| Sam Coupé |
/media/museum/photos/mgt_samcoupe_1.jpg |
/media/museum/logos/samcoupe_logo.gif |
/companies/mgt-miles-gordon-technology |
MGT (Miles Gordon Technology) |
| label |
value |
| NAME |
Sam Coupé |
|
| label |
value |
| MANUFACTURER |
MGT (Miles Gordon Technology) |
|
| label |
value |
| TYPE |
Home Computer |
|
| label |
value |
| ORIGIN |
United Kingdom |
|
| label |
value |
| YEAR |
December 1989 |
|
| label |
value |
| END OF PRODUCTION |
1992 |
|
| label |
value |
| BUILT IN LANGUAGE |
SamBasic |
|
| label |
value |
| KEYBOARD |
Full-stroke keyboard, 72 keys, Reset button |
|
| label |
value |
| CPU |
Zilog Z80B (fully compatible with i8080 and Z80) |
|
| label |
value |
| SPEED |
6MHz with screen off, 4.5 MHz with screen on\
can be slowed down to emulate ZX Spectrum |
|
| label |
value |
| CO-PROCESSOR |
Motorola MC 1377P Video Chip, Philips SAA1099 soundchip, ASIC handling graphics |
|
| label |
value |
| RAM |
256 kb or 512 kb onboard (depending models), and up to 4Mb with external addons (4.5 Mb total) |
|
| label |
value |
| ROM |
32 kb (BASIC, BIOS & disk bootstrap) |
|
| label |
value |
| TEXT MODES |
32 x 24, 85 x 24 |
|
| label |
value |
| GRAPHIC MODES |
256 x 192, 512 x 192 |
|
| label |
value |
| COLORS |
128 colors |
|
| label |
value |
| SOUND |
Philips SAA1099 soundchip, 6 channels stereo FM synthesis, 8 octaves, 2 noise generators, 2 envelope generators, DAC digital output , sample rate 15.6 kHz. Built-in MIDI interface (in, out, through) |
|
| label |
value |
| SIZE / WEIGHT |
2.26 Kg |
|
| label |
value |
| I/O PORTS |
RF video output (UHF, channel 36), RGB scart video output, serial / network socket, joystick connector (Atari standard), parallel interface, audio input, audio output |
|
| label |
value |
| BUILT IN MEDIA |
one or two 3.5'' ultraslim Citizen Double Density Drives (800 kb)\
First models had no disk-drives |
|
| label |
value |
| OS |
SamDOS, CP/M available |
|
| label |
value |
| POWER SUPPLY |
External PSU (5v) |
|
|
| photos |
| hardware |
| software |
| emulators |
| links |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM COUPÉ ENHANCED USING QUAZAR HARDWARE |
|
This SAM Coupé (original model with no internal disk drive) was upgraded with the following extensions from Quazar (www.samcoupe.com): brand new internal disk drive, 256K RAM extension, ROM v3.0.
Thomas Conté |
/media/museum/photos/mgt_samcoupe_quazar.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM COUPÉ |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_samcoupe_2.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| ONE DISK DRIVE MODEL |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_samcoupe_1disk_2.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| DOUBLE DISK DRIVE MODEL |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_sam-coupe_3.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| BOOTING |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_sam-coupe_booting.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| USER MANUAL |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_samcoupe_manual_1.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| BOX |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_sam-coupe_box_2.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM REVIVAL MAGAZINES |
|
|
/media/museum/photos/mgt_sam-coupe_sam-revival-mags.jpg |
|
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| 256 KB RAM EXPANSION |
|
This upgrade will increase the RAM of very early 256K Sam Coupe's to the standard 512K. This memory expansion fits under the unscrewable panel on the base of the Sam, and can be easily fitted in minutes - all you will need is a posidrive or phillips screwdriver to remove the small panel and then plug this module to the connector inside. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_sam-coupe_256kb_ram_expansion.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM POWER SUPPLY UNIT |
|
|
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_powersup_1.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM BUS |
|
This odd looking piece of hardware gave the owner the ability to attach up to 4 devices to the SAM's euroconnector socket at the same time. It also had an internal clock, and when used with MasterDos, this gave the SAM the ability to date stamp all your files.
Having so many devices attached to your SAM could cause severe power drain, and so each item of SAM hardware was provided with a power consumption rating. I seem to remember that the normal SAM PSU was considered sufficient to power up to 20 'power points'.
Once you went over that threshold, the SAM would require further power input, and so a PSU input socket was also built in to the SAMBus. However, as far as I am aware, an actual PSU was never produced so the socket was redundant.
Text and picture kindly provided by Stewart Skardon from its [SamCoupé.co.uk](http://www.sskardon.fsnet.co.uk/) web site. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_bus.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAMDAC |
|
This marvellous piece of hardware gave the SAM superior sound for playing MOD files, using The SAM MOD player software, which was distributed with the SAMdac.
One end of the interface plugged in to the SAM's light pen / audio out socket, and the other plugged in to a printer port (if you had one!).
The SAM originally had 6 bit sound, through the SAMdac this was increased to 8bit. This device was later suceeded by The Quazar Surround, but the SAMdac still had the advantage of being small and easy to hide.
Text and picture kindly provided by Stewart Skardon from its [SamCoupé.co.uk](http://www.sskardon.fsnet.co.uk/) web site. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_samdac.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SD IDE |
|
The piece of hardware that SAM users screamed out for since day one, the SD software IDE interface finally arrived on the scene in late 1995. At long last, the ability to store all of your SAM stuff on one drive. Snag - the interface worked well, but the DOS was very limited. Development on the software was pretty constant, until the arrival of the Atom, at which point the whole project was stopped.
Text and picture kindly provided by Stewart Skardon from its [SamCoupé.co.uk](http://www.sskardon.fsnet.co.uk/) web site. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_ide.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM MOUSE |
|
The piece of SAM hardware that everybody wanted. The SAM Mouse was eagerly awaited, and the original SAMco units were finally released to the public in 1991. Packaged with the mouse was Flash, the original SAM art package, later to be replaced by the far superior SAMPaint.
West Coast Computers later re-launched the SAM mouse, as pictured. The new package included the mouse driver software, and Revelations excellent GUI - DRiVER.
Rivaled only by the Blue Alpha Joy mouse, the SAM Mouse was the true winner.
Text and picture kindly provided by Stewart Skardon from its [SamCoupé.co.uk](http://www.sskardon.fsnet.co.uk/) web site. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_mouse.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| QUAZAR SURROUND |
|
This serious piece of hardware gave the SAM the ability to support 16 bit sound. Connecting via the Euroconnector, this piece of hardware was a little difficult to use with a SAMbus.
The Quazar Surround has two output jacks for connecting two sets of speakers, and the results are pretty damn amazing. Also built in is an expansion connector for the additional sampler module. A damn site better than Blue Alpha's attempt, it was still necessary to have the Quazar Surround card plugged in to be able to hear the samples. Drat.
Text and picture kindly provided by Stewart Skardon from its [SamCoupé.co.uk](http://www.sskardon.fsnet.co.uk/) web site. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_quazzarsourround.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM SOUND SAMPLER |
|
Possibly the worst piece of SAM Hardware ever. Playback was only possible with the sampler plugged in, and samples were of very poor quality. This particular sampler also caused a large amount of distortion to the television display.
The software that was supplied with the sampler was very crude, and the 'manual' was badly photocopied and held together by a single staple in the corner.
Text and picture kindly provided by Stewart Skardon from its [SamCoupé.co.uk](http://www.sskardon.fsnet.co.uk/) web site. |
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_soundsampler.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM PARALLEL INTERFACE |
|
|
/media/museum/hardware/mgt_samcoupe_parallelinterf_1.jpg |
|
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| BOOT SCREEN |
|
|
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_boot_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| BATZ 'N BALLZ |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_batznballz_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| DEFENDER |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_defender_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_defendersoftheearth_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| FLASH |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_flash_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| ICE CHICKEN |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_icechicken_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| LEMMINGS |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_lemmings_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| MANIC MINER |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_manicminer_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| MNEMO DEMO 2 |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_mnemo2demo_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| PAC MAN |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_pacman_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| PRINCE OF PERSIA |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_princeofpersia_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM JUGGLER |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_samjuggler_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SAM PAINT |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_sampaint_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| SPHERA |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_sphera_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| TETRIS |
|
Thanks to [SimCoupé website](http://www.simcoupe.org/) for this screenshot |
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_tetris_ss.jpg |
|
| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| GAME BOXES |
|
|
/media/museum/software/mgt_samcoupe_software_1.jpg |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| title |
url |
platform |
text |
| SimCoupé |
http://www.simcoupe.org/ |
Multiplatform |
This nice emulators is available for Windows, DOS, Linux, BeOS and MacOS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| title |
url |
text |
| SamCoupé.com |
HTTP://WWW.SAMCOUPE.COM |
The new home for up to the minute information and releases for the Sam Coupé. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Quazar (Scotland) |
Wednesday 3rd June 2020 |
Some corrections for you to update the Technical Information box:
END OF PRODUCTION 1992\
-$ 1999. The SAM was commercially available up until the start of 1999. It did not stop when SAMCo went under in mid-1992.
SPEED 6MHz with screen off, 4.5 MHz with screen on\
can be slowed down to emulate ZX Spectrum\
-$ The Z80 CPU always ran at 6MHz, but /WAIT delays were added when the ASIC accessed the memory to draw the display, giving an ''effective'' speed of ~4.8MHz. Extra delays were added when using the ZX Spectrum graphics mode to make it closer to the speed of the spectrum, so in MODE 1 graphics the effective speed is ~3.8MHz.
CO-PROCESSOR Motorola MC 1377P Video Chip,\
-$ The 1377P is not a video co-processor, all it does is convert RGB signals to Composite Video.
SOUND sample rate 15.6 kHz\
-$ The SAA1099P doesn''t have a sample rate. The sample rate depends entirely on the timing on the software controlling it when it''s being used as low resolution DACs.
BUILT IN MEDIA one or two 3.5'''' ultraslim Citizen Double Density Drives (800 kb)\
-$ Citizen disk drives were used from 1990-1992 until they were discontinued. NEC also produced slimline disk drives which were used for about a year afterwards until they also became discontinued. After that, standard PC style disk drives were used until the end of SAM''s production in 1999. |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Quazar (Scotland) |
Wednesday 30th January 2019 |
Still a lot of development going for the SAM Coupe, and I am also please to announce my next hardware project - ''Pandemonium''.
It started with three tweets on my twitter account on 1st January 2019...
(1of3) 2019. It''s now 26 years since I bought my first SAM Coupe and 24 years since I started Quazar and all my frantic developing for the system. It''s a shame the SAM didn''t thrive, but I often imagine what I could do if I ever got my hands on a handful of SAM''s ASIC chips.
(2of3) The ASIC is the unique custom chip at the heart of the SAM Coupe. What could I do if I had some? A new SAM drastically enhanced with my extra peripherals and a faster Z80, plus an eZ80 co-processor? That would surely be some advanced micro! It would be utter pandemonium!
(3of3) I just need those SAM Coupe ASIC chips... Oh wait... I have over 200 ?? Okay... Hmm... Pandemonium... Thats a funky codename for a new SAM! So, I happily announce ''Pandemonium''! I''ve a long way to go but it''s underway! Stay tuned...
While initially sounding a bit cryptic, I did just announce my next hardware project that will follow on from Symbiote!
Codenamed ''Pandemonium'' for the time being, this will be a new SAM!
Yes, you did read that right, a new SAM!
What makes this possible? Well, as covered in my new year tweets, I''ve got my hands on several hundred of the ASIC chips - that''s the customised VLSI logic array designed by Bruce Gordon, that provides all the main system logic of the SAM Coupe - graphics generation, memory paging, interrupts, MIDI, keyboard reading etc, etc.
Why the name ''Pandemonium''? It''s expanding on ''Mayhem'' the name I used for my prototype SAM accelerator. While interest was very low over a decade ago it never fully progressed into a released unit, however on the basis that I''ll be able to make a limited quantity of spanking new SAMs it makes sense to add in whatever I can incorporate, so that does include making it faster if possible. I''ve already updated my accelerator design, so couple that with most of my other hardware peripherals that I''ve designed and released over the years, such as the Trinity Ethernet Interface and the forthcoming Symbiote (an eZ80 based co-processor and audio interface I''m also working on) it''ll be a rather fantastic computer! |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Roger Jowett (ulster) |
Sunday 3rd February 2013 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v$zsjTpFR0oYQ
please help\
trying to convert 8bit video for sam coupe\
this is still not mode 3 interlaced with hmpr bit 5$6 CLUT alterations per scan line HELP we only need a DMA...\
masterdos/basic atom lite support HELP |
|
|
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Roger Jowett (ulster) |
Saturday 26th May 2012 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v$Qc4Xoz75yHI
video removed by youtube thanks help yourselves to the promotion money after you removed the video wont you |
|
|
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Lez (England) |
Monday 13rd December 2010 |
Has anyone put the Sam Coupe onto a single CHIP like a ALTER Stratix or Cyclone FPGA? It would be a great project and has been done for other old machines ! |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Joao Salema (Portugal) |
Friday 6th April 2007 |
I have a original Sam Coupe in the attic for sell... It was my first computer... if anyone interested, please e-mail me (i don't want to throw it away... it means a lot to me) |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| wayne samuel (Earth) |
Tuesday 30th May 2006 |
hi, i wrote software for this computer in its last days of manufacture. There was an IO peripheral device which i think was trying to change the cutomer base from a home computer to an industrial control and logging center. I was only about 13 at the time and was over the moon about being given the chance to write published software. |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Colin Piggot (Lincolnshire, UK) |
Saturday 6th May 2006 |
Theres still plenty in development and being released for the Sam Coupé, including a 20MHz accelerator! Check out the URL i have included. |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Steve Parry-Thomas (Staffordshire, UK) |
Wednesday 29th June 2005 |
loads of manuals as pdfs, plus details about Sams CP/M 2.2 Syetem. Hardware manuals as pdfs. |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Ian Chapman (UK) |
Wednesday 23rd February 2005 |
I believe I owned the second ever SAM sold in the UK. Shortly after my Spectrum died I went looking for a replacement, but apparently there was a shortage of spectrums due to the computer system at the manufacturing plant being hacked and PCB layouts altered, resulting in a recall. I came across this beast and bought it as a replacement. Here's a little tip, you can effectively turboload any programs on tape by playing the tape in hi-speed dubbing mode if your player supports it. It loads nearly twice as fast. |
|
| author |
date |
text |
| Peter (Australia) |
Thursday 15th April 2004 |
Hi, I am searching for 8bit computers that can produce photo like graphics. So far the Atari800XL is winning with its 256 color mode ( 16 shades of grey mixed with 16 colors giving 256 individual colors on screen at once.) What about the sam coupe. If anybody has any info on the graphics side I would love to hear from you. Please email any info, pictures of the power of the 128 colors of the sam coup.
Thanks\
Peter |
|
|
545 |
|
yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
c913d792c4