# Nascom 1

> single-board computer kit

**Wikidata**: [Q25906127](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25906127)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nascom-1

## Summary
The Nascom 1 is a single-board computer kit released in December 1977, designed for hobbyists and enthusiasts to build their own computer. It features a Zilog Z80 processor and comes with 2 KB of storage capacity. The kit was priced at £197.50 and production ended in 1979.

## Key Facts
- Released in December 1977 as a single-board computer kit
- Powered by a Zilog Z80 processor
- Priced at £197.50 when first sold
- Production ended in 1979
- Storage capacity of 2 KB
- Classified as both a single-board computer and a Nascom product
- Designed for hobbyist assembly and use

### FAQs

### Q: What processor does the Nascom 1 use?
A: The Nascom 1 uses a Zilog Z80 processor, which was a popular 8-bit CPU in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

### Q: How much did the Nascom 1 cost when it was released?
A: The Nascom 1 was priced at £197.50 when it was first released in December 1977.

### Q: What was the storage capacity of the Nascom 1?
A: The Nascom 1 had a storage capacity of 2 KB, which was typical for computer kits of that era.

## Why It Matters
The Nascom 1 represents an important milestone in the history of personal computing, as it provided an affordable and accessible way for electronics enthusiasts to build and own their own computer. During the late 1970s, when personal computers were still a novelty and largely out of reach for most people, the Nascom 1 democratized computer ownership by offering a kit that could be assembled at home. This approach not only made computers more affordable but also helped educate a generation of computer enthusiasts about hardware and programming. The kit-based model was particularly significant in the UK, where it helped establish a strong hobbyist computing culture that would influence the development of the British computer industry in the following decade.

## Notable For
- One of the first affordable single-board computer kits available in the UK
- Featured the Z80 processor, which became one of the most successful 8-bit CPUs
- Helped establish the British home computer market in the late 1970s
- Provided a complete computer system on a single circuit board
- Influenced the design of later computer kits and educational computing platforms

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The Nascom 1 was built around the Zilog Z80 processor, which operated at a clock speed of 2-4 MHz. The board included a full ASCII keyboard, a video display interface capable of 32x16 character output, and a cassette interface for loading and saving programs. The kit came with 2 KB of RAM, which could be expanded through additional memory modules.

### Design and Assembly
As a kit computer, the Nascom 1 required assembly by the purchaser, including soldering components onto the printed circuit board. This hands-on approach was both a cost-saving measure and an educational feature, allowing users to learn about computer hardware while building their system. The kit included detailed documentation and assembly instructions.

### Market Position
The Nascom 1 was positioned as an affordable alternative to more expensive pre-assembled computers of the era. Its kit format allowed the manufacturer to reduce costs while appealing to the growing community of electronics hobbyists. The computer found particular success in educational settings and among amateur radio enthusiasts.

### Legacy
The success of the Nascom 1 led to the development of the Nascom 2, an improved version with enhanced capabilities. The Nascom series played a significant role in establishing the UK as a center for computer kit manufacturing and helped create a skilled workforce that would go on to contribute to the British computer industry throughout the 1980s.