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Re: MZ-80A / MZ-80K extra RAM

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 1:25 pm
by mz-80a
Also MZ-80K2 and K2E. Would love to know the differences.

Re: MZ-80A / MZ-80K extra RAM

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:58 pm
by hlide
MZ-80K group
MZ-80K series
  • MZ-80K: An all-in-one kit with keyboard. 20KiB RAM on main memory.
  • MZ-80C: The basic design is the same as the MZ-80K, but 48KiB RAM is standardly installed as the main memory, and the keyboard has been changed to a full keyboard with the same layout as the typewriter, not a matrix layout. The mounting parts were expensive compared to MZ-80K, such as the adoption of a green monitor.
  • MZ-80K2: The assembled version of the 80K with 32KiB RAM as standard.
  • MZ-80K2E: A low-price version of the 80K2.
  • MZ-80A: An upgraded version of the 80K with improved keyboard, more VRAM and a green-screen VDU. MZ series sold overseas. CRTC now performs cycle stealing, and no noise is displayed on the screen even if the VRAM is rewritten without estimating the data transfer timing in addition of the negative/positive inversion function of the screen display and the hardware-specific scroll support and the additional VRAM, and the keyboard similar to MZ-80B.
  • MZ-1200: The parts changed in MZ-80A have been restored to the specifications close to the old model, so that compatibility is maintained. Like MZ-80A, VRAM is equipped with 2KiB, but only the first half is valid.
MZ-700 series (MZ-80K machines with color graphics)
  • MZ-700: The first MZ without a built-in monitor; an optional data recorder and plotter could also be installed to the machine. More-or-less fully compatible with the MZ-80K. It doesn't include the additinal hardware found in MZ-80A.
  • MZ-1500: Available in Japan only. Features 320×200-pixel graphics and built-in sound capability using two Texas Instruments SN76489 sound chips. The tape recorder has been replaced with a drive that reads 2.8-inch Quick Disks. It is fully compatible with MZ-700 because it is a true MZ-700 with additional hardware. Si it can be considered as a true MZ-700 successor.
  • MZ-800: The first MZ with a 640×200-pixel graphics mode and one Texas Instruments SN76489 sound chip. It has a new hardware making MZ-800 a new computer incompatible with MZ-700 but it includes a special 700 mode to do so. MZ-800 and MZ-1500 are totally different machines in the heart. What is written specifically for MZ-800 won't work on MZ-700 and MZ-1500 but a MZ-1500 may partially work on the MZ-800 in 700 mode.
MZ-80B group
This offshoot of the MZ-80K line was primarily marketed for business use.
MZ-80B series
  • MZ-80B: 320×200-pixel graphics (Extra VRAM optional).
  • MZ-80B2: An 80B with extra VRAM installed.
  • MZ-2000: 640×200-pixel monochrome monitor built-in; color optional. BASIC-level compatible with the MZ-80B.
  • MZ-2200: The only monitorless, standalone unit in the series.
MZ-2500 (SuperMZ) series: Launched in 1985, the computers in this series all used a Z80B processor running at 6 MHz. They included a data recorder and at least one 3.5 internal floppy disk drive, as well as a YM2203 FM sound chip, hardware scrolling, and a palette of 256 colors (upgradable to 4096). This makes them among the most powerful 8-bit machines ever released for home use. Some models are also compatible with the MZ-80B and MZ-2000.
  • MZ-2511
  • MZ-2520: The 2511 without a data recorder and the MZ-80B/2000 compatibility modes.
  • MZ-2521
  • MZ-2531(MZ-2500V2)
MZ-2800 series
  • MZ-2861: A hybrid 16-bit machine running on an Intel 80286 and a Z80 for MZ-2500 compatibility. It could run MS-DOS in 16-bit mode, as well as a PC98 emulator.
MZ-3500/5500/6500 group
A line of business PCs shoehorned into the MZ lineup. All of them feature 5.25-inch floppy disk drives.
MZ-3500 series: Runs on two Z80A processors.
  • MZ-3541: FDOS and EOS (CP/M compatible)
MZ-5500 series: An MS-DOS-based machine running on an Intel 8086 processor.
MZ-6500 series: A high-speed version of the MZ-5500 marketed as a CAD workstation.
  • MZ-6500
  • MZ-6550: A vertically mounted machine with an 80286 processor and a 3.5-inch floppy drive.

Re: MZ-80A / MZ-80K extra RAM

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:07 pm
by mz-80a
Wow, that's pretty extensive! I will spend some time reading. Thanks!