Nascom 3

The Nascom 3 packaged the proven Nascom 2 architecture as a complete cased computer with keyboard, power supply and expansion facilities. Typical systems provided substantially more memory and could be configured with colour graphics and floppy disks.

It made the Nascom platform accessible to users who did not want to build a bare-board kit, while retaining compatibility with the company’s established software and card ecosystem.

Notable Features

• Factory-style enclosure integrated the keyboard, computer and power supply.
• Typical 48KB systems could support disk operating systems and advanced graphics cards.
• Optional colour modes reached 320 x 256 or higher-resolution limited-colour output.

Historical Significance

• Completed Nascom’s progression from enthusiast board to ready-to-use personal computer.
• Preserved Nascom 2 compatibility while presenting a more conventional commercial system.

Collector’s Notes

• Actual RAM, display board and disk configuration vary between systems.
• Matching case parts and Nascom expansion cards can be harder to find than the core board.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Nascom 3
Manufacturer	Nascom
Launched	Friday, January 1, 1982
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Zilog Z80A at 4 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	NAS-SYS and Microsoft BASIC; CP/M 2.2 or NAS-DOS with disks
I/O	RS-232, video, RF, TTY and Nasbus expansion
Keyboard	Integrated full alphanumeric keyboard
Storage	300/1200-baud cassette; optional one or two 320KB 5.25-inch drives
Sound	Expansion-dependent
Graphics	Optional 320 x 256 in 8 colours or 640 x 256 in 3 colours
Display	40 x 25 or 80 x 25 text depending on video hardware
ROM	2KB NAS-SYS monitor plus 8KB Microsoft BASIC typical
RAM	Typically 48KB; capacity depended on expansion cards
CPU Speed	4 MHz