Fujitsu FM-8

The Fujitsu FM-8 was an advanced Japanese personal computer using separate 6809-family processors for general work and display control. Its 64KB of main memory, high-resolution eight-colour graphics and optional bubble memory gave it unusually strong capabilities for 1981.

F-BASIC was supplied in ROM, while optional disk drives and a Z80 expansion card opened access to CP/M. The FM-8 established the architecture and software environment that led directly to Fujitsu’s popular FM-7.

Notable Features

• Dual-processor design separated main and graphics workloads.
• Offered high-resolution eight-colour graphics and optional bubble memory.

Historical Significance

• Launched Fujitsu’s FM personal-computer family.
• Its architecture became the basis of the less expensive FM-7.

Collector’s Notes

• Bubble-memory modules and the Z80 CP/M card are scarce accessories.
• FM-8 software and peripherals are not always interchangeable with later FM systems.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Fujitsu FM-8
Manufacturer	Fujitsu
Launched	Friday, May 1, 1981
Launch Price	¥218,000
Country	Japan
CPU	Motorola 68A09 at 1 MHz with Motorola 6809 display processor
Units Sold
Operating System	F-BASIC; optional CP/M with Z80 card
I/O	Cassette, printer, serial and expansion interfaces
Keyboard	Integrated full-size keyboard
Storage	Cassette; optional 5.25-inch floppy and 32KB or 128KB bubble memory
Sound	Internal beeper
Graphics	640x200 in 8 colours
Display	RGB monitor or television
ROM	F-BASIC in ROM
RAM	64KB main RAM and 48KB video RAM
CPU Speed	1 MHz