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NEC PC-9801

1982–1984 · desktop

Specifications

Cpu: NEC uPD8086 (8086-compatible), 5 MHz, 16-bit
Gpu: Dual uPD7220 graphic display controllers, on motherboard
Ram: max: 640 KB · base: 128 KB
Display: 640x400, 8 colors, driven by two NEC uPD7220 graphic display controllers (one for text, one for graphics)
Storage: base: Diskless; required a separately purchased floppy drive unit · options: 8" floppy drive unit, 1232 KB per disk · 5.25" floppy drive unit, 320 KB per disk
Os Support: latest: MS-DOS 2.11 and later PC-98-specific MS-DOS releases, community-documented · shipped: N88-BASIC(86) in ROM
Release Price: ¥298,000 (Japan only, no US release)

Upgrade paths

RAM

640 KB via expansion boards · Base 128 KB was expandable to the 640 KB conventional memory ceiling using period expansion cards; well documented in Japanese retrocomputing circles.

MODERATE

storage

8" or 5.25" external floppy drive units, no factory hard drive option on the original model · The machine shipped without any built-in storage; a floppy drive unit was a required, separately sold purchase to make it usable.

varies

EASY