website/content/museum/nec-pc-88-va-2.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
NEC PC-88 VA 2	Computers	Home Computer	Japan	1987	NEC PD9002	name image company company_name specs oc_id source PC-88 VA 2 /media/museum/photos/nec_pc88va_2.jpg /companies/nec NEC label value NAME PC-88 VA 2 label value MANUFACTURER NEC label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Japan label value YEAR 1987 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Unknown label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke keyboard with separated keypad and arrow keys label value CPU NEC PD9002 (compatible with Z80 and V30) label value SPEED 8 MHz label value RAM 512 KB label value VRAM 256 KB (text) / 256 KB (Video) label value ROM 768 KB (main) / 512 KB (dictionary) / 288 KB (characters) label value TEXT MODES 80 x 25, 40 x 25 label value GRAPHIC MODES 640 x 400, 640 x 200 label value COLORS 65536 label value SOUND YAMAHA YM-2608 (6 FM Channels, 3 SSG Channels, ADPCM) label value I/O PORTS FDD Interface 5'' 2DD/2HD/2TD (9.3MBytes), HDD Interface (SASI .. same as PC-9801), RS232c, Mouse, Printer, Expansion Bus (C-BUS .. same as PC-9801) label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 5''1/4 disk-drives label value OS NEC PC-Engine label value PRICE 298,000 yen (Japan, 1987) 402 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608143211/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=402 2023-06-08

There were 2 product lines in NEC personal computers. PC-98xx (16bit) series for business, and PC-8xxx (8bit) series for home-entertainment.

The PC-88VA 2 was a PC-8xxxx series machine but also had V30 complatible mode, called V3 mode (the NEC V30 cpu was upper compatible with the Intel 8086). Thus, tough it was designed for home entertainment, the PC-88 VA /2 could be used for businesses. PC-88VA /2 was one of the highest performance machine in 1987. Especially, its graphic features were remarkable.

However, this machine was unfortunate. NEC released the PC-98DO system in 1989, a PC-98xx series system but but which could also run PC-88xx software. (PC-88VA was a 8bit machine and had a 16-bit mode. PC-98DO was a 16bit machine and had a 8bit mode. It was strange marketing decision...). At this point, PC-88VA /2 became an orphan. It's life ran out by his own mother.

Thanks to Nomura, Hisayuki for these info.

Info badly needed!