Memotech MTX 500/512

[dirty-harry]

A uncommon British machine from the early eighties (1983): The best way to describe it : It was a cross between an MSX and Colecovision, using a Z80 CPU, SN76489 Sound Chip and TMS9918/29 VDP, 32K or 64K RAM , 24K ROM, running at 4MHz.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memotech_MTX

 

 

A team of Brainiacs (two mainly: Dave and Martin) have brought it back to life as a fully working , enhanced prototype: It's even been clocked as high as 40MHz, using a Z84C0020VEC (PLCC44) Z80 CPU. It's hoped in the not to distant future that a series of professional Single board Computers (SBCs) will be made from these prototypes ?? These may even be morphed into full MSX machines (perhaps that's just wishful thinking )??

 

 

http://www.primrosebank.net/computers/mtx/projects/mtxplus/mtxplus.htm

http://www.primrosebank.net/computers/mtx/projects/mtxplus/mtxplus_arch.htm

 

Games are still being written and ported to the MTX, so there's still life in the old machine yet !! A 'New' enhanced version would have a Big speed increase and much improved graphics and sound..

 

Spec for new machine ( DRAFT)

Memotech MTX S3

Z80 CPU running at up to 16MHz ( been clocked at 40MHz in lab)

640K RAM (128K SRAM, 512K NVSRAM, 70ns)

64K or 128K EEPROM 45ns

Z80 CTC

Z80 DART (SIO)

Floppy Disc Controller ??

8255 PIO to read CF cards

EPM7128 as glue logic

V9958 VDP with 192K VRAM

SN76489 PSG

YM2149/AY-3-8910 PSG (to give MSX Compatability)

RTC Real Time Clock

PS/2 keyboard

etc etc ..

 

Will (hopefully) have some MSX compatability

 

Lets wait and see what materializes !

 

 

[am1933]

Looks interesting, the MTX line deserves some much needed love!!!!, if nothing else-it was one of the best looking machines ever produced.