NEC  PC-8801 BE
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NEC PC-8801 BE

This is the same machine as the PC 8801, but bundled with a monitor and it came with a module that housed two 8" disk drives, making this the Business Edition (BE) of the PC-8801.

Graphics Modes: N mode, V1

NEC PC 8800 series

The NEC PC-8800 series is a range of home computers manufactured by NEC for the Japanese market between 1981 and 1989. The series began with the launch of the PC-8801 and was marketed as a high-end home computer.

In October of 1982 NEC also launched a 16-bit series of computer, the PC-9800 series. Eventually these computers morphed into NEC branded IBM-PC compatible computers.

Programming on the PC-8800 series

The PC-8800 series uses a pair of powerful programming languages: N-BASIC and N88-BASIC. The use of N-BASIC makes the computer compatible with programs written for the NEC PC-8000 series, while N88-BASIC gives the PC-8800 series even more capabilities, especially for graphics. In addition the use of N88-BASIC gives the computer full advantage of memory, to use all of the 64kByte RAM for data and programs.

Sound and Graphics of the NEC PC-8800 series

NEC PC-8800 Sound Capabilities The early computers in the PC-8800 series use a simple internal speaker, much like the Apple II and the IBM PC computers. Later models added FM-synthesis chips for much better music and sound-effects in games.

NEC PC-8800 Graphics modes: Not all modes are available on all machines, see above for the modes available for this machine. The PC-8800 line graphics chip-sets are backwards compatible.

  • N mode - PC-8000 series compatible graphics mode
  • V1 mode
    • 640(or 320)x200 in 8 colors
    • 640(or 320)x400 in 2 colors
  • V2 mode
    • 640x200 in 8 colors out of a 512 color palette
    • 640x400 in 2 colors out of a 512 color palette
  • V3 mode
    • 640x200 in 65536 colors
    • 640x400 in 256 out of 65536 colors
    • 320x200 in 65536 colors
    • 320x400 in 64 out of 65536 colors
The PC-8801 was one of the first computers that supported 400 lines in graphics mode. In V1/V2 200 line mode, 8 colors are available: Black, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow and White. It is possible to specify the color of each pixel by combining 3 planes of R, G, and B. Most games for the PC-8801 series use this screen mode.

In V1/V2 400 line mode, the R and B planes are combined to create the greater resolution, at the cost of color depth, only monochrome graphics are available. The G plane is not used for display, and can be used as additional work memory to store data.

List of PC-88 models grouped by their Graphics and Sound capabilities:

  • PC-8801
    • CPU - µPD780C-1 @ 4MHz
    • Memory - 64 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes- N-Mode, V1 Mode
    • Sound - Beeper
  • PC-8801 MKII (10/20/30)
    • CPU - µPD780C-1 @ 4MHz
    • Memory - 64 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes- N-Mode, V1 Mode
    • Sound - Beeper & Optional YM2149 FM
  • PC-8801 MKII SR (10/20/30) & TR
    • CPU - µPD780C-1 @ 4MHz
    • Memory - 64 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - N-Mode, V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2203 Mono FM Synthesis
  • PC-8801 MKII FR (10/20/30)
    • CPU - µPD780C-1 @ 4MHz
    • Memory - 64 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2203 Mono FM Synthesis
  • PC-8801 MKII MR
    • CPU - µPD780C-1 @ 4MHz
    • Memory - 192 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2203 Mono FM Synthesis
  • PC-8801 FH (10/20/30) & FE & FE2
    • CPU - µPD70008 @ 8MHz
    • Memory - 64 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2203 Mono FM Synthesis
  • PC-8801 MH
    • CPU - µPD70008 @ 8MHz
    • Memory - 192 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2203 Mono FM Synthesis
  • PC-88 VA
    • CPU - µPD90002 @ 8MHz
    • Memory - 512 KByte RAM, 256 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode, V3 Mode
    • Sound - YM2203 Mono FM Synthesis
  • PC-8801 FA
    • CPU - µPD70008 @ 8MHz
    • Memory - 64 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2608 Stereo FM + Mono ADPCM
  • PC-8801 MA & MA2 & MC Model 1/2
    • CPU - µPD70008 @ 8MHz
    • Memory - 192 KByte RAM, 48 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode
    • Sound - YM2608 Stereo FM + Mono ADPCM
  • PC-88 VA2/VA3
    • CPU - µPD90002 @ 8MHz
    • Memory - 512 KByte RAM, 256 KByte VRAM
    • Graphics Modes - V1 Mode, V2 Mode, V3 Mode
    • Sound - YM2608 Stereo FM + Mono ADPCM
  • Zilog Z80 CPU Family

    The Z80 quickly became popular in the personal computer market, with many early personal computers, such as the TRS-80 and Sinclair ZX80, using the Z80 as their central processing unit (CPU). It was also widely used in home computers, such as the MSX range, SORD, and the Amstrad CPC, as well as in many arcade games. Additionally, it was also used in other applications such as industrial control systems, and embedded systems. The Z80 was widely used until the mid-1980s, when it was gradually replaced by newer microprocessors such as the Intel 80286 and the Motorola 68000.

    The Z80 microprocessor was developed by Zilog, a company founded by Federico Faggin in 1974. The Z80 was released in July 1976, as a successor to the Intel 8080. It was designed to be fully compatible with the 8080, but also included new features such as an improved instruction set, more powerful interrupts, and a more sophisticated memory management system.

    The Z80 quickly became popular in the personal computer market, with many early personal computers, such as the TRS-80 and Sinclair ZX80, using the Z80 as their central processing unit (CPU). It was also widely used in home computers, such as the MSX range, SORD, and the Amstrad CPC, as well as in many arcade games. Additionally, it was also used in other applications such as industrial control systems, and embedded systems. The Z80 was widely used until the mid-1980s, when it was gradually replaced by newer microprocessors such as the Intel 80286 and the Motorola 68000. The design was licensed to Synertek and Mostek as well as the European SGS.

    The Z80s instruction set is binary compatible with the Intel 8080, so that 8080 code such as the CP/M Operating System and Intel's PL/M compiler for the 8080 can run unmodified on the Z80. The Z80 had many enhancements over the 8080 such as 16-bit data movement instructions, block copy and block I/O instructions, single bit addressing of all registers, IX/IY offset registers, better interrupt system and a complete duplicate register file for context switching during an interrupt.

    Source: WikiPedia
    Technical Details
    Released 1982 Brand NEC Type NEC PC-8801 Name PC-8801 BE CPU Class Z80 CPU µPD780C-1 @4MHz (Z80 compatible) Memory RAM: 64kB
    VRAM: 48kB
    Sound Chip none Sound Internal Beeper Display Chip none Display N mode and V1 mode graphics (see description) Best Color 8 colors Best Graphics 620x400 in 2 colors Sprites n/a System OS N-88 BASIC Storage Two 5.25 internal Disk Drives.
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