#Fpga sinclair zx spectrum hdmi software#
#Fpga sinclair zx spectrum hdmi code#
#Fpga sinclair zx spectrum hdmi plus#

And it only provides composite video (S-Video is available with a mod).in the end, youвЂ™re probably better off going down the traditional route and importing a ZX Spectrum from Europe. Unfortunately, said cartridges are rarer than the system itself these days, and will likely cost you as much if not more.so yes, youвЂ™re looking at a big spend if you want to use a TS2068 at all, let alone use it like a Spectrum.

#Fpga sinclair zx spectrum hdmi code#

Seeing as nearly everything worthwhile released for the Spectrum was European, thatвЂ™s obviously a problem.TS2068 users did find a solution - they created a cartridge with the original Spectrum ROM inside that could read the machine code and emulate the software, improving compatibility with the Speccy from next-to-nothing to around 97%.

#Fpga sinclair zx spectrum hdmi software#

ItвЂ™ll probably run you at least 100 dollars on Ebay.and thatвЂ™s not the only problem! Because of the modifications made to the Timex, itвЂ™s incompatible with virtually all European Spectrum software - it simply can't read ZX Spectrum machine code. Unfortunately, the TS2068 was a complete flop sales-wise and was only on the shelves for a few months, meaning that it's considerably harder to find than the TS1000. The later 2068 is based off of the classic 48k Spectrum, albeit with increases to memory and other improvements over the regular machine, such as a better keyboard and a cartridge slot on the side - if you want to play ZX Spectrum games on an old computer that delivers an NTSC 60Hz signal out of the box, this is the system you want. The TS1000 is based off of the earlier Sinclair ZX81 (somewhat equivalent to a Commodore Vic-20) and is honestly too early and primitive for what you want, although it was a fairly successful computer in its own right.

Back in the early 80вЂ™s Sinclair collaborated with Timex on two clones for the US Market - the Timex Sinclair 1000, and the Timex Sinclair 2068. So, wait.the Spectrum never came out over here in America? Are you sure about that? And thusly the joys of the Spectrum are going to be fairly closed off for a lot of people.however, donвЂ™t fret! IвЂ™ve written up a handy little guide that, if youвЂ™re interested, should hopefully allow you to play the system - and the games - that IвЂ™m frequently going to be talking about. You see, accessing ZX Spectrum games isnвЂ™t easy for people in America - the system never came out over there. British computing in a nutshell.ДЄs my job here on Retronauts is largely to cover UK/European news, IвЂ™m naturally going to be talking about computers like the ZX Spectrum a lot - however, one of the main questions I always get from people is that one right there in the title. Head over to the ULA chip for ZX Spectrum page at Opencores to see the complete specs, more photos of this running on various platforms (including on the OpenBench Logic Sniffer), videos of the chipвЂ™s timing tests, videos of testing the Timex hicolor mode, and more.The almighty ZX Spectrum 48k.

ULA+ implemented in the FPGA version of the core.

Timex Hicolor mode supported in the FPGA version of the core.

See xilinx/ directory for design examples.

FPGA version adds the 8-pin row connector for keyboard matrix.

#Fpga sinclair zx spectrum hdmi plus#

Output signal indicate whether ULA is in normal or plus mode.

8 bit digital RGB output for ULA+ mode.

Same signals as found in the 128K heatsink RGB DIN connector, that is, bright component separated from main components. Yet to be tested against a real Z80 for timing accuracy (tv80 core seems not to have exact timings, but this could be my fault, not tv80вЂ™s)

All timings according to Chris SmithвЂ™s specs.

These clones are ready to be used in the Spartan 3 Starter Board, both 200K and 1000K gate versions.

To test the FPGA version, several clones have been built around this ULA core.

FPGA (separate input and data buses, mostly synchronous, but I cannot aassure that) version, intented for soft SoC.

CPLD (XC95144/288XL) version, with shared data bus, designed for the Harlequin clone.

This particular implementation is done in Verilog and is FPGA ready. The chip was originally included in the ZX Spectrum microcomputer in 1982, and has since seen various reincarnations including this one. Above: OpenBench Logic Sniffer running the ZX Spectrum ULA chip clone.ДЄs a follow-up to FridayвЂ™s article on the ZX Spectrum clone running on the Pipistrello, I thought it would be good to share a little more with you on the implementation of the Sinclair ULA chip.