Fujitsu FM77AV

The Fujitsu FM77AV transformed the FM-77 into a multimedia home computer. It could display 4,096 colours in its 320x200 mode and combined programmable sound with FM synthesis for richer games, graphics and music.

Two 3.5-inch floppy drives and an audio-visual oriented software environment made the AV a premium Japanese 8-bit machine. Later AV20 and AV40 systems refined the concept with larger disks, more memory and enhanced video.

Notable Features

• Displayed 4,096 colours simultaneously in a home computer introduced in 1985.
• Combined FM synthesis with the established FM-family sound hardware.

Historical Significance

• Moved Fujitsu’s 8-bit range decisively toward audio-visual and multimedia use.
• Started the best-known branch of the FM77 family.

Collector’s Notes

• The original AV uses 320KB drives; later models commonly use 640KB drives.
• Japanese-market monitors and audio-visual accessories can be difficult to match.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Fujitsu FM77AV
Manufacturer	Fujitsu
Launched	Tuesday, October 1, 1985
Country	Japan
CPU	Motorola 68B09E at approximately 2 MHz with Motorola 68B09 display processor
Units Sold
Operating System	F-BASIC and disk operating software
I/O	Joystick, printer, serial, expansion, RGB and audio-visual interfaces
Keyboard	Separate keyboard
Storage	One or two built-in 3.5-inch 320KB floppy drives
Sound	PSG plus FM synthesis
Graphics	320x200 in 4,096 colours; compatible FM modes
Display	RGB monitor
ROM	F-BASIC and system firmware
RAM	128KB to 192KB main RAM; 96KB video RAM
CPU Speed	Approximately 2 MHz