ZX Spectrum Header full body photo
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ZX SPECTRUM 48K

My father and me playing with his calculations.

This website is dedicated to my childhood first computer, also my father calculation machine. The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research. It was manufactured in Dundee, Scotland, in the now-closed Timex factory. I remember playing with my father roles of printed thermal paper full of numbers and equations. Playing Jetset Willy and waite for long periods of time to load any software. To remember the old and new generation, I created this prototype if ZX Spectrum 48k was launched today. All the present photos were taken by me and the ZX present in this photos is my father Spectrum, that still works today. The only modification was the conversion of the RF to video composite.

Specifications

ZX Spectrum 48k Back Connections
ZX Spectrum 48k Back Connections
9V DV IN
EXPANSION SLOT I/O
AUDIO IN
AUDIO OUT
TV RF OUT

The Spectrum was among the first mainstream-audience home computers in the UK, similar in significance to the Commodore 64 in the USA. The introduction of the ZX Spectrum led to a boom in companies producing software and hardware for the machine, the effects of which are still seen some credit it as the machine which launched the UK IT industry.

MANUFACTURERSinclair
TYPEHome Computer
CPUZilog Z80 A
SPEED3.5 MHz
RAM16k or 48k
ROM16k
TEXT MODES32 x 24
GRAPHIC MODES256 x 192
COLORS8 with two tones
SOUND1 voice / 10 octaves
SIZE / WEIGHT23 x 14,4 x 3 cm / 550g
I/O PORTSExpansion port, tape-recorder (1200 bauds), RF video out
POWER SUPPLYExternal PSU, 9v DC, 1.4A (centre polarity =-ve)
ZX Spectrum 48 connection scheme
ZX Spectrum 48k connection scheme