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I use a Sinclair ZX Spectrum Issue 2 with a DivMMC EnJOY! Pro One and the boot process shows no error and I'm even able to enter the file browser but if I choose any game/demo/program I get always garbage:

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bGBzDCBbKk

Here my CPU (NEC D780C-1) with modification: https://i.imgur.com/eoDEX7N.jpg

Any idea what's wrong here?

Thx

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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Does your divmmc work in another machine?

Anyway, there is a single common problem in 48k spectrums: on the edge connector, +12v and /M1 signals are neighbouring. When some device is inserted too much unaligned, chances are that +12v would shortcircuit to /M1.

Since 48k "chipset" does not use /M1, with enough luck this could pass unnoticed to the user -- the machine still works, but /M1 output is burned out. And DivMMC needs /M1 anyway.

The only way to fix that is to replace Z80.

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  • Ok,thank you! Which Z80 do you suggest and is the existent modification (see picture) also needed with the replacement?
    – leon22
    Apr 8, 2019 at 5:55
  • First, you obviously have to be sure the problem indeed in burned out /M1 signal. If it is the case, just swap it to any Z80 NMOS cpu around, the only restriction is maximum frequency, that have to be greater than 3.5 MHz (4MHz or more).
    – lvd
    Apr 8, 2019 at 9:50
  • Once I'd swapped burned CPU to CMOS type, and everything worked just fine. However, CMOS Z80 do execute the undocumented command "OUT (C),0" in the 'wrong' way, as "OUT (C),#FF". So two or three thoughtlessly written software titles might break with CMOS Z80.
    – lvd
    Apr 8, 2019 at 9:53
  • And the final note: you just keep wires soldered where they were before the CPU swap. They have nothing to do with CPU, rather they fix some bugs in the board layout.
    – lvd
    Apr 8, 2019 at 9:54
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    The best way is to use oscilloscope or logic analyzer.
    – lvd
    Apr 8, 2019 at 11:48
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So the real issue was a problem with memory!

based on the ZX Spectrum Service Manual I did a RAM test:

Execute the command PRINT PEEK 23732+PEEK 23733*256 and the result should be 65535! (for a 48k machine)

I got 49344 -> error in 49345: (shows always the last working address)

  1. key in: POKE 49345,85: PRINT PEEK 49345 (=A)
  2. key in: POKE 49345,170: PRINT PEEK 49345 (=B)

If answer A is anything other than 85 or answer B other than 170 look into this table to find the faulty RAM IC: (mine was IC16)

enter image description here

So I have replaced the faulty IC16 and now I'm able to work with DivMMC!

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