website/content/museum/nec-pc-8001-mk-2.md

---
title: NEC PC 8001 MK 2
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- µPD 780C-1
params:
  name: PC 8001 MK 2
  image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mk2_2.jpg
  company: /companies/nec
  company_name: NEC
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PC 8001 MK 2
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: NEC
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1982'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: NEC N-80 Basic v1.0 (enhanced)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard with separated numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: µPD 780C-1(Z80 Compatible)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 32 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 x 25 (8 colors), 40 x 25 (8 colors, 2 pages)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320x200 8Colors, 640x200 monochrome
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: FDD Interface, 2 expantion slots
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Unknown
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  - connectors
  - software
  - emulators
  - links
  photos:
  - title: PC-8001 MK2
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mk2.jpg
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_pc8001_mk2_rear.jpg
  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
  screenshots:
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/nec_pc8001_mk2_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: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: ''
  comments:
  - author: Frits Meuris (Netherlands Europe)
    date: Saturday 23rd November 2019
    text: |-
      He.....I was Nec PC8001 $ PC 8088 computer dealer in the Netherlands. I have sold about 50 complete systems in total, with 8031 $ 8031-2W double discdrive units, NEC PC8023 super reliable dot matrix printer $ Nec 8043 highres color monitors with super picture. The PC8001 had the most riliable keyboard good for real fast tekst editing. The PC8001 is nor produced by NEC but produced in the Kyocera factories. In the Netherlands was a Nec usergroup and we did met each other one time pro month.\
      With the discdrive stations included there was also the CP/M operating system included. To use that there was the memory extensionboc 8011 available.\
      Nec had in Germany a distributor also which delivered complete tables and consoles to use these computers in offices.\
      We did get all computers from NEC London in the U.K.\
      English software I have still available and I can send you a list.\
      We never had a MK2 but we sold later the 8088 system after the 8001 systems.

      Sofar...greatings from Netherlands...
  related:
  - /museum/nec-pc-8001
  - /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: 396
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605033142/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=396
    date: '2023-06-05'
---

The PC-8001 mk2 replaced the [PC-8001](/museum/nec-pc-8001/).

In 1983, the PC-8001 still had great success in Japanese market. However, a lot of competitive PCs were released by other companies.\
PC-8001 had a tough race in business market because of poor graphics feature that cannot display KANJI characters.

NEC had to solve 3 difficult problems simultaneously:\
1\. high-resolution graphics for business users,\
2\. Middle-level (suitable for CPU power) Color graphics for hobby users,\
3\. Hardware/Software compatibility with the PC-8001.

The PC-8001mkII was the answer. This machine was born with expectation and attention. The PC-hobby magazine publishers delayed printing to write detailed information of this machine. However, the expectaition of people changed to disappointment. Most competitive machine already had 640x200 8 color graphics but the PC-8001mkII only had black&white. A lot of hobby-users started to put money aside for the [PC-8801](/museum/nec-pc-8801/) instead of purchasing the PC-8001mkII.

This machine met a limited success, even though NEC had 40,000 back-orders. The PC-8001 was sold over 120,000 within 2 years.

Thanks to **Nomura Hisayuki** for this 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>