website/content/museum/memotech-mtx-500-512.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
MEMOTECH MTX 500 /512	Computers	Home Computer	United Kingdom	1983	Zilog Z80 A	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware screenshots emulators links docs related oc_id source MTX 500 /512 /media/museum/photos/memotech_mtx512_1.jpg /companies/memotech MEMOTECH label value NAME MTX 500 /512 label value MANUFACTURER Memotech label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE BASIC, LOGO, NODDY (interactive sequential controller, Z80 Assembler/Disassembler label value KEYBOARD Full stroke 79 key with numeric keypad and 8 function keys label value CPU Zilog Z80 A label value SPEED 4 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR TM 9918 or 9928 (video) and TI 76489 (sound) label value RAM MTX-500 : 32 KB\ MTX-512 : 64 KB (up to 512 KB) label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 24 KB (MTX Basic) label value TEXT MODES 32 or 40 chars x 24 lines.\ 80 x 24 with FDX or HDX disc based expansions label value GRAPHIC MODES four modes, maximum : 256 x 192. 32 sprites label value COLORS 16 maximum label value SOUND 3 voices + pink noise / 6 octaves (Texas-Instruments SN76489A) label value SIZE / WEIGHT 48.6 (W) x 20.3 (D) x 5.7 (H) cm / 2.6 Kg label value I/O PORTS Cassette port, Parallel I/O port, 2 x joystick ports, Audio ouput, Composite video output, Cartridge slot, Parallel/Centronics port label value OS CP/M label value POWER SUPPLY External power supply unit (22.5 VAC, 1A tapped at 18V and 9V) label value PERIPHERALS 5.25'' Floppy disc unit, Communication board with two RS232 interfaces and disk drive bus label value PRICE £275 (MTX-500), £315 (MTX-512) photos adverts hardware software emulators links docs 179 title subtitle text image THE MTX-500 /media/museum/photos/memotech_mtx500_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR - LEFT /media/museum/photos/memotech_mtx512_rear_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR - RIGHT /media/museum/photos/memotech_mtx512_rear_.jpg title subtitle text image POWER SUPPLY UNIT /media/museum/photos/memotech_mtx512_psu.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE THE MTX-512 **(1)** Power plug.\ **(2)** TV aerial signal modulator.\ **(3)** Three ROM chips holding the Basic interpreter, Noddy and Z80 assembler languages.\ **(4)** Video RAM chips.\ **(5)** RGB video output connector for color monitor.\ **(6)** Stereo sound output connector.\ **(7)** Texas Instrument TMS 9928 dedicated graphic video chip.\ **(8)** Parallel port for printers.\ **(9)** 64 Kb. RAM chips.\ **(10)** Zilog Z80 microprocesseur running at 4 Mhz.\ **(11)** Clock synchronisation circuit.\ **(12)** Expansion connector. Can receive memory or interface cards.\ **(13)** Two Atari compatible joystick connectors.\ **(14)** Tape-recorder connectors (In and Out).\ **(15)** Mechanical keyboard, numeric keypad and functions keys. /media/museum/photos/memotech_mtx512_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image FIRST UK ADVERT, OCT 1983 Advert says: **The All-Purpose System** The MTX Series is a new departure in micro-computer technology. Whether your needs as a user ore for personal programming, games playing, scientific or process control, educational or business use the MTX Series is already capable or very easily adoptable to almost every application. Glance through the standard features below - you'll see what we mean. **Software**\ The MTX's 24K ROM contains several languages and routines which enable the novice or the experienced programmer to make full use of the machine. Standard languages are MTX BASIC, MTX LOGO commands, NODDY. ROM routines include on ASSSEMBLER/DISASSEMBLER with screen display of the Z80 CPU registers, memory and program, which can be manipulated from the keyboard. Machine code programs can be stepped through one instruction at a time, and easily called from within BASIC programs. A further feature is the Virtual Screen facility which enables the programmer to split the screen into a maximum of eight sections to work independently whilst maIntaining all full screen facilities. Pascal is available as on add-on ROM pock. **Hardware - 32K RAM on the MTX500. 64K on the MTX512.**\ The MTX500 has 32K of user RAM as standard (64K on the 512), expandable to 512K plus 16K of video RAM, controlled by a separate Video Processor. Sixteen colours, 40 column text, 256 x 192 high resolution graphics with all sixteen colours available, and 32 easily moveable user defined graphics characters (Sprites) combine to make effective screen displays quick and simple to achieve. Standard outputs are centronics printer port, two ioystick ports, an uncommitted I/O port, 2400 Baud Cassette port, separate TV and Video Monitor ports, 4 channel sound with hifi output plus a dedicated cartridge port. Other standard features include the Z80A processor runnIng at 4MHz, real time clock, full moving key keyboard with 79 keys including eight 2-function keys and separate numeric pad. **The Disc Based Computers from Memotech.** Designed to use the full power of the MTX computers the FDX and HDX make perfect busIness systems at prices which make perfect business sense. Both feature the CP/M operating system, giving Instant access to a wide range of proven application software. Available in October these feature:\ • Full Western Digital floppy dIsc controller set with SASI interface for 4 drives, CP/M types 0 - 13.\ • minimal latency, very high data transfer rates\ • optional Colour 80 Column Board\ • optional SilIcon Discs (1/4 Mb) which dramatically Increase the efficiency of 8 bit software to those of 16/32 bit software; increases life and reliability of mechanical drive\ • permits single disc CP/M operation **FDX Floppy Disc System**\ 1 or 2 5 1/4" Qume drives 500K unformatted, 347K formatted.\ **HDX- Hard Disc System**\ 5 1/4" Qume drive, 500K unformatted, 347K formatted, 5 1/4" Winchester which may be 5, 10, or 20 Mb. /media/museum/pubs/memotech_mtx500_ukpub_s2.jpg title subtitle text image UK ADVERT Thanks to Karl-Heinz - http://www.sharpmz.org /media/museum/pubs/memotech_mtx500_ukpub_1.jpg title subtitle text image U.K. AD (DEC. 1985) Notice the (rare!) DMX80 printer, the two floppy drive units and SDX FDD interface. /media/museum/pubs/memotech_mtx512_pub_2.jpg title subtitle text image LAST SALES This advert (a bargain!) was published in the U.K. in September 1987 /media/museum/pubs/memotech_mtx512_pub_3.jpg title subtitle text image FDX EXPANSION UNIT MTX double 5'' diskette drive unit allows the Memotech computers to reach the significant softwares library of the CP/M operating system. Diskettes drives are double face, double density versions, with a 500 Kb. storage capacity. Data transfer uses the computer's serial port. It's very slow : 9600 bauds (1200 bytes/sec.). A 80 columns card is supplied inside the case to ensure compatibility with CP/M display mode. Several software are delivered with this unit, of which word processing New Word, the SuperCalc spreadsheet and several utilities. /media/museum/hardware/memotech_fdx-expansion-unit_1.jpg title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_tachyon_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_turbo_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_agrovator_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_arcazions_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_astropac_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_backgammon_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_blobbo_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_chamberoids_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mts_devils_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mts_johnnyreb_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_kilopead_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_missile_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_omega_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_chess_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_nemo_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_obloids_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_qogo_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_quazzia_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_snappo_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_worm_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_thewall_ss.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT Thanks to [The Home of Memotech Emulation](http://home.clara.net/almost/index.html) for this picture. /media/museum/software/mtx_zarcos_ss.gif title url platform text Mt. Xemu http://www.classicgaming.com/mtxemu/index.html Windows MTX emulator for Windows title url platform text MacTX http://homepage.mac.com/persquare/memotech.htm Apple MTX emulator for Macintosh title url platform text MTX emulator http://home.clara.net/almost/downloads.htm RISC OS MTX emulator for Acorn systems title url platform text M.E.S.S. http://www.mess.org Multiplatform MESS emulates the MTX 512 computer title url text http://www.atarimagazines.com http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n6/48_Memotech_MTX512.php Memotech MTX-512 evaluation from Creative Computing, John J. Anderson. title url text MTX World http://www.mtxworld.dk/ Nice page with games, technical info, emulators, pictures, interviews, tips and more title url text MTXinfo.de http://www.mtxinfo.de/ some text in German, content mostly in English title url text Wikipedia dedicated page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memotech_MTX title url cover text MTX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION http://mtx.interactive.as/ /media/museum/docs/couvs/memotech_mtx-tech-sepc.jpg **MTX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION**\ written by Memotech  compiled/archived by El Senator\  type of document : ZIP\  source : [MTX Series - the good old times](http://mtx.interactive.as/) **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** /museum/memotech-rs-128 168 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608155143/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=168 2023-06-08

The Memotech company started manufacturing expansion cards and high quality memory modules for the Sinclair ZX 81 home computer.

The British Memotech MTX 512 has a hardware which looks like the Sord M5. It also has characteristics, which are close to the MSX standard, but is not MSX compatible.

It uses a dedicated chip for video (Texas Instruments TM 9918 or 9928) and sound (Texas Instruments SN76489A) and has a very nice mechanical keyboard and a nice black aluminum case!

Both models have the same characteristics, but the MTX 500 has only 32 KB RAM and the 512, 64 KB. It had no success and was replaced a short time later by the RS-128.

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Jon O'Brien reports:
I was in computer retail in Bracknell at the time the MTX was released, owned an MTX 512 (which I still have somewhere, I think) and spent quite a bit of time talking on the telephone to the owner of Memotech (whose name now escapes me) about stocking the machines. I was told at the time that much of the MSX design was based on the company's work on the MTX. How true this is I can't say, but it is a claim that was made at the time.