Machine Specifications

ZX80

Display: Monochrome

Processor: Z80 chipset

ROM: 4kb

RAM: 1kb expandable to 16kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape

Description: Doomed first Sinclair machine. Very rare and sought by anoraks with a cheap-plastic fetish.

ZX81

Display: Monochrome, 64x44 pixels

Processor: Z80 chipset at 1Mhz

ROM: 8kb

RAM: 1kb expandable to 16kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape

Description: Successful second Sinclair machine. Nowadays found wedged under doors and steadying tables.

ZX Spectrum

Display: 8 colours, 192x256 pixels

Sound: 1 channel, 10 octaves

Processor: Z80A chipset at 3.5Mhz

ROM: 16kb

RAM: 16/48kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape

Description: Third Sinclair machine and one of the biggest selling of the Eighties. Usually owned by nerds who demanded it was better than a Commodore 64. Which it wasn't.

Commodore 64

Display: 16 colours, 320x200 pixels

Sound: 3 channels, 6 octaves

Processor: 6510 at 1Mhz

ROM: 20kb

RAM: 64kb

Data Input: Self-powered magnetic tape data-recorder, cartridge

Description: Another of the big sellers and rightly so. The greatest games machine of all-time as voted by the editor of this website. Long live the Sprite King.

Commodore Plus 4

Display: Various modes, 320x200 pixels maximum

Sound: 2 channels, 4 octaves

Processor: 7501

ROM: 64kb

RAM: 64kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape, cartridge, floppy disk drive

Description: Ooops! Commodore flops big-time with this lump of user-unfriendly crap. Useful for absolutely nothing. Not even spare parts.

Amstrad 464

Display: 3 modes (2 colours=640x200 pixels, 4 colours=320x200 pixels and 16 colours=160x200 pixels), colour or b&w monitor supplied

Sound: 3 channels

Processor: Z80 at 4Mhz

ROM: 32kb

RAM: 64kb

Data Input: Built-in magnetic tape data-recorder, floppy disk drive

Description: Cheap and cheerful Amstrad supposed rival to the Speccy and C64. Gimmicky built in tape deck and accompanying monitor could not save this blend of C64 gameplay with Speccy graphics. The hybrid sonnofabitch.

BBC Micro

Display: 3 grapic modes (640x256=2 colours, 320x256=4 colours, 160x256=16 colours)

Sound: 3 channels, 1 noise channel, 7 octaves

Processor: 6502A at 2Mhz

ROM: 32kb

RAM: 32kb/64kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape, Disk drive

Description: Serious Schoolroom machine. Owned by posh kids only.

Acorn Electron

Display: 3 graphic modes (16x256=4 or 16 colours, 320x256=2 or 4 colours, 640x256=2 colours)

Sound: 1 channel, 1 noise channel, 7 octaves

Processor: 6502A at 2Mhz

ROM: 32kb

RAM: 32kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape

Description: The Working Class BBC Micro. For poor kids only.

Oric 1

Display: 8 colours, 240x200 pixels

Sound: 3 channels, 8 octaves

Processor: 6502A at 1Mhz

ROM: 16kb

RAM: 16kb/48kb

Data Input: Magnetic tape

Description: Beep, Zap and Ping. That's all this monstrosity could do.

Amiga 500

Display: 32 colours from 4096, 4 graphic modes (320x256, 320x512, 640x256, 640x512)

Sound: 4 stereo channels

Processor: 68000 at 7Mhz

ROM: 256kb

RAM: 512kb expandable to 4Mb

Data Input: Built-in 3.5" disk drive

Description: The 16 Bit phenomenon that everyone wanted but few could afford. Old Speccy users became the new Atari ST owners.