Re: ZX Spectrums problems : diagnostic software ?
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 1:06 am
Ahh, now that you mention it, it has been reported before that using a CMOS Z80 (and a Z84C0008 and a Z84C0020 are both CMOS) occasionally causes problems. The solution is to fit higher value resistors in positions R1 to R8. Also occasionally if different (more modern) RAM chips are fitted, this may also cause problems. Z80s don’t fail very often (unless the edge-connector is abused), so I have not seen this problem myself.
It’s all to do with the more modern chips being able to more forcefully drive the data bus, but at the same time, requiring less power to drive their inputs.
Glad you got it working
My next suggestion was going to be, “well you changed everything except one thing, change the whole PCB for a working one”
Thanks for letting us know that you got it sorted and for reporting back what the problem was.
Mark
It’s all to do with the more modern chips being able to more forcefully drive the data bus, but at the same time, requiring less power to drive their inputs.
Glad you got it working
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
My next suggestion was going to be, “well you changed everything except one thing, change the whole PCB for a working one”
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Thanks for letting us know that you got it sorted and for reporting back what the problem was.
Mark