website/content/museum/creative-technology-cubic-99.md

---
title: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CUBIC 99
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- Singapore
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- '6502'
params:
  name: CUBIC 99
  company: /companies/creative-technology
  company_name: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: CUBIC 99
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Creative Technology
  - label: TYPE
    value: Portable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Singapore
  - label: YEAR
    value: October 1984
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Talking Basic interpreter (Apple ll compatible)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-Stroke 68 keys with numeric keypad & function keys
  - label: CPU
    value: 6502 and Z80-A
  - label: SPEED
    value: unknown
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB expandable to 192 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 2 KB CMOS RAM
  - label: ROM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 or 80 col. x 24 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 40 x 40 or 280 x 192 pixels (2 to 18 Hi-Res. pages)
  - label: COLORS
    value: '16'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Speech synthetiser and tones generator
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RGB and Composite video, Microphone jack, serial and parallel interfaces, Light-pen
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x F.D. 5.25 inches - 40 tracks - 48 TPI - 160 KB
  - label: OS
    value: Apple ll and CP/M operating systems
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in 70 W P.S.U.
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Cubic 10 MB Winchester Hard-disk unit and Apple ll cards
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  photos:
  - title: 'SYSTEM PICTURE #1'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: 'SYSTEM PICTURE #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: BACK SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** Keyboard connector\
      **(2)** Composite B/W video chinch plug\
      **(3)** RGB video output connector\
      **(4)** Microphone jack for voice recording\
      **(5)** Parallel printer connector\
      **(6)** Light-pen connector\
      **(7)** Serial interface connector (mounted on serial card)
    image: null
  - title: INSIDE CUBIC 99
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** 64 KB RAM memory chips (8 x 4164)\
      **(2)** Serial interface card\
      **(3)** Chinese characters generator card\
      **(4)** 128 KB RAM optional card\
      **(5)** Floppy drives controller card\
      **(6)** Power supply\
      **(7)** fan
    image: null
  - title: CUBIC MOTHERBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** Z80-A microprocessor\
      **(2)** 6502 microprocessor\
      **(3)** 64 KB RAM memory chips (8 x 4164)\
      **(4)** Two ROM chips holding the Talking Basic interpreter\
      **(5)** RAM expansion card specific slot\
      **(6)** Apple ll compatible slots\
      **(7)** Analog joysticks connector\
      **(8)** Parallel printer connector\
      **(9)** RGB video out connector\
      **(10)** Composite B/W video out connector\
      **(11)** Speech synthetiser ROM chip\
      **(12)** Keyboard connector
    image: null
  hardware:
  - title: CREATIVE SERIAL CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: CREATIVE CHINESE CHARS. GENERATOR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: CREATIVE 128 KB RAM CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: CREATIVE F.D. CONTROLLER CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  comments:
  - author: cvxmelody
    date: Wednesday 13rd November 2019
    text: |-
      There is another Apple II clone from Singapore - the LINGO 128 by Limco Products. It has dual 6502/Z80 CPU, RGB, integrated parallel/serial etc. There are at least two models, I have the early one. (The later Mk II has a revised motherboard design, a different case, and requires separate ROM card for Applesoft and DOS 3.3 compatibility) Check out the video I made showing Lingo 128:-\
      https://youtu.be/I8h_bxqPsMw

      Unfortunately I don''t have the compatible detached keyboard, anyone want to sell me one??! Also how to enable the PAL composite colour output?
  - author: Adam Yap (Singapore)
    date: Wednesday 29th April 2015
    text: My father bought the Cubic99 in 1984. It was donated to Creative Technology''s heritage centre sometime in 2000.
  - author: Tan Yong Lak (Siongapore)
    date: Tuesday 25th November 2008
    text: |-
      Hi,\
      Got Sim''s email ? Need schematics for the cubic 99 apple 2 clone in order to resurrect mine. My cubic99 dead but not buried.

      thks
  - author: Paul (Singapore)
    date: Friday 21st April 2006
    text: Yes, I know Patricia. She used to run the Cubic 99 User Club in Funan. I think she joined CANON after she left Creative. Not sure where she is now. Should be around 40 plus by now.
  - author: Eddie Manuel (Singapore)
    date: Wednesday 24th March 2004
    text: We need old computers of same model in bulk.....
  - author: Eric Koh (Singapore)
    date: Thursday 2nd October 2003
    text: |-
      Got mine from Funan, Singapore.\
      The sales lady Patricia was hot!!!\
      Where r u now, Pat?
  oc_id: 590
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608215921/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=590
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

This computer, also known as *the Talking Computer*, was fully compatible with the [Apple II](/museum/apple-ii/) and the CP/M operating systems thanks to its dual processor motherboard (6502 and Z80). It was manufactured by the Creative Technology Cie. which will later become wide-world known for its Sound Blaster cards.

Cubic 99 also had a vocal synthesizer which allowed the user to record and to reproduce words in English or Chinese language. Several commands of the BASIC language also allowed the computer to say sentences entered as string variables. The sound was of poor quality, but it was the best in low-cost sound technology of the time.

Creative was a company based in Singapore. The graphic on the screen of the model shown is celebrating Singapore's 25th year of independence, which was in 1990.

Thanks to **Philip Hurst** for his help.

<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>