The Zx Spectrum Ula- How To Design A Microcomputer -zx Design Retro Computer- < 2024 >

The ZX Spectrum ULA is the grandfather of modern SoCs (System on Chips). The principle of "put everything but the CPU into one high-density logic block" is exactly how a Raspberry Pi or a smartphone SoC works. The only difference? 40 years of Moore's Law.

Sir Clive’s bet was that the ULA would be cheaper than programming a CPU to do video. Today, the opposite is true: CPUs are cheap, and custom silicon is expensive. But in 1982, the ULA was the only way to build a £125 color computer. The ZX Spectrum ULA is the grandfather of

You don't need a ULA anymore (Ferranti went bust). But the architecture lives on. You don't need a ULA anymore (Ferranti went bust)

You want to how to design a microcomputer inspired by the ZX? Do not start with a Z80. Start with a spreadsheet (for timing) and a CPLD. The ZX Spectrum ULA is the grandfather of