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
  forum_thread: 394
  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: ''
  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>