MZ-2500

The MZ-2500 is a 8-bit personal computer released on 1 October 1985 belonging to Sharp 's MZ series (mainly sold in Japan). The nickname is " Super MZ " (Super MZ). It is a successor to the MZ-2000 / 2200 and a direct successor to the MZ-80B. From the previous generation, MZ-2000, it was a model that was given significant functions along with faster speed processors. It is also the final model of the entire 8-bit MZ series with its own architecture, and it is one of the models sometimes called the best 8-bit machines, along with the 6809 FM77AV and the MB-S1. In the Japanese computer magazines, it was also called the phoenix (Phoenix). Its successor is the Sharp MZ-2861, which has a compatible mode and a newly developed 16-bit mode. The development code is LEY and can be found in the circuit diagram etc.
Overview.
Clean Design
As with the standard MZ model, the main unit does not have the system program on onboard ROM. However, while the old model included only the IPL, a program for controlling advanced hardware is included as an IOCS, and a number of repairs have been made. One of the functions is one that can call a specific location, so an incompatible element is specified for an application that addresses the module in the ROM and calls it directly without calling the function as a reference.
2 types of BASIC attached
The instruction set BASIC-S25, which the typical MZ user was familiar with, and the BASIC-M25, which has a Microsoft- type instruction set that was already at the forefront of the BASIC environment at that time, were prepared. It is not a conventional model, and Hu-BASIC adopted in the company's departmental series, but has become another implementation of BASIC.
CPU clock improvement
The MZ-2500 is equipped with the Z80A and operates at 4 MHz, but the MZ-2500 is equipped with the Z80B, and except for some, it has 6 MHz operation with one wait during M1 cycle.
Memory management enhancements
While the old model only allowed you to assign a specific address to another space by bank switching in order to open a window with text and graphics VRAM, the MZ-2500 is equipped with a memory controller like the MB-S1 etc. It was designed to be able to allocate an arbitrary space in units of 8 KB for a memory space divided into eight.
This has made it possible to manage 256 KB of main memory and 128 KB of graphics VRAM, and by enabling free allocation, the software can be mapped by mapping video memory in the same arrangement as other models. The porting of the design address space is 512 KB. Various ROMs and RAMs are arranged in this space.
Equipped with Argo Key
Due to the above-mentioned increase in the degree of freedom of memory mapping and capacity, a function called an algo function has been added to BASIC.
A key with the mark of the Argo, which is a symbol of the series, is prepared and assigned a function to call the built-in application.
In addition, the Argo ship which is the original mark is correct "Argo", but the spelling in the utility is the notation of "Algo" which came from " Algorithm ". Close to the resident program, apart from the loaded program, it was possible to start a calculator or the like by key operation as a standard.
Significant enhancement of CRTC
In the standard model, the display peripheral which was a specification that the CPU directly writes to VRAM mapped to the memory space for each plane without having one ALU has been greatly strengthened in the same machine.
The number of colors corresponds to an output of 256 colors in the 320x200 mode and 16 colors in the maximum 640x400 mode. Although not specified as a specification, it is also possible to output at a resolution of 320x400 by installing an additional video memory from the design specification of a custom chip.
In addition, simultaneous writing is supported for multiple planes, which enables high-speed drawing even for colors across planes.
The palette board has evidence added later in design, and is designed to output specified values in 4096 colors as a palette by interrupting the circuit using a high-speed memory when outputting 16 colors. Also, from the implementation, the existence can not be determined from the software side.
In addition to them, having a PCG has made it possible to reduce the definition of external characters as well as the background composition processing in games.
In addition to the above display functions, the text screen is vertically smooth scroll. The graphics screen supports vertical and horizontal smooth scrolling.
However, since the 256 color mode is not a packed pixel but an array of stacked planes, the display is not suitable for moving anything.
Even in this era, the speed of access to the graphic VRAM itself is not fast because there is no mechanism such as cycle steel.
In addition, the execution of the program on the graphic VRAM is not guaranteed, and at the time of read modify write, 2 Wait is included.
Loading of kanji text VRAM
Like Sharp's PC-9800 series and X1turbo, it is equipped with Kanji text VRAM. It is possible to display the font up to the second JIS standard only by writing the display code. Processing is much lighter than transferring a font image as a graphic from a kanji ROM, and even though it is an 8-bit machine, it has achieved a more comfortable handling of Japanese than models of the same price range.
Data recorder installation
Similar to conventional models, a software-controllable data recorder is attached.
The head itself was in stereo, and one channel was available as a data recorder and the other as an audio track.
During the late 1980s to early 1990s, the Japanese home computer market shifted to floppy-based software supply, and the tape drive was used only to the extent that some software required a device to play back recorded audio. It was also possible to use it as an answering machine as well as for voice recording.
The tape recorder was installed for compatibility with the old model, and was removed in the MZ-2520, which is an inexpensive version in which does not have the MZ-80B / 2000 mode.
Communication-aware design
The MZ-2500 included a serial port and dedicated modem phone socket for "personal computer communication" i.e. to connect to data services online such as BBSes. Terminal software was also included as standard. The combination of the dedicated devices made it possible to use the built-in data recorder also as an answering machine.
Hardware.
Four types of models had been released.
The following two models were released as initial models.
After that, a minor change was made under the name of Super MZ V2 as a model change.
Furthermore, the following models have been released as low-cost versions. The design of the successor MZ-2861 followed that of this model.
Specification
Although BEEP also exists, the combination is difficult because it needs to be directly controlled by Z80. In addition, voice can be uttered by optional voice board.
80 lines x 25 lines / 20 lines / 12 lines color 8 colors
40 lines x 25 lines / 20 lines / 12 lines Maximum color (64 colors)
640 × 400 (4 colors) 1 screen
640 × 200 (16 colors) 1 screen
320 × 200 (16 colors) 2 screens
320 × 200 (256 colors) 1 screen
640 × 400 (16 colors) 1 screen
640 × 200 (16 colors) 2 screens
320 × 200 (16 colors) 4 screens
In addition to 320 x 200 (256 colors) 2 screens, it is out of specification
320 × 400 (256 colors) 1 screen
Software.
During its development and before its release Sharp made a software creation request to videogames developers. However unlike typical video game system releases there were no major software releases available at launch for the MZ-2500 at the time. Although the MZ-2500's high portability by memory mapping design encouraged porting from other models, there were few products that made use of its unique functions and performance. The MZ series had the habit of building for a heavy user base for many years, many of which were homebrew software programs because no commercial software was readily available for the platform. Although there were many commercial software programs available on other system platforms, and despite the MZ-2500 had gained a large share in the market, it did not change the situation for the MZ-2500 series, and commercial software releases for the system eventually fell. In addition, Nintendo released their own software for the platform, and Namco (later Bandai Namco Games) ported several software programs from Radio News (microcomputer software).
Attached Software
BASIC-M25 (MZ-6Z002) is an instruction-type interpreter according to Microsoft -like BASIC, and BASIC-S25 (MZ-6Z003) is BASIC which cherishes the flow of Sharp genuine BASIC derived from PET.
These BASICs were included in the same system floppy and could be selected by starting while pressing the HELP key .
Converters were also prepared for programs created only in BASIC, and even with the new BASIC, it was possible to convert programs of the previous model incompletely.
If the internal codes of BASIC S 25 and M 25 are equivalent to each other, the same instruction is assigned to the intermediate code.
Although not as special as X-BASIC, it is possible to use labels including Kanji, as well as line numbers, in addition to input in abbreviations derived from Hu-BASIC.
Indents are compressed and managed in intermediate code, and nesting, conditional branching, etc. can be described over multiple lines, etc. For BASIC, a highly readable, flexible, and more conscious of structurability It was possible to write.
The Algo function can be set at boot time, and since it was not genuinely registered tools etc., there weren't many published software, but Oh! MZ showed some examples.
Depending on the screen mode, smooth scrolling is used in processes involving scrolling, such as directory display and program list display, so that the contents can be easily tracked without stopping the screen.
Although there are various factors such as the degree of optimization of the comparison object, in the benchmark in BASIC, it can be said that the interpreter's own speed was high as at that time, such as thinning to PC-9800 series using 8086 of 8 MHz.
Simple communication software.
The serial port terminal was attached as standard considering the use of PC communication.
System software
A portable version of Personal CP / M, which is rare in Japan.
DOS to run Multiplan. It is not sold alone but can read and write MS-DOS format files, but it is a subset of the MSX OS of the same name.
The common system of Z80 published in Oh! MZ magazine. On many Z80 models, the same binary ran the same application for the same system.
The MZ-2500 supports kanji conversion, kanji output, high-resolution display font, etc. in addition to the standard specifications, and an algo function is also available.
Since 2DD disks can not support the entire area according to specifications, they are effectively used by allocating 512 KB to the file system and writing the main part of the system to the remaining part.
Other than the MZ-2520, the MZ-80B / 2000/2200 version can also be used.
An OS designed and implemented at the end of the year. There are not so many users as the application is only development tools.
Designed specifically for the same model, it is possible to call the IOCS, and it is basically possible to start up a standalone binary.
Management is performed in memory block units, and if EMM is implemented, it can be swapped to it, and by using it together, it can manage an area of up to 1 MiB in appearance.
The command shell has been adopted for the UNIX-like flow.
Game software
Development, porting by Radio News Agency.
By corresponding to the palette board and smooth scroll, the metallic expression by the color scheme using the gradation unique to the game and the smooth scroll of the background are realized.
As described above, since the gradation by the palette board supports a large amount, in the 8-color and 16-color modes, there is no big difference between the other models and the still screen, and it can not be said that it is a beautiful screen.
Although there is no sprite function, the processing of background composition is reduced, so the airborne objects also show relatively smooth movement, and Ande Genesis also moves independently from the background.
Although there are some transcription errors in BGM, the data compression is also on memory, and the data of the main game and SuperXEVIOUS which is the high difficulty version of the game are also prepared.
Until the release of the X68000 version, it was considered to be the most faithful version by PC porting standards.
Development and port by Radio News Agency.
The start, the title part is described by BASIC, the game itself is described by an assembler, the character's algorithm, the coffee break, etc. are changed to be all you like.
The charge for the port is the same as MZ-2000 / 2200 version.
Role playing game by HOT-B.
Although the game did not come up as a game, the MZ-2500 version uses the audio track of the data recorder and the head extension function to play back narration and audio at the title and event.
The program is used with BASIC and is the only commercially available software that uses a data recorder.
Since the ending staff roll relies on BASIC, it scrolls smoothly while stopping line by line due to the display amount and speed. In addition, the BGM output is produced at a small volume relative to the average volume of software using other FM sound sources, in balance with the reproduction volume of the data recorder.
A port of a game developed for MSX2 with T & E software.
Since there is no sprite function, the movement unit of the character is 3 dot units and is drawn in the 320 × 200 dot 16 color mode. Because there is no palette board for the port to which the software is ported and the original model is capable of multi-color display, it will be a slightly obscured screen including the title screen.
In the MZ-2520, a non-compliant seal was affixed to the product due to a change in the hardware implementation of the FDD.
A ported version of the series for MZ-1500, which has been released by Radio News Agency.
Few software that works in 256 color mode.
Published in Oh! MZ magazine. A port of the MZ-700 game to "Argo function".
Since the attributes can not be specified separately by characters and background, the same screen is configured by the PCG definition. There is a difference in color development.
Coterie.
There were also free porting of commercial software by volunteers and activities such as disk magazines.
A coterie based disc magazine. ☆ The notation of DUST BOX was also used.
Starting from BASIC, you can run documents and programs from your own shell, the documents are decorated by coloring, blinking, etc., and an editor for editing is also provided.
In addition to programs and data submitted by readers, many works by the proponent himself were also posted.
In response to the EMM board from the middle issue, when connection was detected at startup, the contents of the floppy were transferred in advance and the diskless operation was performed.
By the extension of MML, the BGM performance program which assumed the interruption of the sound effect, the implementation of the pseudo sprite, etc. were also performed.
Due to the busyness of the author, the issue was irregular, and the distribution was made by sending raw disks or sending fixed-price small exchange.
In the second half, 3D racing games and two-player fighting games with large characters were also announced using text VRAM and tiling patterns.
The leader is still active as a game programmer at AM2 lab of SEGA.
Peripheral Equipment.
Mainly, genuine products are described below. The joystick port is Atari's specifications, and the mouse has an interface compatible with X1 and X68000, so hardware with these specifications can also be used. The serial port is also RS-232C compliant, so a general serial connection modem can be used.
Genuine 5.25 inches FDD. Expansion is possible by connecting to the back interface.
It is also possible to prioritize and recognize the expansion side for compatibility with the old model.
The dimensions were matched to the width of the main body, so it could be mounted on the main body.
A dedicated display TV corresponding to the TV control added in MZ-2531.
The vertical width is made to line up when the body is placed vertically with the stand.
A dedicated display TV corresponding to the TV control added in MZ-2531.
Analog connection monitor dedicated to the MZ-2500 series with the television reception function omitted
A board that made it possible to use an answering machine instead by using a modem phone etc.
A board equipped with Y8950 ( MSX-AUDIO ) that enables ADPCM recording and playback.
Although it is hardware for MZ-2861, since it is an interface board on the 8 bit side, it can also be used with MZ-2500.
It incorporates a dictionary derived from Shoin, and enables continuous phrase conversion in the main unit.
A 640 KB memory board mapped to I / O space.
Two-slot expansion slot. In fact, it was a metal frame, a slot installed in it, and a flat cable, and compatible products were also sold from Ibit Electronics.
This is a voice synthesis board released as an option for the MZ-1500, but it is also available on this unit.
34 types of fixed messages Fixed messages, pronunciation for each note, and a few melodies are recorded as ROM and are generated by playing them.
The fixed messages are pronounced in monotones, so although the connection between sounds is unnatural, it can be heard more clearly than formant synthesis speech synthesis. Refer to the section of MZ-1500 for details.
Although English pronunciation is built into the chip, only Japanese voice connected outside the chip is supported by BASIC.
Internally added analog pallet board.
Dedicated modem phone. A device that integrates a 300 b.ps modem and a telephone. By using the MZ-1E26 in combination, the main unit could also be used as an answering machine.
Atari company digital / analog joystick.
The former is that the button by the radio newspaper company (microcomputer software) is orange.
With the design intact, the button was black and Sharp sold it as a genuine X68000 product, and the latter was called Cyberstick.
There is no correspondence in the commercial software, but the driver is posted on the waste bin and can be input even in the analog mode.
Space-saving compatible products of the above Cyber Stick.
It has a connection mode of the mega drive etc. It was also called a horseshoe crab because of its shape.
It has a 10 MHz version of HD64180, 512 KB of RAM, and 2 KB of shared RAM, and the main unit writes data to the shared memory and uses it.
The hardware itself does not depend on the MZ-2500, and there is no ROM such as firmware, so if you have a control program, you can use it with an MZ with a slot of the same specification.
Because it has a faster CPU and a wider memory space than the main unit side, it is possible to calculate faster than the main unit if it is a process without I / O.
References.
MZ-2500 Technical Manual (Engineering)
Materials of IOCS, materials such as all circuit diagrams. MZ-2200 was a standard attachment, but was published in the form of a book.
BASIC-M25 source list Super MZ (engineering company)
BASIC-M25 source code.
Super MZ utilization research (radio newspaper)
An I / O map was published along with the hardware description.