Kay 1024

Kay 1024
DeveloperNEMO
TypeHome computer
Release date1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Operating systemTR-DOS
CPUZilog Z80A @ 3.5 or 7 MHz
Memory1024 KB
DisplayRGB monitor/ TV out; 256x192
SoundBeeper, AY-3-8910
Backward
compatibility		ZX Spectrum

The Kay 1024[1][2][3] was a Russian ZX Spectrum clone introduced in 1998.[4][5][6] Created by the NEMO[7][8] company of St. Petersburg, it has 1024 KB of RAM.[5] It was a rival to Scorpion ZS 256, having a slightly lower price. It offered a controller for a PC keyboard and HDD, but not for floppy disks (although available as an extension card). Adding a General Sound card was easy, and the CPU had a 7 Mhz turbo mode.

Earlier versions of the machine were known as Kay 128 and Kay 256.[8][9]

The Kay 2006 NB (North Bridge) is a 2006 version based on the Altera EPM7064 MAX. It adds three new graphics modes: Multicolor, GigaScreen and 512×192 pixels in 2 colors.[8]

The Kay 2010 or Kay 1024/SL4 is a 2010 update of the original KAY 1024 with a few minor additions and improvements.[8][10] The Kay 2010 mainboards are manufactured in Chelyabinsk.[8][10]

Specifications

Brief technical specifications of KAY-1024 computer:

  • Supplied as a complete board, with a IS-DOS floppy disk, drivers and utilities, a ribbon cable and instructions (on a single sheet of paper). A 40 MB hard drive with the preinstalled operating system was an option.
  • 1024 Kb RAM (61 pages), usable as 256 Kb (7FFD 1FFD) plus a 640 Kb RAM disk in TR-DOS (virtual drive "C").
  • The Z80A 3.5 MHz CPU has no wait states and a 7 MHz turbo-mode. The turbo mode can be controlled by software, logical level on bus, or by an external button.
  • KAY-1024/3SL/TURBO motherboard with three slots for additional devices: floppy disk controller, IDE drive, IBM PC keyboard, modem, etc (no soldering needed).
  • Built-in hard drive support in ROM. IS-DOS may be loaded directly from hard drive, accessible from the computer main menu.
  • The IDE hard drive interface for Nemo-bus and IS-DOS can be used within TR-DOS.
  • IBM PC keyboard and mouse controller (Kempston mouse).
  • XTR-Modem, for Nemo-bus.
  • 5.25″ and 3.5″ disk drives.
  • "BETA-TURBO" floppy disk controller for Nemo-Bus.
  • Optional: AY-3-8910, Z84C0010PEC, Z84006PEC, ROM 27C512 with KAY-1024 ROM set, real-time clock IC "Dallas", ribbon cables for HDD and FDD; General Sound external sound card, Nemo-bus compatible; General Sound memory module.
  • Kempston and Sinclair joysticks.
  • Complete Centronics printer interface.

References

  1. ^ "KAY Nemo Documentation". speccy4ever.
  2. ^ KAY 1024 Schematic (PDF). NEMO. 2000.
  3. ^ Szczepaniak, John (April 2005). "Global Gaming". Retro Gamer. Vol. 2, no. 3. pp. 78–80.
  4. ^ ZpiXel; GFXZone (January 2002). "ZX-Spectrum graphics modes". ZpiXel ZX Spectrum Scene Graphics.
  5. ^ a b "KAY-1024". ZX - Spectrum REAL HARDWARE MUST LIVE !.
  6. ^ "KAY 1024. Руководство по эксплуатации". ZXPRESS — Журналы, газеты и книги для ZX Spectrum.
  7. ^ Nemo. "ZX Spectrum demo Kay 1024 Information". AAA presents: ZX Spectrum Demos.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Sinclair – Nachbauten". 8Bit-Museum.de. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  9. ^ "KAY". SpeccyWiki. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  10. ^ a b "KAY-2010". SpeccyWiki. Retrieved 2023-01-30.