange
- label: SOUND
value: Beeper
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 41 (W) x 19.2 (D) x 24.8 (H) cm / 11 kg
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Serial, Parallel, Video RGB, expansion bus
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: 1 x 1.2 MB FDD, 20 or 40 MB HDD
- label: OS
value: MS-DOS 3.1
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in power supply unit - No battery
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Expansion box with two IBM-AT card slots
- label: PRICE
value: $4,990 (20 MB), $5,790 (40 MB)
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
- hardware
- links
forum_thread: 1037
photos:
- title: 'PORTABLE III #1'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s1.jpg
- title: 'PORTABLE III #2'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s4.jpg
- title: TOP VIEW
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_topview_s1.jpg
- title: RIGHT SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_rightside_s1.jpg
- title: MOTHERBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Only one board fulfil all of the functions of a standard AT machine, including video, FDD and HDD control and various I/O. A small daugter card is used to manage the plasma display.\
**(1)** 2 x 512 KB RAM modules. Only 640 KB is used by programs\
**(2)** Optional card slots (RAM and modem card)\
**(3)** Hard-disk drive data connectors\
**(4)** Bus expansion connector, mainly used by the external expansion box\
**(5)** FDD and HDD power connectors\
**(6)** Floppy-disk drive data connector\
**(7)** Four Fujitsu custom chips carry out most of the tasks\
**(8)** Power supply connector\
**(9)** 80286-12 CPU covered by its cooling plate (very simple system compared to nowadays massive cooling systems).
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_mainboard_s1.jpg
- title: 'MOTHERBOARD #2'
subtitle: ''
text: |-
In some versions of the motherboard, a "Dallas" clock chip (1) which also included a rechargeable CMOS battery, replaced the original CMOS battery which location was then empty (2).
If you need to replace the Dallas chip, this [link](http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/appnote_number/769) may help you.
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_withoutbattery_s1.jpg
- title: PLASMA DISPLAY
subtitle: ''
text: Rear side of the OKI plasma display.
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_display_s1.jpg
- title: REAR SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
From left to right:\
• Expansion connector, covered by a sliding lid when not used,\
• RGB monitor connector,\
• Serial connector,\
• Parallel connector,\
• AC socket and switch.
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_rearside_s1.jpg
- title: NYLON BAG
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This bag could carry a complete system along with its expansion box, manuals and software.\
An expensive leather bag was also available.
image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_bag_s1.jpg
adverts:
- title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #1'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s1.jpg
- title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #2'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s2.jpg
- title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #3'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s3.jpg
- title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #4'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s4.jpg
- title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #5'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s5.jpg
hardware:
- title: EXPANSION BOX
subtitle: ''
text: This expansion box provided two 16-bit expansion slots.
image: /media/museum/hardware/compaq_portableiii_expansionbox_s2.jpg
- title: OPENED
subtitle: ''
text: The box holds a X25 network card.
image: /media/museum/hardware/compaq_portableiii_expansionbox_s1.jpg
links:
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: ''
related:
- /museum/compaq-portable
- /museum/compaq-portable-386
- /museum/compaq-portable-ii
oc_id: 1064
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608222727/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1064
date: '2023-06-08'
---
When Compaq launched its Portable III, the lauch was timed to occurs simultaneously in twelve countries around the world, in keeping with Compaq's showmanship style.
The Portable III previously rumoured to be the smallest, lightest and fastest 386 machine but Compaq only had a 286-12 mainboard ready to be mass produced. The 386 version would follow about one year later.
Compaq actually released a 286 version to restore its Number One spot in the portable market, under the pressure from Toshiba with its T-1100 and T-3100 and Zenith with its Z-181.
The design of the Portable II had been deeply improved over the earlier Compaq portable machines. It was half the size and its footprint occupied half the space of the first Compaq [Portable](/museum/compaq-portable/). The most remarquable feature was its neat gas plasma display wich lifted up and swiveled so that it could be placed in a good position for reading.
The machine shipped with either a 20 MB or 40 MB hard-disk. Two internal cards could be added, a RAM card (up to 2 MB) and a 1200-baud modem card. An external expansion box allowed to add two standard IBM-AT cards and carry them along with the computer.
---
**Ryan Schweitzer** adds:\
It also has a proprietary graphics mode that allows it to run at true 640 x 400 mode. I ran both a copy of Windows/286 2.11 (yes, 2.11 :) ) that had a Compaq Portable display driver for 640 x 400 (if I recall correctly), and also had an installation of GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0 on it, that could make the display run perfectly at 640 x 400 if the display drivers for the AT&T 6300 (also 640x400) were used!!!\
I think ensemble's AT&T driver might of used the same calls/registers/interrupts/whatnot to the Portable's graphics chipset, or maybe even possibly the Portable used the same graphics chipset as the AT&T 6300.
**Nancy Hackett's** bad experience:\
Oh, did this machine have problems! I went through four of those nifty plasma monitors, several hard drives, two factory rebuilds, and an uncounted number of motherboards trying to track down internal error codes that Compaq said didn't exist!\
It came (not so) lovingly to be known as "The Compaq from Hell" with the motherboard rumored to be numbered "666". Both the maintenance manager's and the Compaq regional rep's hands would sweat every time I lugged it in. The spectacular finale was when the power supply blew, shooting blue flames 18" out the side! LOL! That was an experience!
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