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Info for mtx512


====== Memotech MTX 512 / MTX 500 (1983), Memotech RS 128 (1984) ======




===== Features =====

* CPU: Zilog Z80A 4 MHz
* Co-Processor: TM 9918 or 9928 (video) and TI 76489 (sound)
* RAM: 64 KB (up to 512 KB)
* VRAM: 16 KB
* ROM: 24 KB (MTX Basic)
* Text Modes: 32 or 40 chars x 24 lines. 80 x 24 with FDX or HDX disc based expansions
* Graphic Modes: four modes, maximum : 256 x 192. 32 sprites
* Colors: 16 maximum
* Sound: 3 voices + pink noise / 6 octaves
* I/O Ports: Cassette port, Parallel I/O port, 2 x joystick ports, Audio ouput, Composite video output, Cartridge slot, Parallel/Centronics port
* Keyboard: Full stroke 79 key with numeric keypad and 8 function keys
* OS: CP/M
* Built In Language: BASIC, LOGO, NODDY (interactive sequential controller, Z80 Assembler/Disassembler
* Peripherals: 5.25" Floppy disc unit, Communication board with two RS232 interfaces and disk drive bus



===== Usage =====

The default emulation implements a MTX512 with 64K bytes RAM. However, the system supports memory sizes from 32K upto 512K, with 32K increments.

To load and run a tape image, just type LOAD "<image name>" at the Ready Prompt. To save a (BASIC) program, just type SAVE "<image name>" at the Ready Prompt.

The cassette image is a flat binary with the first 18 bytes being the original MTX tape header and the rest being the file data. The driver requires cassette images to be stored in the directory "...\software\mtx512".

The filename of the cassette image should be the same as the name stored in the header, without the trailing spaces. This name can be found at offset 1 to 15 (starting at 0).

MTX BASIC is pretty much a standard dialect, so you should have no problems using it, but its graphics and sound handling might be a bit esoteric.



===== Known Issues =====

* Limited Z80 CTC support (input channel connections are not emulated).
* No cassette device support; currently loading and saving is implemented by rewriting the ROM image (and there is no verify support).
* No support for: joysticks, additional ROMs, communications board (e.g. RS-232 connections), FDX/HDX system, Node/Ring system.



===== History and Trivia =====

The Memotech company started manufacturing expansion cards and high quality memory modules for the Sinclair ZX 81 home computer.

The British Memotech MTX 512 has a hardware which looks like the Sord M5. It also has characteristics, which are close to the MSX standard, but is not MSX compatible.

It uses a dedicated chip for video (Texas Instrument TM 9918 or 9928) and sound (TI 76489) and has a very nice mechanical keyboard and a nice black aluminum case!

There exists also a second model, the MTX 500 which has the same characteristics, but only 32 KB RAM vs. 64 KB of the 512. It had no success and was replaced a short time later by the RS-128.

//(info from old-computers.com)//



===== Links =====

* MTX World -- http://www.mtxworld.dk/main.php
* MTX at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=168



===== Other Emulators =====

* Mt. Xemu -- http://www.classicgaming.com/mtxemu/index.html




Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009