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

---
title: NEC PC 88VA
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1987'
cpus:
- PD9002
params:
  name: PC 88VA
  image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8801va_1.jpg
  company: /companies/nec
  company_name: NEC
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PC 88VA
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: NEC
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1987'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad and arrow keys
  - label: CPU
    value: PD9002 (Nec V30 Compatible)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 8 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: PD780 C (Disk controler)
  - label: RAM
    value: 512 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 256 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 480 KB (+288 KB dictionary)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 columns x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 640 x 200, 640 x 400, 320 x 200, 320 x 400
  - label: COLORS
    value: 256 to 65535
  - label: SOUND
    value: 3 FM channels + SSG
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: Two 5.25'' disk-drives
  - label: OS
    value: MS DOS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Unknown
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - hardware
  - connectors
  - emulators
  - links
  hardware:
  - title: DUAL 5.25'' FLOPPY DISCS UNIT
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Dual 5.25" Double-side, double-density 320 KB floppy drive unit.\
      The unit uses the 8255 parallel interface. It can be also used with PC-8001/mkII, PC-8801 Series, PC-9801/E/F/M etc.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pc8001mk2sr_fdunit-s1.jpg
  connectors:
  - title: COMPOSITE VIDEO DIN PLUG
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** VDD 12V\
      **(2)** GND\
      **(3)** Video Out\
      **(4)** NC\
      **(5)** Light pen
    image: /media/museum/connectors/nec_pc8001_compositeplug_1.jpg
  - title: RGB VIDEO DIN PLUG
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** VDD 12V\
      **(2)** GND\
      **(3)** Color clock\
      **(4)** H-SYNC\
      **(5)** V-SYNC\
      **(6)** R\
      **(7)** G\
      **(8)** B
    image: /media/museum/connectors/nec_pc8001_rgbplug_1.jpg
  emulators:
  - title: M88 emulator
    url: http://retropc.net/cisc/m88/
    platform: Windows
    text: Japanese emulator
  - title: PC88 Emulator
    url: http://home.highway.ne.jp/soltin/pc88win.html
    platform: Windows
    text: Japanese emulator
  - title: QUASI88
    url: http://www.117.ne.jp/~show/pc8801/pc88emu2.html
    platform: Multiplatform
    text: Multiplatform emulator
  links:
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: ''
  comments:
  - author: JAMES (Ireland)
    date: Saturday 30th May 2020
    text: Yes this model of the PC88 series did get a port of the arcade hit R-TYPE and for the time it was probably one of the best home computer ports out their with full colour and FM stereo sound it was comparable to the Arcade.
  - author: JAMES (Ireland)
    date: Saturday 30th May 2020
    text: Yes this model of the PC88 series did get a port of the arcade hit R-TYPE and for the time it was probably one of the best home computer ports out their with full colour and FM stereo sound it was comparable to the Arcade.
  related:
  - /museum/nec-pc-8001
  - /museum/nec-pc-8001-mk-2
  - /museum/nec-pc-8001-mk-2-sr
  - /museum/nec-pc-8801
  - /museum/nec-pc-8801-fa
  - /museum/nec-pc-8801-fe
  oc_id: 401
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608074423/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=401
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

The PC-88VA was compatible with the [PC-8801](/museum/nec-pc-8801/) and also had a V3 mode that operated in 16bit mode and allowed to run MS-DOS like OS.

This machine had sprites for games in character mode. High quality games such as R-TYPE were released using this mode.

Unfortunately this machine had no success and was replaced by the PC-88VA2/VA3 series in 1988.

---

Thanks to **Yoshiki Yasui** for the information

<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>