Memotech MTX
Memotech MTX were three computers offered by the Memotech company in the early 1980s, named MTX500, MTX512 and RS128. A variant of the Zilog Z80 processor was used as the processor .
The computers had housings made of brushed and dark anodized aluminum and therefore weighed around 2.6 kg. The keyboard was very extensive, but had a rough touch. They were also available with a German layout .
They were technically similar to the MSX computers, but were not compatible with them . For example, both systems used the Texas Instruments TMS9918A video processor . Could Internally the models MTX500 and MTX512 two RS232 - interfaces to be extended. The RS128 model had this already installed.
It was very unusual that three programming languages were integrated. For one thing, a then usual was BASIC - interpreter . In addition, an assembler and a programming language called Noddy, with which screen pages (e.g. address index cards) could be managed, were built in. These screen pages could then also be accessed from BASIC. The graphics, the 32 sprites and the sound could also be comfortably addressed from the BASIC.
The computers could be expanded with the extension boxes FDX or HDX. Two 5.25 " floppy disk drives with a capacity of 500 kB each were installed in the FDX . In contrast, a floppy disk drive and a hard disk were installed in the HDX. The FDX and HDX also had slots for expansion cards, such as 80-character cards. The data was transferred to the computer via the RS232 interface, so the speed of 1200 bytes / s was quite slow. In addition, there was the 3.5 "SDX floppy disk drive with a capacity of 1 MB, which was connected via the system bus connected to the left. A memory expansion could also be installed here. If the computers were expanded with a floppy disk drive, operation via CP / M was also possible.
Technical specifications
- Release year: MTX500: 1983, MTX512: 1984, RS128: 1984
- Manufacturer: Memotech
- Processor : Zilog Z80 A, 4 MHz
- ROM : 24 kB
- RAM : MTX500: 32 kB, MTX512: 64 kB, RS128: 128 kB
- Operating system : own, CP / M
- Text: 40 × 24
- Graphics: 256 × 192
- Colors: 16
- Sound: mono
- Interfaces : system bus , 2 × joystick , cassette , audio, video, RS232 , printer , audio, HF modulator
- Extensions: floppy disk drive (5¼ "and 3½")