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The Spectrum set aside 6912 Bytes of RAM to be used for a display file and an attribute array. The conceived design was unique, allowing Sinclair Research and Richard Altwasser to patent the implementation. The Spectrum’s minimal graphics processing hardware and constrained 16k of RAM led to Altwasser’s’ invention of an extremely efficient and somewhat esoteric display system. The ULA or Un-committed Logic Array is similar in function, but not in implementation to today’s CPLD’s where the work of many TTL logic chips is combined into one IC. The Spectrum’s Z80 CPU and ULA would do all the graphical heavy lifting. This was in contrast to other emerging micro-computers of the period, such as the Commodore 64. The ZX Spectrum had no dedicated sprite generation ICs. Pricing constraints brought further limitations. No dedicated graphics memory for the micro computers of 1982.
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That 16 or 48k had to be shared between absolutely every process the computer was going to undertake, including holding of a full screen worth of data. To this end, the original Spectrum arrived in two flavours, a base computer coming in with 16k of RAM on board and a higher specification version with a more sizeable 48k. The Spectrum’s design had to come with some limitations to meet the affordable price point of £125. Richard Altwasser, the engineer employed by Sinclair to develop the Spectrum’s graphic systems was setting a new benchmark with some very innovative ideas. It’s hard to imagine now, but in 1982 these 16 colours were enough to start a home computer revolution. The micro is capable of generating 16 colours, 8 low intensity colours and 8 matching bright variants. Games would soon be were everywhere thanks to all the kids programming their brand new Spectrum’s.Ī major success factor, the one that gave the Spectrum it’s name is the computers capacity to generate a spectrum of colours. For Sinclair and the ZX Spectrum the time was right, parents were keen, and the kids were excited. In the months prior to launching ‘The Computer Programme’ had aired on the BBC, legitimising the home micro computer as the must have educational item of the 1980’s.
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The Spectrum was not the first Sinclair computer to make it big, it was however the the first to go massive. April 1982 saw the launch of Sinclair Research’s most successful micro-computer, the ZX Spectrum.