website/content/museum/sharp-x1-turbo.md

---
title: Sharp X1 Turbo
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- Sharp Z80 A
params:
  name: X1 Turbo
  company: /companies/sharp
  company_name: Sharp
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: X1 Turbo
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Sharp
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1984'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: separated full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Sharp Z80 A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 96 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 128 KB + 40 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 20 / 40 / 80 x 10 / 12 / 20 / 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 x 200 / 640 x 200 / 320 x 400 / 640 x 400
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: 3 voices PSG
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: |-
      Main unit: 390(W) x 390(D) x 108(H) mm / 11 Kg\
      Keyboard: 390(W) x 185(D) x 35(H) / 1.3 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: 2 x I/O ports, 2 x joysticks (Atari), audio out, keyboard, printer
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 5.25'' FDD
  - label: OS
    value: S-OS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      Model 10: 168 000 yen (Japan, 1984)\
      Model 20: 248 000 yen (Japan, 1984)\
      Model 30: 278 000 yen (Japan, 1984)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  - software
  - links
  - videos
  photos:
  - title: SHARP X1 TURBO
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: MAIN UNIT - FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: REAR CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  hardware:
  - title: TOP VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: This original extension was at least usable with the X1 Turbo serie...
    image: null
  - title: I/O EXPANSION BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: This box was used to multiply the input/output connectors and thus, possibilities of the X1 systems.
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: BACK
    subtitle: ''
    text: This extension box offers 4 I/O ports.
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: This extension was used to generate titles for video-tapes, among other things...
    image: null
  - title: BACK
    subtitle: ''
    text: A lot of connectors can be found at the back of the unit...
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  links:
  - title: Class X1
    url: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~ITTO/x1/x1menu.html
    text: In Japanese
  - title: Japanese Computer Emulation Center
    url: http://www.jcec.co.uk/x1games.htm
    text: Lot of games for X1
  videos:
  - title: Sharp X1 japanese commercial
    url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QxhgniF8Pg
    text: 'Length: 15 s'
  related:
  - /museum/sharp-x1-c-cz-801c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-ck-cz-804c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-cs-cz-803c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-cz-800c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-d-cz-802c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo-iii
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo-z-cz-880c
  - /museum/sharp-x1-turbo-z-iii
  software:
  - /software/brain-breaker
  - /software/dragon-buster
  - /software/euphory
  - /software/gate-of-labyrinth
  - /software/gradius
  - /software/maidum
  - /software/studio-cut
  - /software/the-4th-unit
  - /software/the-goonies
  - /software/the-tower-of-druaga
  - /software/timeparadox
  - /software/tokyo-nampa-street
  - /software/wing-man-2
  - /software/zeta-5
  oc_id: 259
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221204122640/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=259
    date: '2022-12-04'
---

The Turbo serie was launched simultaneously with the [X1 serie](/museum/sharp-x1-cz-800c/).

The X1 Turbo has enhanced graphic features. It also has additional hardware compared to the X1 serie: DMAC, CTC and SIO as standard. CTC & SIO can be however implemented on X1 serie through additional FM sound board or Mouse/Rs-232C board. But DMAC can not.

Turbo series has a special "KANJI" V-RAM, compared to X1 series which has only one way to display "KANJI" symbols, a heavy task for the Z80A: to display 1 "KANJI" character, 96 bytes of data are transfered to the V-RAM. As opposed, Turbo series just send 3 bytes of data (2 bytes for shift JIS code, and another 1 byte for attribute) to the "KANJI" V-RAM. Among the 8-bit systems, only the X1 Turbo serie and MZ-2500 have this special V-RAM. The access time is almost null, compared to the X1's V-RAM which is slower.

In the same way, it takes from 2 to 8 seconds to define P.C.G (user generated characters, similar to sprites) with the X1 serie, while it takes only 0.5 seconds with the Turbo serie. The [MZ-2500](/museum/sharp-mz-2500/) is also equiped with this feature.

There were in fact three models:\
\- Model 10: built-in tape recorder, no KANJI ROM, only 48 KB V-RAM (additional 48 KB available as an option),\
\- Model 20: one 5.25" disk drive instead of the tape recorder,\
\- Model 30: two 5.25" disk drives

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>