Nascom 2

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The Nascom 2, released in 1979, was the successor to the Nascom 1 (1978). Like its predecessor this single-board computer was available in kit or ready-built form. The kit had 281 components, resulting in well over a thousand soldering points, meaning that the kit was only suitable for those with experience. It cost just under £300 +VAT.

The Nascom 2 was based on the Z-80A processor, which ran at 2 or 4MHz. It had 10K of ROM - 2K for the NAS-SYS-1 monitor and 8K for BASIC, and 10K of 4118 RAM, 1K which is used for the screen memory.

The kit included a 57-key full alpha-numeric keyboard, video interface, and audio cassette interface (Kansas City standard, 300 or 1200 baud). The inclusion of a full keyboard and video display interface was uncommon in this era with most microcomputer kits at the time only being delivered with a hexadecimal keypad and 7-seg display.

The display of the Nascom 2 consisted of 48 columns by 16 rows, white characters on black background with no graphics. It was possible to purchase an add-on Graphics Chip (approx price £20 in 1980) for the Nascom 2 that added a further 128 Graphics Characters. The built-in Microsoft Basic (8K ROM) interpreter could use these graphics to create a primitive and blocky-like 96 x 48 graphics display.

We have a wonderful example beautifully constructed from aluminium and wood and all housed in a purpose built case with carrying handles.

Manufacturer: Nascom Ltd
Date: 1977



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Nascom 2 Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
NASCOM Floppy Disc Drive Intructions Nascom Unknown
Nascom-2 Specification Booklet Nascom Unknown
NASCOM - Memory Board Construction Notes Nascom Microcomputers Ltd Unknown
NASCOM - Dynamic Debugger Nascom Microcomputers Ltd Unknown
Mostek Z80 Technical Manual mostek Dec 1977
Nascom-1 Programming Manual Nascom Jan 1978
NASCOM 1 - Memory Card Functional Specification Nascom Microcomputers Ltd 19 Jan 1978
Nascom-1 Construction Article Nascom Aug 1978
Nascom-2 Manuals Nascom 1980
Nascom-2 Program Manual Nascom 1980
Nascom NAS-SYS 3 Improved version of NAS-SYS 1 Manual Nascom 1980

Magazines RELATED to Nascom 2 in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
Practical Computing - December 1978 ECC Dec 1978
Practical Computing - January 1979 ECC Jan 1979
Practical Computing - March 1979 ECC Mar 1979
Personal Computer World - June 1979 Jun 1979
Practical Computing - July 1979 ECC Jul 1979
Practical Computing - October 1979 ECC Oct 1979
Practical Computing - November 1979 IPC Electrical Electronic Press Nov 1979
Personal Computer World - December 1979 Dec 1979
Practical Computing - December 1979 IPC Electrical Electronic Press Dec 1979
INMC News Issue 5 1980
Personal Computer World - January 1980 Jan 1980
Practical Computing - January 1980 IPC Electrical Electronic Press Jan 1980
INMC News Issue 6 Feb 1980
INMC News Issue 7 Apr 1980
Practical Computing - April 1980, Volume 3, Issue 4 IPC Electrical Electronic Press Apr 1980
INMC 80 News Issue 1 Jun 1980
INMC 80 News Issue 2 Sep 1980
Micropower - November 1981 - Volume 1 Number 3 1981
Micropower - December 1981 - Volume 1 Number 4 1981
INMC 80 News Issue 3 Feb 1981
INMC 80 News Issue 4 May 1981
Home Computing: Games Programs - Summer 1981 Modmags Jul 1981
INMC 80 News Issue 5 Oct 1981
Micropower - February 1982 - Volume 2 Number 1 1982
Micropower - April 1982 - Volume 2 Number 2 1982
Micropower - July 1982 - Volume 2 Number 3 1982
Micropower - September 1982 - Volume 2 Number 4 1982
80-Bus News Vol 1 Issue 1 Jan 1982
Your Computer - March 1982 Mar 1982
80-Bus News Vol 1 Issue 2 Apr 1982
80-Bus News Vol 1 Issue 3 Jul 1982
80-Bus News Vol 1 Issue 4 Nov 1982
80-Bus News Vol 2 Issue 1 1983
80-Bus News Vol 2 Issue 2 1983
80-Bus News Vol 2 Issue 3 1983
80-Bus News Vol 2 Issue 4 1983
80-Bus News Vol 2 Issue 5 1983
80-Bus News Vol 2 Issue 6 1983
Radio & Electronics World September 1983 Sep 1983
80-Bus News Vol 3 Issue 1 1984
80-Bus News Vol 3 Issue 2 1984
80-Bus News Vol 3 Issue 3 1984
80-Bus News Vol 3 Issue 4 1984
80-Bus News Vol 3 Issue 5 1984
80-Bus News Vol 3 Issue 6 1984
80-Bus News Vol 4 Issue 1 1985
Scorpio News Vol 1 Issue 2 April-June 1987 Scorpio Systems Apr 1987

Other Systems Related To Nascom 2:

Item Manufacturer Date
Nascom 2 (4) Nascom Ltd 1st December 1979
Nascom 2 (3) Nascom Ltd 1st December 1979
Nascom 2 (2) Nascom Ltd 1st December 1979

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH3653. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

Nascom 2

  Book Archive   [7]
  Games Archive   [4]
  Peripherals   [4]
  Promotional Items   [2]

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