Memory Expansion for ZX Spectrum and Compatible Computers

This section is dedicated to hardware solutions for expanding the memory capacity of ZX Spectrum computers and their many compatible clones. It contains schematics, technical documentation, and practical guides for upgrading systems with additional RAM, cache memory, and modern memory modules.

The articles cover a wide range of memory expansion projects, from classic 128 KB and 512 KB upgrades to advanced configurations featuring 1 MB and even 4 MB of RAM. Detailed solutions are provided for Pentagon, Scorpion, Profi, Byte, Baltika, Taganrog-128, Tashkent-128, Synthesis-2, Lvov, and other Spectrum-compatible computers.

Particular attention is given to the use of standard SIMM memory modules, memory banking techniques, address decoding logic, port #FD implementation, and alternative memory management schemes. The collection includes both universal expansion designs and model-specific hardware modifications.

A dedicated group of articles focuses on cache memory systems, including static RAM implementations, battery-backed cache solutions, performance optimization techniques, and practical considerations for high-speed memory operation.

Additional topics include shadow ROM designs, alternative memory controllers, RAM chip upgrades, memory expansion boards with integrated AY sound chips, and comparisons of memory architectures used in different Spectrum-compatible systems.
Memory Expansion for ZX Spectrum and Compatible Computers

Articles (40)

ZX Ferrum #03 27 February 2005
Plans - "The second 'window' - the top box memory address # 8000 - # C000.
Matrix #01 01 December 2003
A drop of solder - RAM expansion board up to 128kb with music coprocessor AY8910 (8912) for computers: Baltic, Leningrad, Pentagon, Byte, etc.
DonNews #17 30 April 2002
Iron - connect to the Spectrum SRAM (cache).
ZX Time #03 13 October 2001
Hardware - Battery for cache.
Black Crow #07 01 September 2001
Crazy hands - SIMM 4MB on ZX
MSF #22 29 August 2001
Iron - Microcircuits and memory modules.
Black Crow #05 01 February 2001
Crazy hands - Food for cache.
City #50 19 November 2000
Shelezyak's Planet - schemes for enabling additional memory (CACHE).
Echo #07 31 October 2000
turbirovanie "Byte" - The controller of alternative memory for PCs, "bytes".
Impulse #09 31 August 2000
FERRUM la FOREVER - a scheme for expanding the Byte to 1 megabyte of memory.
Impulse #08 09 August 2000
Anti-advertising - development of a universal EXTEND RAM controller for BYT.
ZX Light #0C 17 May 2000
Hardware - Expanding the memory of the ZS Scorrion 256 computer.
City #42 25 March 2000
Iron - Cashe memory scheme for the Spectrum.
Think #44 18 March 2000
Iron - A computer's memory.
Polesse #16 24 February 2000
Laboratory - The scheme of memory expansion. CDOS-modem type "Allegro" for the ZX-Spectrum compatible computers.
IzhNews #03 15 January 2000
Iron - about hardware useful for the Spectrum: expansion of memory on Simm.
City #39 14 January 2000
Iron - kho.posho forgotten scheme passhipeniya RAM up to 512 kb.
MSD #09 18 December 1999
Hardware - memory expansion circuit on SIMM from JtN/4D.
Deja Vu #09 13 November 1999
drop of solder - increase the amount of RAM up to 1024K on SPECCY option Taganrog 128K!
Wallpaper #07 06 November 1999
zhelezyaki - memory expansion ZX Spectrum (connection SIMM 4Mb).
Funeral #1.5 31 October 1999
Iron - modification of 1Mb memory for GRM.
ZX Jump #04 29 August 1999
Iron - Iron, however!
City #05 21 March 1999
Iron - is offered to the wiring diagram megabyte SIMMa as RAM to Spektpumu.
ZX City #08 25 January 1999
Iron - description of the connection diagram for a 1Mb 30pin SIMM to the Pentagon.
Netus News #07 03 January 1999
Technodrome - RAM expansion scheme for a 512 V computer with a common memory field.
Optron #05 05 December 1998
Hardware - Lvov version - how to expand memory to 512Kb.
Black Crow #01 01 June 1998
Crazy hands - Open technologies: replacing K565RU5 with K555RU7.
Wallpaper #02 31 May 1998
Iron - Passhipenie memory Tashkent 128.
Wallpaper #03 31 May 1998
Iron - memory expansion for Tashkent-128.
ZX Club #07 28 February 1998
Hard group - Expansion of computer memory, "Synthesis of 2 'to 128 KB.
Deja Vu #07 31 December 1997
drop of solder - Connecting the SMM to the ZX-Spectrum-y.
drop of solder - More RAM: the cache.
Virtual World #14 27 December 1997
Simm on ZX! - On connecting 30-pin Simm to ZX.
ZX Review #7-8-9-10 08 November 1997
reader-reader - ZX Spectrum 128 - new opportunities, new challenges.
Lprint #23 24 October 1997
Metallurgy - How to expand the memory of the BALTIKA computer to 512 KB.
Crystal Dream #01 31 October 1996
lot of memory - Why Spectrum 512 kilobytes of memory?
RU17 - Shadow ROM for the Spectrum on K537RU17.
On-Line #44 07 July 1996
Mosaic - Additional memory for computers Profi & Scorpion.
Spectrofon #17 01 February 1996
Constructor - issues of expanding RAM to 512 kb.
On-Line #20 21 January 1996
Iron - Port # FD.