1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
126 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
126 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: NEC APC III
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- Japan
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years:
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- '1983'
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cpus:
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- Intel 8086
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params:
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name: APC III
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_system_s1.jpg
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company: /companies/nec
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company_name: NEC
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: APC III
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: NEC
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: Japan
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1983'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: Unknown
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: 101-key with 12 function keys, cursor and numeric keypads
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- label: CPU
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value: Intel 8086
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- label: SPEED
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value: 8 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 128 KB up to 640 KB
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- label: VRAM
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value: Unknown
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- label: ROM
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value: Unknown
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 640 x 400 dots bit-mapped color
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- label: SOUND
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value: Internal speaker
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Floppy Disk Drive, RS-232C, Printer, C-bus slot x 6
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 2 internal TEAC FD-55B-01-U 5.25'' floppy drives - 720 KB in native mode, 360 KB with the SLE board
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- label: OS
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value: Special version of MS-DOS 2.11
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in power supply unit
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: External hard disk drives
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- label: PRICE
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value: About $3,000 with internal 10 MB hard drive 1984
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tabs:
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- photos
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forum_thread: 970
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photos:
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- title: LARGER VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_system_s2.jpg
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- title: FRONT PANEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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10 MD HDD version.
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Thanks to **Chevy**
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_frontview_s1.jpg
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- title: REAR SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Keyboard connector\
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**(2)** Monochrome monitor plug\
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**(3)** External HDD controller card housing\
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**(4)** Colour RGB monitor DB9 plug\
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**(5)** Configuration switches\
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**(6)** Serial RS-232 interface connector\
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**(7)** Two additional serial ports\
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**(8)** Parallel printer connector
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_rearside_s1.jpg
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- title: EXPANSION CARD SLOTS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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An extra memory card is inserted in one of the four expansion slots.
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Thanks to **Chevy**
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_expcard_s1.jpg
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- title: KEYBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Chevy**
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_keyboard_s1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Chevy**
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image: /media/museum/photos/nec_apciii_inside_s2.jpg
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oc_id: 996
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230324112835/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=996
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date: '2023-03-24'
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---
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The Nec APC III appears to be the U.S. version of the [NEC PC-9801](/museum/nec-pc-9801-f/), which was made in a variety of configurations.
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This machine was partially IBM PC compatible, but neither the PC bus or BIOS were cloned. It had an NEC 7220 graphics chip which was not directly CGA compatible, but was much higher resolution, and quite fast for its day.
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The CPU is an 8086 running at 8 MHz with 128K of memory. The system used an OEM version of MS-DOS 2.11, modified to work with its non-standard BIOS and hardware. Simple DOS applications that did not make use of IBM BIOS calls or of lower-level hardware would work.
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Optionally there was an expansion board called **SLE** (for Software Library Expander) which some nicknamed *the SLEeze board*. This board included a second 8086 processor, Phoenix BIOS and memory. In conjunction with its accompanying software this board allowed for "more PC compatibility" by emulating a true PC clone with CGA graphics. Accounts of how well this actually worked vary.
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NEC also ported a version of **System III UNIX** and released it as **PC-UX** available as an optional OS. NEC also provided a hardware-based virtual memory paging board for PC-UX which helped performance.
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Other options included a 10MB hard drive. Memory was expandable to 640K.
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Thanks to **Richard Bramante** for information and pictures.
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<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>
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