ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum, released in 1982 by Sinclair Research, was a groundbreaking 8-bit home computer that popularized affordable computing in the UK and beyond. Known for its rubber keyboard, Z80A CPU clocked at 3.5 MHz, and unique color attribute system that caused “color clash” in graphics, it sold over five million units and inspired over 24,000 software titles. Its legacy includes fostering a generation of programmers and catalyzing the British tech industry.

The Spectrum spawned numerous clones, particularly in Eastern Europe, where official models were scarce. Notable examples include Czechoslovakia’s Didaktik series, Russia’s Pentagon computers, and Spain’s ZX128u+. Many clones expanded hardware capabilities, such as the Timex Sinclair 2068 (US model with enhanced sound).

tecnocat

The firmware supports ZX Spectrum Basic 48/128, TR-DOS, SD card operation, file manager with file preview, TAP and z80 formats, TurboSound, and much more.

pico-spec

ZX Spectrum Emulator, a port of the ESPectrum emulator (v.1.2) from ESP32 to Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040 SoC) and Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350 SoC).

pico-zxspectrum

48k/128k ZX Spectrum for Raspberry Pico Pi RP2040.

ZX Speccy P

Speccy P is a firmware for the ZX Spectrum emulator designed for Raspberry Pi Pico-based boards (RP2040 and RP2350A). It supports OTG USB keyboards, USB mice, PS/2 keyboards, and PSRAM configurations, including compatibility with the first Murmulator and planned support for “sandwich” PSRAM for Pico2. The emulator provides hardware and software TurboSound, I2S audio, and emulates various ZX Spectrum models (e.g., 128, Pentagon 512/1024, Scorpion GMX 2048). Key features include auto-start functionality, quick file loading, disassembler tools, and firmware update mode via Scroll Lock. It supports VGA and HDMI outputs (60Hz), as well as TFT displays (ILI9341 and ST7789 with limited rotation settings). Configuration options are accessible via F12, with file management through F11 and quick save/load features.