HP Series 80 PRM-85
Hewlett-Packard Series 80 - PRM-85
The PRM-85 project reproduces the HP Programmable ROM module and so allows any Series 80 owner (eg HP-85, HP-87) to have a means of running rare ROM software such as the Assembler or the Extended Mass Storage. The EMS ROM is particularly useful as it allows most models in the Series 80 to support a wide range of HP disk drives which are still easily available on the second-hand market. Service ROM images are also available for the HP-85 and HP-87, enabling users to run comprehensive tests of their machines.
The PRM-85 can also store user produced ROMs, such as the Forth ROM or André Koppel's SYSEXT ROM.
Prior to the PRM-85, users had to search eBay and used equipment vendors to try and find the Assembler ROM, the EMS ROM, or even the rare HP-85 Service ROM. Now with the development of the PRM-85 board there is a ready means of enhancing a Series 80 computer to run the fullest range of software and support the widest range of disk drives.
A definition of the PRM-85 is:
- Standard Series 80 card - fits in any slot on the rear of the HP-85/HP-87/HP-9915.
- Uses easily available modern components.
- Supports EPROMs in the 2764 / 27128 / 27256 / 27512 family.
- Supplied with a HP-85 SuperROM with 8 popular ROM images.
- Price of a new PRM-85 board as of March 2011 is $105 / £69 / €79 each plus postage, this included the HP-85 SuperROM. Other ROMs available to order.
The first PRM-85 was made in 2005, since then around 75 boards have been produced and are now in use around the world.
Update for September 2011: the last batch of boards has now sold out. Please e-mail me if you would like to your name on the waiting list. Apologies to anyone already on the waiting list who missed out on the last batch, I did try and contact everyone, but I had to give priority to those who replied and then paid.
This page was last revised on: 25/03/11