Building a new ZX Spectrum - All New Components!
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- A brand new ZX Spectrum 48k made from completely new parts. Even the tricky bits! Not a brand new concept, but the first one I've made and possibly the first issue 6A motherboard build video?
The motherboard was created by the brilliant Devzine ( / devzine_pl or devzine.pl/) Something I wish I had access to when building this is Devzine's GitHub page with all the interactive information you could wish for - github.com/pma...
If you want to buy one of these boards you can find them on Devzine's Tindie store here: www.tindie.com...
This very special ZX Spectrum will be auctioned for charity on the 16th of September 2023 to raise money for the Befriending Scheme
Just Giving Page for The Befriending Scheme
www.justgiving...
www.morefunmak...
Upcoming live stream link!
Live Stream PART ONE!
ua-cam.com/users/li...
List of contributors -
Donators -
Neal - / @nlkmediagroup
Fergus - / ferguslogan
Lee Smith - / @leesmithsworkshop
Rudy - x / @rudysretrointel
Arcadesy - / arcadesy
MikeDX - / themikedx
Julian Brown
Bobbus74 - / bobbus74
Devzine - / devzine_pl and t.co/YiVw1daaYP
Charles - / @retroteatime
Taz - / tazfaedodge
Nigel - / @nigelsworkbench
Ginger Hippy Gaming - / @gingerhippygaming7962
James - / ghost82uk
Chris from the Cave
Retro Krazy - / @retrokrazy
Contributors -
Rees - / @ctrlaltrees
TechMadeEasy - / @techmadeeasyuk
Retrograde Scene - / @retrogradescene
RetrobitsTV - / @retrobitstv
Steve’s Tech Shed - / @stevestechshed
Timberwolf - / @timberwolfk
CRG - / @crg
The Retro Channel - / @theretrochannel
Live Stream Guests (in order of appearance)
Rose Tinted Spectrum - / @rosetintedspectrum
The Retro Channel - / @theretrochannel
Mr Lurch’s Things - / @mrlurchsthings
Lee Smith’s Workshop - / @leesmithsworkshop
Jan Beta - / @janbeta
Gouldfish - / @gouldfishongames
CRG - / @crg
RMC The Cave - / @rmcretro
This Week In Retro - / @thisweekinretro (Dave)
RetroBitsTV - / @retrobitstv
Adrians Digital Basement - / channel
SECOND CHANNEL!
/ @morefunmakingit2
More Fun Website
www.morefunmak...
My Twitterings can be found here
/ morefunmakingit
Discord Channel
/ discord
Ko-fi page
ko-fi.com/more...
Amazon Wishlist
www.amazon.co....
SECOND CHANNEL!
/ @morefunmakingit2
Discord Channel
/ discord
More Fun Website
www.morefunmak...
My Twitterings can be found here
/ morefunmakingit
Facebook
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Mastodon
oldbytes.space...
BlueSky
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Glad I found this channel. Great video looking forward to more.
I'm glad you found this channel too! 😁
This channel "punches above" other channels that have 10x the number of subscribers.
This comment is punching up
That's very kind of you to say. I will now go and deflate my head 😆
Agreed. Came across it randomly whilst trying (and failing) to get more info for my emulator. Love the presentation style and humour. +1 sub
Loving your content, UA-cam randomly put it in front of me this morning and ive listened to about four hours worth simce. Very entertaining 😂
I love it when this happens. It's not as often as you might think! So thank you for the kind comment!
I found your channel through RMC and have been binge watching since.
I love your approach to your work and way you make it entertaining. I have since been inspired to complete my (mostly) new speccy project. It's been in a box half done since the end of lock down.
Starting with a 3d printed pc vice, after seeing the vice you use. It's not pretty but it works.
Thanks 👍
That's amazing! Welcome aboard!
Good luck with your build. Would love to hear how you get on with it.
I think I saw that 3d printed vice thing. Looked good!
@@MoreFunMakingItThanks. All the vices I found online seemed to be for small pcbs, so I just knocked something up in tinkercad. Need to make a couple of adjustments, one or two tolerances are as tight as a gnats chuff. I'll pop it online when I'm happy with it.
Interesting and instructional, much enjoyed.
It looks really cool, great job! 👍
Can we see the screen showing the diagnostics? And it running games or is that in another video?
Subscribing. Real nice friendly vibe. Easy watch - well lit and produced. Great detail. Thank you!
Thank you! Apologies if I didn't show everything in this video. While I was building this I was also organising a massive charity event and my usual standards slipped.
I will do better in the next one!
I think I actually prefer the Harlequin design, just because of how it turns the ULA back into generic logic, and it just slots into the space that is no longer taken up by modern SRAM. Taking the ULA from a black box to electronics which it's possible to follow, understand and theoretically extend just makes it a perfect retro computer to my mind.
It's also interesting because of how it flows from the zx80 design (no ULA) through the Harlequin 48k to the Harlequin 128 board.
iBOMs are the bomb! So useful for builds that take multiple days too - if you both checking placed components off
You learn something new every day. Had no idea Sir Clive incorporated crystals ... are they for healing or just general karma? As ever hats off to you sir for your continued hard work, remember to get some sleep as that's an important tool in the box ;-)
The crystals are there to regulate the magic sand.
Thanks Marcus! Only one more week and I'll be able to sleep 😜
You know the problem with the Spectrums? They all have issues.
My first 8-bit love is the BBC Micro, and I grew up in a Commodore household... but the ZX Spectrum is in my top 3 8-bit computers of all time. Why? Because it's possible to build one from scratch in 2023 from 99% new parts (unless you find a NOS LM1889N somewhere!). Nice work, Lee.
Cheers Tony! It was a great fun build. Really satisfying putting all the parts together myself too.
It's possible to build a Spectrum from 100% new parts. The ULA functions can be implemented using standard TTL series ICs. (Same with Apple II and several others.)
@@herrbonk3635 True, the ULA can be implemented using discrete TTL logic chips... but I'm not sure if the LM1889N can. That's the only chip that's no longer in production that doesn't appear to have a modern equivalent or TTL logic workaround (unless I'm misinformed).
@@OzRetrocomp Ok, then I see what you were talking about. But do you really need a video modulator in a new Spectrum? Just run the simple RGB signals into the scart contact of the tv, or into an older tft-monitor (that understands 15625 Hz line sync).
My Dad has original blue prints for the spectrum. He also has boxes of parts and micro drives etc.
He doesn't know what to do with them.
It was my first computer. Loved it.
Oh I would love to see those blue prints! I'm sure the Centre for Computing History at Cambridge would be very interested in those too. They have a prototype Spectrum on display there.
Get in touch via either discord or my email if you want advice on what to do with the parts 😁
@@MoreFunMakingIt thanks for replying. Spoke to my Dad he would like an email to reach you on if possible?
@@Shouting-into-thewind my email is in my about section on here. I'd rather not paste it in here as bots will scrape it and I'll get an avalanche of spam 😆
@@MoreFunMakingIt got it. Expect an email. Thanks again.
So maybe this speaks to a weird... obsessive part of me. But watching this video, so far my favorite thing is that awesome bending jig to make the resistors bend just right :D
You and me both 😆
A new specky is born!
Still find that amazing.
@@MoreFunMakingIt I agree, if someone had told me back in the 80tys that in 2023 it would be possible to build a spectrum with all new parts, I don’t think I would have believed them.
It would be great, if someone made a copy of the original 128 toast rack PCB.
@@ghost-retro3733...just send me such a motherboard in any condition... 😎
I'm guessing there might be an interesting story out there somewhere as to why the saga ula did not work out.
This sounds like a job for you! Would love to know the history of the Speccy as seen from its custom chips.
Sounds like it could be a bit of a saga.
I'll get my coat.
Question - you linked OKI and L (near MIC) with what? Bare wire?
Yup.
When will a quad core pie zero be compatible as an accelerator?
I honestly don't know
@@MoreFunMakingIt how do we find out?
I can't find the video of you making the PCF replacement board. Is it not up yet?
That video has been pushed down the list I'm afraid
@@MoreFunMakingIt I have this project on my to do list for some time now. I don't immediately need one, but I like to keep some spares for all the retro machines I have. None of my 48K's are an issue 6, but my Toastrack has one in, which I would like to keep a spare for at hand. Just like you, I love to build rather than buying ready made if possible. Thanks for all the build videos, I watched them all like action movies. 😀
@@borayurt66 fantastic! Last Retro Hero! 🤣
@@MoreFunMakingIt 😂
Do you know someplace where it is possible to buy 48k Spectrum cases?
Zx Renew
It's hard to see, but to be sure - R C wire connection left of ZX8401, you connect with vertical wires R left and right, and C horizontal wire at the bottom. Right?
Really sorry, but I can't remember. This was nearly a year ago for me
And be strengthened with all might, according to the greatness of his glory, in all patience and longsuffering,
#Wheeler & Co.
Hi ! You mentioned a Spectrum service manual... I have one and I want to get it working again... Do you know where i can download it ? Thanks !
Hello!
I just googled "ZX Spectrum service manual" and it was the top result. Hope that helps!
I am going to purchase one of those to wall away all the winter months. I have all the discreet and passive components. I was wondering if the upper and lower Ram Mods from Retrolum are compatadle plus the ULA. If you could point me in the direction of an RF Modulator I would really appreciate it
Yup, I used the upper and lower ram modules from Retroleum. The comp board was donated so I'm not sure where, but I suspect ebay for that.
I've always had a lot to do with electronics, my first job after leaving school was tv/video/hi-fi repair so I thought this video would be quite interesting. I was wrong.
😘
I'm waiting for the Spectrum Next, however, I'd be interested in one of these. How's the ULA handled?
[edit] answering my own uninformed question: I see there's a vLA82 replacement on tindie. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to edit your question :D
When designing this thing, why not use resistor packs?
Would have been a cost decision at that time. They did use them in the previous ZX81 design, so it must have been a few pence cheaper. Sinclair did everything to a cost.
@@MoreFunMakingIt No, I mean the remake, not the originals. It'd save on space and soldering.
@@Lucretia9000 The point of the remake was two recreate the original. There are lots of designs that improve on the original, the Harlequin for instance, but Pavel was not trying to improve the original design.
The resistors are 1/4 watt ?
Why not use surface mount components ?
6:41 mark fixes stuff wants a word....
He can never get it in the hole either!
@@MoreFunMakingIt it's insanely difficult
What am I missing here ? Its a circuit board, that when populated functions as a Spectrum, but isnt really a spectrum, and, its not made with all new components ? 🤔 Either way, its really smart ! How long did the assembly take you ? I was looking at the C64 variants, but Im a Speccy guy at heart and this would be much more satisfying 👍
Thanks! The assembly took a few days but these things take much longer when you're filming and organising a big charity event at the same time. Its a fun build
what have been better if had an upscaler to hdmi output stuff like that.
This one comes with a zx HD hdmi upscaler that plugs into the back
Can we have a moment to remember all those people who populated the original Spectrum (and all other hardware from the era)? This is before the pick & place robots, and all those leaded components aren't well suited to robots anyway.
I would love to talk to someone that worked on the production line and find out just what it was like.
I love that board so much - if you ever find a C64 version HMU 😁
Next year the plan is to make and sell commodore machines! So it's likely to happen 😁
so ? is what sort of cost is it to build your own 48K nowadays. i know its the thrill of it and im really interested to try this myself but wanted to know what im looking at cost wise if you dont mind letting on
I wish I could give you an answer that was more than a guess. But a lot of the parts, in fact most, we're donated in this case. I know that Retro Teatime did a great video on which he builds an all new spectrum and he goes into the costs.
ua-cam.com/video/mlmRKhcmS6k/v-deo.htmlsi=PWUoIdJumYAnmaBr
thankyou for the information ill go take a look@@MoreFunMakingIt
Building a 48K Harlequin kit plus a case, faceplate, membrane, keymat and PSU should be around £180 -£200.
just made this - got yellow background
Almost every time I have built one of these I have found I missed soldering at least one pin. Go over it with magnification. Did you fit the optional components? There is a resistor array that is marked as optional, but it really isnt. Cant remember the designation, but fit that if you have not.
@@MoreFunMakingIt Thank you the only parts I have not populated is C100, C101, C102, C103 and R90
@@MoreFunMakingIt Did you install C100, C101, C102, C103 and R90
@@davidcocklin2109 was a long time ago! I don't have that board any more.
hey! these days i have been studying and working on a midi to cv for the bass synth i'm designing, (penfold's two books about midi), and i happen to have the schematics for a midi out thru serial port for the zx spectrum (c64, cpc6128, bbc...)... if anybody want one... or the info, or a link.... or a pcb...
That sounds fascinating. Midi is something I've not got the knowledge or equipment to do justice to. I will pass your content onto someone I think might be interested... And will let you know if he is.
@@MoreFunMakingIt okay, i'll stay in touch...
All *new* ... ? Who make new ULAs for these boards?
There are 2 new ones made. The vla82 and the nebula
Now play Horace Goes Skiing on it.
I did! It was just as terrible as it used to be in the 80's!
I could make one of those easy with a empty fairy liquid bottle
That's the easy way!
As a non-fan who stumbled here, probably going to be burnt at the stake for this, but is there a non-purist reason for using throughhole components instead of smt?
The idea of this board is to be an exact replica of the original. There are lots of reimagined versions out there with modern components.
I couldn't go online with a computer with those ghastly garish colors I'd get a migrane each time
I'm sorry to hear you suffer from migraines
glad yuo enjoyed the jest! @@MoreFunMakingIt
I took the bait
Hook, line, and sinker! 😆
ага. все хотят фиолетовые платы) мода прошла уже
Spectrum was an amazing computer!! Cool project I hope you succeed!! If you do, don't give your money to charities, they're all a fraud. You could do it yourself in some way, if you wanna give some money somewhere to help, what's stopping you? Stay away from charities.
Ok, I know HOW, but WHY?
Let's not forget you also know WHO and WHEN and WHAT. I'm hoping you don't know WHERE though.
When components fits bad into the holes it's called bad design :(
It can also be 'wrong components' - some resistors have thinner legs than others.
the problem of tight holes has been corrected in the current version of the board
Was only a problem with some of the resistors. Other types had much thinner legs and fit just fine.