Lambda 8300

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Sinclair ZX81 clone from Lambda Electronics Limited of Hong Kong

title: "Lambda 8300" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["z80-based-home-computers", "sinclair-zx81-clones", "computer-related-introductions-in-1983"] description: "Sinclair ZX81 clone from Lambda Electronics Limited of Hong Kong" topic_path: "general/z80-based-home-computers" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_8300" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sinclair ZX81 clone from Lambda Electronics Limited of Hong Kong ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox information appliance"]

FieldValue
nameLambda 8300
imageFront of Lambda 8300 background removed.png
captionLambda 8300 front
storageAudio cassette
memory2KiB, 16KiB, or 32KiB
displayUHF TV signal, PAL video out (built-in RCA connector); monochrome, 32 x 24 characters, 64 x 48 using semigraphic symbols
release_date1983
manufacturerLambda Electronics Limited
cpuNEC D780C-1
cpu_speed3,25 MHz
compatibilityZX81
soundC4005 (1 voice, 3 octaves)
inputTape interface (audio in / out), expansion bus, Atari joystick port
dimensions295 x 150 x 55 mm
weight700 gr
graphicsC4005 ULA I/O chip
osBASIC
::

| name = Lambda 8300 | image = Front of Lambda 8300 background removed.png | caption = Lambda 8300 front | storage = Audio cassette | memory = 2KiB, 16KiB, or 32KiB | display = UHF TV signal, PAL video out (built-in RCA connector); monochrome, 32 x 24 characters, 64 x 48 using semigraphic symbols | release_date = 1983 | manufacturer = Lambda Electronics Limited | cpu = NEC D780C-1 | cpu_speed = 3,25 MHz | compatibility = ZX81 | sound = C4005 (1 voice, 3 octaves) | input = Tape interface (audio in / out), expansion bus, Atari joystick port | dimensions = 295 x 150 x 55 mm | weight = 700 gr | graphics = C4005 ULA I/O chip | os = BASIC

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Back_of_Lambda_8300.png" caption="Back of Lambda 8300"] ::

The Lambda 8300 was a Sinclair ZX81 clone from Lambda Electronics Limited of Hong Kong.**** It had a modified ROM (including extra semigraphic characters) and extra hardware, making it not fully compatible. Total compatibility could be achieved by installing a ZX81 ROM.****

It came with 2K RAM (expandable to 16K or 32K), three octave single voice sound (generated by a C4005 ULA I/O chip) and an Atari joystick port. Specifically, it used a NEC D780C-1 (Z80A clone) microprocessor at 3.25 MHz.****

The character set was slightly altered from the ZX81, replacing some symbols with game graphics (see below). BASIC tokens have alternate codings, further preventing 100% compatibility with the ZX81. Command input is done key by key (not by keyword entry like on the ZX81).

The computer was somewhat successful in Northern Europe (mostly in Denmark and Norway) and China, and today enthusiasts still develop new hardware.

The Lambda 8300 can be emulated on modern systems using, for example, the EightyOne Sinclair Emulator or MAME.

Models

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Basic_2000_Tietokonemuseo.JPG" caption="BASIC 2000, a Lambda 8300 clone"] ::

The machine was licensed to several different companies, with many rebranded models available in different markets.**** Unisonic distributed it as the Futura 8300 in the US. In France it was available as the DEF 3000.

Known model designations:

  • Lambda 8300 (Hong Kong, Sweden, Norway, Denmark)

  • Your Computer PC 8300 (China, United States)****

  • DEF 3000 (France)

  • Basic 2000 (Norway, Sweden, Finland)****

  • Marathon 32K (Norway, Denmark)****

  • Tonel PC (Italy, Germany)****

  • Unisonic Futura 8300 (United States)****

  • PC-81 Personal Computer (China)

  • CAC-3 (China)

  • Polybrain P118 (New Zealand)

  • Creon Electronics Power 3000 (Hong Kong, Germany, Denmark, Canada)

  • NF300 jiaoXueDianNao (China)****

  • Basic 2000

  • Basic 3000

  • PC 2000

Character set

The character set was slightly altered from that of the ZX81, replacing the ,, ?, £, and ' symbols with game graphics: [[File:Lambda 8300 symbol 3.png]], [[File:Lambda 8300 symbol 2.png]], [[File:Lambda 8300 symbol 1.png]] and [[File:Lambda 8300 symbol 0.png]]. BASIC tokens also have alternate codings. ::data[format=table title="Lambda 8300 character set"]

0123456789ABCDEF0x1x2x3x4x5x6x7x8x9xAxBxCxDxExFx
space▘▝▀▖▌▞▛[[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_0.png]]◤◥"[[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_1.png]]$[[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_2.png]][[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_3.png]]
()******=+-*****/** ;**,.0123
456789ABCDEFGHIJ
KLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
THENTOSTEPRNDINKEY$PI
updownleftrightGRAPHICSEDITENTERDELETELMODEBREAKLINE NO.numbercursor
▉▟▙▃▜▐▚▗[[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_0_invert.png]]◢◣"[[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_1_invert.png]]$[[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_2_invert.png]][[File:Lambda_8300_symbol_3_invert.png]]
()******=+-*****/** ;**,.0123
456789ABCDEFGHIJ
KLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
CODEVALLENSINCOSTANASNACSATNLOGEXPINTSQRSGNABSPEEK
USRSTR$CHR$NOTATTAB**ORAND``=``TEMPOMUSICSOUNDBEEP
NOBEEPLPRINTLLISTSTOPSLOWFASTNEWSCROLLCONTDIMREMFORGOTOGOSUBINPUTLOAD
LISTLETPAUSENEXTPOKEPRINTPLOTRUNSAVERANDIFCLSUNPLOTCLEARRETURNCOPY
Code formatting indicates BASIC keywords tokenized into single-byte code points.
::

References

References

  1. "PC 8300 Lambda Electronics Ltd".
  2. "Lambda 8300".
  3. (1983). "PC 8300 Personal Computer (manual)".
  4. "Hong Kong clones Lambda 8300 et.al. of the ZX81".
  5. Heikkinen, Tero. (2017-04-01). "Old Machinery: BASIC 2000 / LAMBDA 8300".
  6. Abramson, Ken. (Summer 1987). "PC8300 Preliminary Technical Report". ZX-Appeal.
  7. "EightyOne Sinclair Emulator".
  8. "EighthyOne".
  9. Motoschifo. "Lambda 8300 - MAME machine".
  10. Bradbeer, Robin. (March 1983). "Timex upgrades Spectrum". Sinclair User.
  11. Bruce, Taylor. (January 1988). "Inside The PC 8300". Time Designs Magazine.
  12. By. (2020-12-11). "A Lambda 8300 Lives Again".
  13. "Lambda 8300".
  14. "PC 8300".
  15. "DEF 3000".
  16. "DEF-3000".
  17. "DEF 3000".
  18. "Tonel PC".
  19. (June 2, 2019). "Tonel PC (Lambda 8300) + 16k/32k Expansion Module (Boxed)".
  20. (2015). "Le Tonel TONEL PC".
  21. "Futura 8300".
  22. Logie, Alistair. (16 November 2019). "This is your computer. It's my computer? No, it's your computer! etc.".
  23. arn, lift. "Power 3000".
  24. "Lambda 8300 (Creon Electronics Power 3000 (European)) {{!}} Video Game Hardware Version {{!}}".
  25. (2021). "Computer models database - ZX Clone".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

z80-based-home-computerssinclair-zx81-clonescomputer-related-introductions-in-1983