eLeMeNt ZX New Computer / Motherboard Replacement

[PeterJ]

Post updated on 06/05/21 by PeterJ at request of @SamC

Hello,

Jan Kucera has let me know (via @SamC) about a new Computer / Motherboard replacement which is in development.

The website is here:

https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/home

and the first draft of the manual is here:

https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/docs

The following links provide some more detail (translated)

https://translate.google.com/translate? ... %23p120592

https://translate.google.com/translate? ... %23p120622

https://translate.google.com/translate? ... %23p120666

Juan is now a member so I'm sure he would be happy to answer any questions

From the website:

eLeMeNt ZX is a powerful ZX Spectrum hardware clone, a new motherboard that in all-in-one solution brings the functionality of a large number of hardware, system add-ons and higher CPU speeds. This device is designed to fit into ZX Spectrum +2 and +2A models' case and this way use also their excellent keyboards. The eLeMeNt ZX is based on a combination of a modern and fast FPGA and the real Z80 CPU to achieve the best compatibility with all ZX Spectrum's software and as well as hardware add-ons and interfaces. Moreover, in order to get some additional new features and a CPU speeds higher than 20MHz, the real Z80 CPU can be switched off and replaced by a FPGA version. The eLeMeNt ZX is my personal and hobby project with the aim of exploring, discovering and testing possibilities of old and renewed ZX Spectrum home computers with a hardware originally based on 8bit technology - therefore it is not intended for commercial purposes. The development is still in progress.

Pricing

Now are the boards available only in the official e-shop https://retrocomp.cz/produkt?id=62

Since this is a hobby project without a standard warranty, I cannot provide a full guarantee on the FPGA board. For this reason, I recommend that you buy the Alchitry Au Artix-7 FPGA Board directly from official retailers. Here are some of them: Digi-Key Electronics - Mouser Electronics

[SamC]

Just a few notes:

The eLeMeNt ZX is unique in that it can faithfully, at 100 percent, display timings of various Spectrum models (including Pentagon) via a digital video.

It does not compete with the SpecNext, does not have a sprites-based gaming video subsystem... but... e.g. it has fixed a development gap and ads attributes to plain HiRes (512*192).

It can combine a world of east-european TRD-based software with the esxDOS. Pentagon on esxDOS

It is aimed on active Spectrum users, very open for future projects, incl. SPI, I2C, GPIO devices (pin rows are already on the board).

It should fit also into shortened cases:


We are looking for a manufacturer of spare cases and keyboards...
At least one case replacement is available: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2923184

[lister_of_smeg]

We are looking for a manufacturer of spare cases and keyboards...
At least one case replacement is available: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2923184

[mention]TomD[/mention] Is this your design?

[PeterJ]

[mention]SamC[/mention], is there anyway this could be produced with just a PS/2 Keyboard socket like the N-Go and just a clear plastic case option. The +2 is not a housing that appeals to me.

[TomD]

We are looking for a manufacturer of spare cases and keyboards...
At least one case replacement is available: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2923184

@TomD Is this your design?

Yeah

[SamC]

Now the eLeMeNt ZX is official. And for sale: https://retrocomp.cz/produkt?id=62

Updated manual (v1.1): https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/docs

News: https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/home

[SamC]

New videos demonstrating exact, precise timings, graphics effects and sounds, recorded through the eLeMeNt's digital video output.

Hires border of Pentagon> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fBJvOcZPgw
TurboSound music> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82b9ZQLmFAw
Multicolor (timings) and border effect> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKfAYiYtSA
"SID positive" tune> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKfAYiYtSA&t=239s
Turbosound FM playing S98 tunes> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83XF3gmrVOM
Multicolor and Z80-DMA effects> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jK-_xqcxk

The last video also uses the gigascreen mode. The eLeMeNt ZX provides three hardware gigascreen modes (mixed video RAMs, mixed video frames and autodetection mode). These can be switched by users on the fly as well as speeds of the Z80CPU or machines' timings.

[Pegaz]

New videos demonstrating exact, precise timings, graphics effects and sounds, recorded through the eLeMeNt's digital video output.

Hires border of Pentagon> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fBJvOcZPgw
TurboSound music> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82b9ZQLmFAw
Multicolor (timings) and border effect> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKfAYiYtSA
"SID positive" tune> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKfAYiYtSA&t=239s
Turbosound FM playing S98 tunes> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83XF3gmrVOM
Multicolor and Z80-DMA effects> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jK-_xqcxk

The last video also uses the gigascreen mode. The eLeMeNt ZX provides three hardware gigascreen modes (mixed video RAMs, mixed video frames and autodetection mode). These can be switched by users on the fly as well as speeds of the Z80CPU or machines' timings.

This S98 music is really great, I didn’t know Spectrum could play this format.
Can you provide a disc image with s98 music from the video you posted ?
btw, is the Pentagon 1024 mandatory or can it work on other models with less memory?

[SamC]

Can you provide a disc image with s98 music from the video you posted ?

I know only versions of SID and S98 players the author prepared for the LMN's hardware.
These are in downloadable SD-archives on http://128land.com/
The original threads might be found on the zx-pk.ru forums...

[SamC]

Especially for those who do not have free ZX+3/+2A keyboards, a PC keyboard support is added.
More details and the layout of mapped keys are given in the ProgRef manual: https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/docs

Another news is that the eLeMeNt ZX begins to share some ZXi ports with ZX-Uno.

[PeterJ]

Great news @SamC

[SamC]

eLeMent ZX core continues to merge the two worlds of western and eastern ZX-hardware.
Now it came to a SD-slot of the Z-Controller.

IMHO the best programs with a ZC support are Wild Player and Wild Copier.

Software no longer needs to be patched for the divmmc.
Both SD slots are available in esxDOS, at the same time you can assign a ZC card slot to one of them.
You can load TRD software with the esxDOS, these programs access the Z-Controller SD card directly.

Thanks in advance for the tips on more interesting software or hardware!

[SamC]

eLeMeNt ZX has just got the Overclock

- from the real 20 MHz up to (real) 30 MHz
- ROM system can be speeded up to 28 MHz
- switchable on-the-run through the Extra button and number keys in the Spectrum Mode (or with an external keyboard attached)

5 - OverClock mode 22MHz
6 - OverClock mode 28MHz - 1T-state delayed in ROM area
7 - OverClock mode 28MHz - for RAM only software
8 - OverClock mode 30MHz - for RAM only software

If turned on also in SetUps´s Diagnostics settings, the big (outer frame of) border will be colored according to the set speed.

[SamC]

The fabulous SID was added to the FPGA core. Currently one SID is supported.
ZXi ports available for all SID registers and new, OLD6581/NEW8580/PAL/NTSC settings.

https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/home

This brought not only a more convenient PSID-files emulation, but it is also an important step towards a native Z-80 player for SID tunes.

Download demonstration software (NSID player) from
https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/download and https://zxfiles.samcoupe.cz/zxmb03.php

Code: Select all

ZXi assigned ports
  27707  h6C3B    select SID Control Register
  27963  h6D3B    read/write selected SID Control Register
SID registers
    h00-h1C = original SID registers
    h1F = SID type and frequency  
    h20 = more SIDs
SID parameters
  The eLeMeNt ZX and MB03+ use FPGA implementation of SID that can switch type with related filters.
    h1F = select SID parameters
        bit 0    = SID type: 0-6581; 1-8580
        bit 1    = frequency: 0-PAL  1-NTSC (985248Hz for PAL C64, 1022730Hz for NTSC C64)
        bits 2-7 = always 0
More SIDs
    h20 = (optional) selects up to 256 SIDs

[SamC]

User´s Manual updated: https://sites.google.com/view/elementzx/docs

[SamC]

SAA1099 soundchip has been added.
On both old and new ZXi ports (FFh and 1FFh and 6E3Bh, 6F3Bh).

The eLeMeNt/MB system is currently the only ZX Spectrum hardware that implements all soundchips (AY/YM, TS, TSFM, SID, SAA) and D/A music devices - Specdrum, (stereo) Covox, Soundrive, Monsterblaster (plus the General Sound card available on the MB03+).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybwidaKHonw

No Spectrum-based trackers have been completed yet.
The most ZX Spectrum SAA demos use musics composed on the SAM Coupé, with its original player routine.

These SAA trackers for PCs are available:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/mif85tracker/
https://saa1099tracker.borik.net/
https://github.com/mborik/SAA1099Tracker
https://www.ilnx.cz/lnxtr/

SAM Coupé trackers:
https://www.worldofsam.org/search/node?keys=etracker
https://www.worldofsam.org/search/node?keys=protracker

[PeterJ]

Thanks @SamC,

It's a fantastic project, but I would still be nice to have a self contained version, rather than spending 300 Euros and having to use a Spectrum +2 Case. Something like the ZXDOS+ from @antoniovillena is a thing of real beauty:

[SamC]

would still be nice to have a self contained version

This solution has not been ruled out yet.

There is, among hardcore Speccy fans, a demand for a powerful motherboard to replace an older one.
The board is still produced in small series, as well as the internal expansion AA-SRAM 2048-8, https://retrocomp.cz/
There are 3D printed replacement cases and high-quality keyboards will be available soon.

As the pandemic hysteria has shaken economics, prices cannot be expected to fall and the new equipment will not be cheaper...
The question of some next model is also not relevant while the eLeMeNt´s core is in development.
Not only peripherals, but also a core circuit logic is constantly being improved, e.g. the eLeMeNt ZX now features the Pentagon-4096.

[PeterJ]

Indeed @SamC, the price of some devices has doubled, and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

Peter

[rogerjowett]

24bit try colour palette?
How many colours in 512x384 interlaced modes please
?
Stnccc demo at 3.5mhz how is this possible? Sam coupé version is running full 6mhz it's a lot slower how come?
Can Fpga emulate more than z80 and DNA what about super fx chip?

[SamC]

Hi,

here is a brief overview of improvements and changes over the past several months:

- new version of the User Manual
- support of external PC keyboards improved, new shortcuts added
- Tiny case, simple, 3D printable case, STL files are available - eLeMeNt ZX can be a standalone computer unit now
- HGFX system intensively tested and expanded to take full advantage of its design, this enables LowRes, HiRes, HAM, FILL and SuperHiRes modes (512*384, planar, NO interlace!) with 3.5 MHz CPUs
- many small improvements: speed issues, improved SID emulation, new warm reset (divSD/CF memory "machine" preservation after reset), a software reset of the 6th bit of the divSD Control register

The eLeMeNt ZX also supports the larger Alchitry AU+ FPGA board, which can accommodate e.g. big interfaces like the General Sound. Cores for this board you will find in the Archive part of FPGA Core Downloads

eLeMeNt ZX software is available at a renewed site:
https://zxfiles.net/zxmb03.php
https://zxfiles.net/download/mb03/

I especially recommend trying the demo HGFX NICCC, press keys 1 and 2 to reveal the FILL mode in the 3D part.

Regards
SamC.

[PeterJ]

Thanks @SamC,

I was pleased to be able to contribute to the list of supported keyboards with one easily available in the UK.

I'm really looking forward to when the WiFi module becomes available.

Peter

[Chris23235]

Thanks for keeping us updated @SamC
Can you give a rough estimation when the eLeMeNt ZX with FPGA and Z80 will be in stock again at retrocomp.cz. I am looking foward to order one. I looked up the FPGA board and saw it is not in stock anywhere so I guess this is the culprit, but maybe you have more inside when it will be available again.

[Sparky]

I'm very interested in it as well. It would have been a nice Christmas gift to myself
Please update us of availability.

[SamC]

Hi, @Chris23235 and @Sparky

I have sent you a PM about availability of eLeMeNt+FPGA sets in the e-shop.
Obtaining basic AU boards today is difficult and irregular, a new batch is expected next spring.

However, there are still bigger FPGA AU+ boards for sale:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/17514
These AU+ boards offer sufficient capacity for the future, provide enough space to add other zx-expansions. Unfortunately, the current price is very unfavorable...

Let us see an Artix 7 product list: https://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon ... oductTable

The eLeMeNt ZX is now running on the AU board with the Xilinx Artix 7 XC7A35T.
This is the main unit, for which are eLeMeNt´s cores regularly updated and which offers all the parameters, functions and devices described in the User Manual.

AU+ boards need their own cores for a Xilinx Artix 7 XC7A100T. Although it can be still, as an expensive rarity, named "experimental", such a board will greatly extend the life of our eLeMeNt ZX, it has a lot of space for future expansions, I use the AU+ in my eLeMeNt only. Plus, compared to modern FPGA retro-devices, it is no exception, the Mega65 uses a Xilinx Artix-7 XC7A200T!