website/content/museum/nec-pc-8001.md

---
title: NEC PC 8001
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1979'
cpus:
- uPD 780c-1
params:
  name: PC 8001
  image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_2.jpg
  company: /companies/nec
  company_name: NEC
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PC 8001
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: NEC
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1979'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: BASIC interpreter
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad, 5 function keys, JIS standard layout
  - label: CPU
    value: uPD 780c-1 (compatible with Z80)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: ìPD3301D (CRT controller), ìPD8257C-5 (DMA controller)
  - label: RAM
    value: 16 KB (upgradable to 32 KB and 64 KB)
  - label: VRAM
    value: 3 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 24 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 36x20, 36x25, 40x20, 40x25, 72x20, 72x25, 80x20, 80x25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 160 x 100 (320 x 200 in option)
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Built-in beeper
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 440 x 265 x 80 mm / 4 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Centronics, RS232c, IEEE 488 (optional), cassette interface (600 baud)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: One or two 5.25'' disk-drives (PC-8031)
  - label: OS
    value: N-BASIC, CP/M optional
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: AC100V±10% 50/60Hz, 20w
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Fixed expansion unit with dual 5'' 163 KB FDD, extra 32 KB of RAM, 2 x RS232C, IEEE488 and Parallel interfaces
  - label: PRICE
    value: 168,000 yens (Japan, 1979)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - hardware
  - connectors
  - software
  - emulators
  - links
  forum_thread: 188
  photos:
  - title: PC-8001
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_4.jpg
  - title: SYSTEM + PRINTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_3.jpg
  - title: IN USE
    subtitle: ''
    text: Complete system in use, including NEC dual 5.25" floppy drives unit, hard disk unit and printer
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8000_inuse_1.jpg
  - title: PC-8001A
    subtitle: ''
    text: U.S. version of the PC-8001
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_system_1.jpg
  - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: Complete system with PC-8012 I/O unit and PC-8031 dual floppy drive unit
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_completesyst_1.jpg
  - title: SIDE VIEWS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_sides_1.jpg
  - title: KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_keyboard_1.jpg
  - title: REAR SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** Reset switch\
      **(2)** Tape recorder DIN plug\
      **(3)** Monochrome composite video output\
      **(4)** Colour TTL RGB output\
      **(5)** Parallel printer connector\
      **(6)** Z80 bus extension connector
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_rearside_1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: On the U.S. version, the mainboard is covered with a metallic protection against magnetic fields. The switching power supply unit occupies the whole width of the computer.
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_inside_1.jpg
  - title: MOTHERBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** 16 x 4116 chips (here Nec µPD416-30) hold 32 KB of RAM\
      **(2)** 3 x 8K 2364 ROM hold the NBASIC interpreter. One socket remains empty\
      **(3)** Z80 processor (Nec D780C version)\
      **(4)** Nec 8257 DMA controller\
      **(5)** Nec D3301, manages video and colours\
      **(6)** Nec 8251 USART (Synchronous/Asynchronous receiver/transmitter)\
      **(7)** Keyboard connectors\
      **(8)** Nec D2316, video RAM chip\
      **(9)** Parallel printer connector\
      **(10)** External bus connector
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mainboard_1.jpg
  - title: ROM & RAM AREA
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mainboard_2.jpg
  - title: USER MANUALS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_manuals_1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (APRIL1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/nec_pc8000_french-pub_1.jpg
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (APRIL 1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/nec_pc8000_french-pub_biset.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: PC-8012 EXPANSION BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: The expansion box is here fitted with a 64 KB RAM board.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pc8001_expbox_1.jpg
  - title: PC-8031 FD EXTENSION
    subtitle: ''
    text: This unit uses two 140 KB single side 5.25" TEAC floppy drives. A Z80 processor manages the controller board.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pc8001_fdbox_1.jpg
  - 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
  screenshots:
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/nec_pc8001_boot.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: Junyo Kubota's PC-8001 page
    url: http://my.reset.jp/~toragiku/kopa/8001.htm
    text: Interesting (japanese)
  - title: PC-8001 Page
    url: http://tje12.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~mino/PC-8001/PC-8001.html
    text: It looks interesting but it's all japanese ;-)
  related:
  - /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
  - /museum/nec-pc-88va
  oc_id: 178
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601101546/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=178
    date: '2023-06-01'
---

In 1979, the NEC PC-8001 was an excellent machine, offering 8 colors when most of its competitors were still monochrome. There is even a (low) graphic resolution of 160 x 100 dots. It could display capital and small letters.

The PC-8001 had great success with Japanese businesses, where it was widely used. At the time, NEC claimed that the PC-8001 represented at least 45% of their home japanese market. This is when the PC serie from NEC and MZ serie from Sharp started competing!

The base system was 32K, but a company in Concord, CA. made a thing called the "WEDGE" that mounted below the Base system and added the needed 32K plus it had analog and digital input ports and other goodies.

The US version of the PC-8001 was named **PC-8001A**.

---

**Contributors :** Jeff Denno

<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>