RM 380Z (with Colour Card)

 Home > Browse Our Collection > Computers > Research Machines > RM 380Z (with Colour Card)
 
The Research Machines 380Z, often called the RML 380Z or RM 380Z, was an early 8-bit microcomputer produced by Research Machines Limited in Oxford, England, from 1978 to 1985.
 
The 380Z used a 4 MHz Z80A microprocessor (hence the name) with up to 56K of user RAM. When fitted with an optional floppy disk drive the system ran the CP/M operating system. The basic system came with a text-only monochrome video card, which could be enhanced with a high-resolution graphics board.
 
The 380Z was sold mainly to schools in the UK, with some also sold to industry. In 1979 a dual 8-inch disk system with 56K of memory cost £3266, and a 16K cassette-based system cost £965 (excluding VAT).
 
The 380Z was packaged in a large, black, 19-inch wide, rectangular metal case containing the power supply, a number of printed circuit boards and the optional 5¼-inch floppy disk drives. Early versions were contained in a light blue metal case with a white front and only had a cassette interface; only a small number of these were made. The keyboard was separate and came in a tough metal case.
 
The system used a passive bus architecture with no motherboard – all electronics were contained on a number of cards interconnected by ribbon cable.
 
Memory 64K maximum (56K usable)
Media 5¼-inch or 8-inch floppy disk
Graphics 320×192 pixels, 2 bits per pixel (optional)
Operating system CP/M

Manufacturer: Research Machines
Date: 1978



Comment on This Page

RM 380Z (with Colour Card) Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
Research Machines - 380Z System Manual Research Machines Unknown
MicroQuery User Guide Research Machines Unknown
Algol 60 Reference Manual - RML 380Z Research Machines 1979
High Resolution Graphics Reference Manual Research Machines 1980
High Resolution Graphics Reference Manual Research Machines 1980
380Z MINI DISC SYSTEM USER GUIDE (40 character Sysytems) Research Machines 1981
380Z Disk System Information File (Older Style) Research Machines 1981
Extended BASIC Version 5 For Disc Systems Reference Manual Research Machines Jun 1981
CP/M Utility Upgrades - RML 380Z Research Machines Jun 1981
380Z Disk System Information File Research Machines Nov 1981
TXED Text Editor and Formatter for Disk Systems - RML 380Z Research Machines Nov 1981
Extended BASIC Version 5 For Disc Systems Reference Manual (Older Style ) Research Machines Nov 1981
TXED Reference Manual for Disc and Network Users - RML 3480Z Research Machines Nov 1981
PASCAL (TCL) For 380Z DISC SYSTEMS User Guide Research Machines 1982
COS 3.4 Reference Manual for RML 380Z Research Machines 1982
COS 4.0 Differences from COS 3.4 for 380Z Varitext Research Machines 1982
Extended Basic Version 5 High Resolution Graphics Level 2 - RML 380Z Research Machines 1982
ZASM - Z80 Assembler - RML 380Z Research Machines 1982
380Z MINI DISC SYSTEM USER GUIDE Varitext 80/40 character Sysytems) Research Machines 1982
380Z Disc System CP/M Version 2.2 User Guide Research Machines 1982
Release Notes for Word Star 3.0 Research Machines Mar 1982
Research Machines 380Z Disc BASIC - Release Note Research Machines Sep 1982

Magazines RELATED to RM 380Z (with Colour Card) in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
Personal Computer World - October 1978 Oct 1978
Practical Computing - October 1978 ECC Oct 1978
Practical Computing - November 1978 ECC Nov 1978
Practical Computing - December 1978 ECC Dec 1978
Practical Computing - January 1979 ECC Jan 1979
Practical Computing - February 1979 ECC Feb 1979
Practical Computing - March 1979 ECC Mar 1979
Practical Computing - April 1979 ECC Apr 1979
Personal Computer World - April 1979 Apr 1979
Practical Computing - May 1979 ECC May 1979
Personal Computer World - May 1979 May 1979
Practical Computing - June 1979 ECC Jun 1979
Practical Computing - July 1979 ECC Jul 1979
Practical Computing - August 1979 ECC Aug 1979
Practical Computing - September 1979 ECC Sep 1979
Practical Computing - October 1979 ECC Oct 1979
Personal Computer World - March 1980 Mar 1980
Personal Computer World - April 1980 Apr 1980
Computer Age - September 1980 Computer Age Sep 1980

Other Systems Related To RM 380Z (with Colour Card):

Item Manufacturer Date
RM 380Z (Black Case) Research Machines 1978
RM 380Z (Light Blue Case) Research Machines 1978
RM LINK 480Z Research Machines 1st January 1981
RM Link 480Z in Metal Case Research Machines 1982
RM Nimbus PC TN (Early model) Research Machines 1984
RM Nimbus Domesday System Research Machines 1984
RM Nimbus PC (Later Beige Model) Research Machines 1985
RM Nimbus PC-186 Research Machines 1985
RM Nimbus PC-186 - Diskless Research Machines 1985
RM Nimbus AX/2 Research Machines 1986
RM Nimbus VX/2 Research Machines 1986
RM Nimbus NB300 Research Machines June 1991
RM Nimbus NB400 Research Machines June 1991
RM Nimbus NB300 Research Machines June 1991
RM Nimbus PC-486/66 Research Machines 1993
RM PC-5200 Accelerator Research Machines 1993

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH43776. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

RM 380Z (with Colour Card)

  Software Archive   [46]
  Peripherals   [1]
  Promotional Items   [3]

Click on the Image(s) For Detail


Articles

Help support the museum by buying from the museum shop

View all items

Founding Sponsors
redgate Google ARM Real VNC Microsoft Research
Heritage Lottery Funded
Heritage Lottery Fund
Accredited Museum