This was a technology pioneered by ferranti, of which sinclair was one of the first adopters incorporating all of the discrete logic of the zx80, plus a nmi generation circuit into the initial zx81 2c158e ula. The zx spectrum 16 48k models have ram memory divided in 2 banks. A block diagram of the complete zx spectrum microcomputer is given below. Then, in upper bank 41256 chips were installed giving 256kb.
The zx microdrive system was released in july 1983 and quickly became quite popular with the spectrum user base due to the low cost of the drives, however, the actual media was very expensive for software publishers to use for mass market releases by a factor of 10, compared to tape duplication. Some of the zx spectrums 64 kb addressable memory space is referred to as contended. The lower 16k bytes of memory addresses 0000 3fff are. For details of the memory upgrade, see later on here. As is the case with memory access, this can be lengthened by the ula. Games and entertainment software for the zx spectrum. The 128ke is an ideal spectrum 128 that eliminates these bugs and provides maximum compatibility with existing 48k and 128k software. The spectrum, however, is a more sophisticated device with colour and sound circuitry. Zx spectrum 48k motherboard issue 3b 1983, heat sink removed the spectrum is based on a zilog z80 a cpu running at 3. The interface is aimed at 48k spectrum users but the v2 smart card will fit the 128 spectrum models too though at present only 1648k games are supported.
The zx spectrum 128 has 4 banks of 16k, the first is always rom on the 128k. It can be used as a virtual tape unit in conjunction with a real zx spectrum. The memory map on a 48k spectrum is fairly straightforward. On a spectrum circuit board, it is normally found as 2 rows of 4 ics near the. Its use of a basic very similar to that of the zx81 provides a readymade source for software, though zx81 tapes cannot be loaded into the spectrum. Sram memory map may 29, 2017 victor trucco off hardware, the tbblue firmware maps the srams as follows. Once more sinclair revolutionized the microcomputer industry with new standards. The ram in the upper memory of the issue 34 spectrum is usually a tms453220nlx chip. To modify the border at the position of the first byte of the screen see the 48k zx spectrum section for details, the out must finish after 14365, 14366, 14367 or 14368 t states have passed since interrupt. The zx spectrum is supplied with either 16k or 48k of onboard ram. The effect to the user is that programs that make use of contended memory or contended io run slower than those that avoid it.
It is implemented using 64k x 1 bit drams with the spectrum design allowing the use of halffunctional chips, and mostly unproblematic. Streams and channels intuitively correspond to the software and hardware parts of. If youre just getting started with your spectrum and want to test loading software from a pc or audio player, you might like to try some of the old and new games listed below. By spectrum 128 you mean including the sinclair models. Tool to assist with maintenance of your zx spectrum tapes and zx spectrum emulator tape files. When the spectrum launched in 1982, 48k was seen as a generous amount, but as we now know, you can never ever have enough ram. The lower 16k of ram in 48k and 16k zx spectrum computers is provided by eight 4116 dram ics. Remove the faceplate on a rubber keyed sinclair spectrum duration. You can reserve memory for your code and preserve all the system memory areas. A block diagram of the complete zx spectrum microcomputer is given below, click on the picture for a bigger version. The lil old zx spectrum 48k service manual section 1 bit. Zx spectrum 48k and timex computer 2048 memory upgrade to zx spectrum 128k compatibility zx512 256kb or 512kb for zx spectrum.
Port 0xfe, 48k spectrum, contended memory and contended inputoutput. The spectra interface is a multipurpose peripheral for the 16k48k zx spectrum. This reference is based on the spectrum 128 reference from the comp. Zx spectrum an issue 2 1982 zx spectrum developer sinclair research manufacturer timex corporation type home computer. It is valid for all build standards, fitted with either 16k or 48k bytes of dynamic ram memory. Mp3 and zipped wav audio files are provided along with a link to more information on the game at the world of spectrum web site. Tested on 1648k zx spectrum issue 1 all the way to plus 3s kempston joystick port full sized sd card injection moulded case rainbow stripe stable as a rock buttons illuminated with leds to show activity ive not finished testing all the russian clones or timex units yet eta. As with the 48k machine, on some machines all timings including contended memory timings are one t.
Was there any real difference benefit in the 48k vs 128k. Contended inputoutput it takes four t states for the z80 to read a value from an io port, or write a value to a port. The spectrum screen memory map is split into two sections. The orange 48k manual, linked from the world of spectrum documentation section is the place to start. These are 32kb chips that are pin compatible with the 64kb 4164 type, so as pointed out by lvd in the comments to tommys answer a 4164 can be directly substituted. Some verilog models from till harbaum spectrum core were used in this project features. Ram upgrade kit for 16k zx spectrum to 48k comprises. Perhaps the most notable benefit of having a 128k speccy was the ay sound chip. The sinclair 48k spectrum was just about the cheapest home computer you could buy in 1982 that had colour graphics. Furthermore, the cartridges themselves acquired a reputation for unreliability, and publishers. Zx spectrum next the official portal for all things next. Zx spectrum timex to 128k 8bit projects for everyone. Using the jsmess emulator, users can boot up an emulation of the given title and use it in their browser. Hardware design was by richard altwasser of sinclair research, and the outward appearance was designed by sinclairs industrial designer rick dickinson.
The lil old zx spectrum 48k service manual section 1. During the six years of production of the zx spectrum, the machine underwent a considerable number of internal modifications to its rom and other circuitry. Sinclair zx81 with zx 16k ram cartridge, manual, kids manual, vucalc,power sup. Sinclair spectrum after the success of his two previous computers, the zx80 and particularly the zx81, in april 1982 sir clive sinclair presents the zxspectrum. In the zx spectrum 16k and 48k machines the memory map is as follows. In the united kingdom and a few other countries it was the most popular games machine of the 1980s, and through the joys of emulation many people are enjoying a nostalgic trip back in time with the games of their childhoods. The idea was to replace lower 16kb dram with the 32kb dram taken from upper bank. Zx spectrum screen memory layout zx assembly for the zx.
They all were fan of their computer a sinclair zx spectrum 48k or a commodore 64, and they were definitively sure that they had chosen the best home computer around, better than any other machine note. The nmi button acts as a game freezer and allows pokes to be entered and snapshots. When you turn the zx spectrum next off, all the information in its memory is lost, unless you save it first. Its primary function is to allow the spectrum to be connected to a tv via a scart socket to produce an rgb picture that is sharp, bright and free from dotcrawl. Spotters guide to the sinclair zx spectrum retro games. There were a bunch of technical benefits for a 128k spectrum over a 48k spectrum, but often this was underused as the 48k spectrum was the most popular model up until towards the end of the spectrums lifetime, when 128konly software became the norm. L break into program zx spectrum screen memory layout. Zx spectrum timex to 128k upgrade zx spectrum 48k to zx spectrum 128k compatibility. Just about every corner was cut in producing the zx spectrum. The test machine a 48k rubberkeys zxspectrum is able to perform both. As with the 48k machine, on some machines all timings including contended memory timings are one t state later. Programs can be saved and loaded without the problems which plague the zx81. Of course, any other spectrum diagnostic rom can be installed too. The zx spectrum was launched in april 1982, and by todays standards is a primitive machine.
Contended memory occupies addresses 0x40000x7fff of the z80 memory map. It is common for these to fail through simple old age or due to other faults in the computer, in particular failure of the circuit that generates the multiple power supply voltages needed by the 4116s. The 16k version is wired so that it can be expanded to 48k by the addition of a number of appropriate plugin ics. Your zx spectrum next uses modern sd memory cards to load and save data, including taking a full snapshot of standard 128k and 48k memory maps which, when loaded, will return you right back to what you were doing even in the middle of a game. Although functionally identical, detailed circuit changes have been introduced to improve reliability and to assist with manufacture. When it came to the amount of extra memory, 128k was a given really as commodore, amstrad and atari had already released 128k versions of their 8bit machines. The zx spectrum 1648k models have ram memory divided in 2 banks. There are two ways to run machine code on the spectrum. The heart of the zx spectrum series of computers is a custom chip called the ula uncommitted logic array.
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