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---
title: MEMOTECH RS 128
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80 A
params:
name: RS 128
image: /media/museum/photos/memotech_rs128_1.jpg
company: /companies/memotech
company_name: MEMOTECH
specs:
- label: NAME
value: RS 128
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Memotech
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: United Kingdom
- label: YEAR
value: '1984'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: MTX Basic, Noddy, Assembler
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Qwerty full-stroke keyboard, 79 keys. Numeric keypad. 8 function keys.
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z80 A
- label: SPEED
value: 4 MHz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: TMS-9918A video chip from Texas Instruments. SN-76489A sound chip from Texas Instruments
- label: RAM
value: 128 KB (up to 512 KB)
- label: VRAM
value: 16 KB
- label: ROM
value: 24 KB (Basic + assembler)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 40 x 25 / 32 x 24
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 'four modes, maximum : 256 x 192'
- label: COLORS
value: 16 maximum
- label: SOUND
value: 3 voices / 6 octaves
- label: I/O PORTS
value: TV output, composite video output, 2 x joystick, Cardridge, Tape, Audio, Centronics, 2 x RS232, Bus
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: External power supply unit
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: FDX floppy disk expansion system (with CP/M)
- label: PRICE
value: £399 (UK, october 1984)
tabs:
- photos
- hardware
- links
- docs
forum_thread: 212
photos:
- title: INSIDE THE RS-128
subtitle: ''
text: |-
The RS-128 is technically identical to the &lt;$168$>MTX 512. The only innovation is the addition of 2 cards (64 Kb RAM and serial interface) proposed as optional addons for the previous models.
**(1)** 64 Kb RAM chips.\
**(2)** TV aerial signals modulator.\
**(3)** Three ROM circuits holding the Basic interpreter, Noddy and Z80 assembler languages.\
**(4)** This first expansion card adds 64 Kb RAM to the system, only usable as a virtual disk.\
**(5)** The second expansion card offers two RS-232 serial ports. One of them can be used to connect the FDX 5.25" double disk-drive unit.\
**(6)** These two expansion cards are mainly devoted to the use of the CP/M operating system.\
**(7)** RGB video output connector for color monitor.\
**(8)** Video RAM (text & graphic) which allows main memory to be fully available for user programs and data.\
**(9)** Zilog Z80 microprocesseur running at 4 Mhz.\
**(10)** Two Atari compatible joystick connectors.\
**(11)** Tape-recorder connectors (In and Out).
image: /media/museum/photos/memotech_rs128_inside1.jpg
hardware:
- title: FDX EXPANSION UNIT
subtitle: ''
text: '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.'
image: /media/museum/hardware/memotech_fdx-expansion-unit_1.jpg
links:
- title: http://www.atarimagazines.com
url: http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n6/48_Memotech_MTX512.php
text: Memotech MTX-512 evaluation from Creative Computing, John J. Anderson.
- title: MTX World
url: http://www.mtxworld.dk/
text: Nice page with games, technical info, emulators, pictures, interviews, tips and more
- title: MTXinfo.de
url: http://www.mtxinfo.de/
text: some text in German, content mostly in English
- title: Wikipedia dedicated page
url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memotech_MTX
text: ''
docs:
- title: MTX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
url: http://mtx.interactive.as/
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/memotech_mtx-tech-sepc.jpg
text: |-
**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 :**
related:
- /museum/memotech-mtx-500-512
oc_id: 202
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230205013511/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=202
date: '2023-02-05'
---
The Memotech RS128 is the successor of the [Memotech MTX 512](/museum/memotech-mtx-500-512/). It looks like the MTX 512 and has almost the same characteristics.
Like the MTX 512, it sports an aluminum case. Contrary to the MTX, it has RS-232 built-in interfaces, primarily used to connect the FDX floppy drive (the data are sent from the disk to the RAM at a whopping 9600 baud!). The FDX unit comes with a 80 columns card and allows the RS128 to run CP/M programs.\
It was supplied with NewWord (word processor) and SuperCalc (spreadsheet).\
Only the lower 64 KB can be used, the upper 64 KB are used as a RAM disk.
Similar the MTX512, the RS128 has characteristics very near of the [MSX computers](/museum/msx-1/) (same sound chip & video for example) but wasn't able to use MSX software.