The eLeMeNt ZX is a powerful and smart 8bit home computer, a highly integrated ZX Spectrum clone with a lot of popular hardware add-ons. The eLeMeNt ZX combines the real Z80 CPU and a modern FPGA to achieve the best compatibility with ZX Spectrum's software and hardware. Designed to fit to ZX Spectrum +2 and +2A models' cases with their excellent keyboards or to run as a standalone unit, with the Tiny case and an external PC keyboard.

The eLeMeNt ZX is my personal and hobby project with the aim of exploring, discovering and testing possibilities of old and renewed ZX Spectrum home computers with a hardware originally based on 8bit technology - therefore it is not intended for commercial purposes.

    Jan Kucera aka LMN128, author of the eLeMeNt ZX and MB03+ platform

User support available on the Telegram channel:  t.me/eLeMeNt_forum

Main features of the LMN128 FPGA core

• ZX Spectrum 48, 128 and 128+2A, Pentagon 128, 512, 1024 v2.2 and 4096 memory models

• CPU speed 3.5/7/14/20MHz, overclocking up to 30 MHz

• precise display engine, perfectly synced timings, digital output incl. sound

• rich set of expansions: Z80-DMA, K-Mouse, Ultimate + DivMMC + MB02 RAM and many others

• hardware GigaScreen - no flickering, retro scan-line effects, enhanced graphics: Timex modes, ULAplus and TrueColour palettes, HiRes with attributes, HGFX graphics with Chunky, HAM, FILL and SuperHiRes modes

• TurboSound FM, SID, 6-channel SAA1099, SounDrive/Stereo Covox/Specdrum sound

• DivSD + esxDOS, DivMMC and Z-Controller SD card storage

HW specifications

• real Z80 CPU @ 20 MHz

• replaceable FPGA board: Alchitry Au FPGA Xilinx Spartan7 board

• 2048KB SRAM (main memory), 512KB FLASH (sets of BASIC ROMs, esxDOS and others), FRAM 8KB (system and bios config)

• modern digital video output (with audio) to any standard PC monitor or TV

• standard ZX Spectrum expansion bus, 2x internal ZX bus and others

• analog stereo sound output, 2 internal sockets (for both +2/+2A cassette players)

• 3x joystick: Atari/Kempston or Sega controller, two Sinclair joystick slots are optional

• reset button in original place, two additional (NMI and extra) buttons

• 2x microSD card socket

• USB socket for external PC keyboard or mouse

• internal serial to USB convertor for fast and easy connections with a PC through a standard USB-A cable

• board fits to a standalone Tiny case or to ZX Spectrum +2/+2A cases and is compatible with both +2 and +2A keyboards

• ready for the expansion memory AA-SRAM 2048-8 and for the Alchitry Au+ board

• 9V power supply (at least 1A, polarity does not matter)
  
  

Alternative cores in the eLeMeNt ZX - an opportunity for other coders and developers

The eLeMeNt ZX  is based on a modern, easily upgradeable FPGA and has sufficient capacity to run alternate FPGA cores.

Here are some ZX Spectrum related cores that can be implemented: ZX Spectrum NEXT, ZX Evolution, ZX Uno, TSConfig, Sam Coupe

Interested in a purchasing a board or a whole computer with a new case?

Boards are for sale, available in the e-shop RETROCOMP.cz. There are 2 motheboard options:

1. eLeMeNt ZX motherboard with a 20 MHz Z80 CPU with the Alchitry Au Artix-7 FPGA Board (plus ready-to-run 16 GB SD card and 10 cm long internal USB-A to USB-C cable)

2. eLeMeNt ZX motherboard only (plus ready-to-run 16 GB SD card and 10 cm long internal USB-A to USB-C cable), without a Z80 CPU and without the Alchitry Au Artix-7 FPGA Board 

You need a real Z80 CPU and the Alchitry Au Artix-7 FPGA Board to make the eLeMeNt ZX to work if you order a motherboard only.

Since this is a hobby project without a standard warranty, I cannot provide a full guarantee on the FPGA board.  For this reason, I recommend that you buy the Alchitry Au Artix-7 FPGA Board directly from official retailers. Here are some of them:   Digi-Key Electronics  -  Mouser Electronics

In the e-shop , two add-ons can be also purchased: a memory expansion: AA-SRAM 2048-8 and a new case: Tiny case.

When ordering, you can specify whether you want to install a video connector on the board or not (in that case you will use the eLeMeNt ZX with your own separate ZX Spectrum display interface).