--- product_id: 52592385 title: "The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to Design a Microcomputer (ZX Design Retro Computer)" price: "913 kr" currency: NOK in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.no/products/52592385-the-zx-spectrum-ula-how-to-design-a-microcomputer-zx store_origin: NO region: Norway --- # 140+ detailed circuit diagrams Explains TV-based video signal generation In-depth ULA chip architecture The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to Design a Microcomputer (ZX Design Retro Computer) **Price:** 913 kr **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > πŸ•ΉοΈ Decode the heart of 80s computing β€” be the architect of nostalgia! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to Design a Microcomputer (ZX Design Retro Computer) - **How much does it cost?** 913 kr with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.no](https://www.desertcart.no/products/52592385-the-zx-spectrum-ula-how-to-design-a-microcomputer-zx) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Bridge Past & Future Tech:** Learn how the Ferranti ULA foreshadowed modern PLD and FPGA devicesβ€”perfect for forward-thinking engineers. - β€’ **Unlock Retro Tech Secrets:** Dive deep into the Sinclair ZX Spectrum's custom ULA chip design and its groundbreaking 1980s microcomputer innovation. - β€’ **Visualize with 140+ Diagrams:** Comprehensive illustrations and circuit diagrams bring complex electronics concepts to life. - β€’ **Essential for Retro Enthusiasts:** A must-have for electronics hobbyists, students, and engineers craving authentic microprocessor insights. - β€’ **Master 8-bit Microcomputer Design:** Step-by-step guidance on building your own retro-style microcomputer with clear, precise explanations. ## Overview This book offers an authoritative, richly illustrated exploration of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum's Ferranti ULA chip, revealing the design decisions and manufacturing processes behind one of the most iconic 8-bit microcomputers. Ideal for electronics professionals and retro computing fans, it demystifies complex digital logic and video signal generation, empowering readers to understand or even recreate this legendary technology. ## Description This book takes the reader through the design and implementation of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum's custom chip, revealing for the first time the decisions behind its design and its hidden secrets. By using it as case study, the techniques required to design an 8-bit microcomputer are explained, along with comprehensive details of the Ferranti ULA manufacturing process. If you have ever wanted to design your own computer or wondered what was behind the most successful microcomputer of the 1980s, then this is the book for you. For the first time, the inner working of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum's custom chip and heart of the computer, the Ferranti ULA, is exposed in minute detail. Packed with over 140 illustrations and circuit diagrams, this book takes the reader through the cutting edge technology that was the Ferranti ULA and the design of the ZX Spectrum home computer, illustrating the principles and techniques involved in creating a cost effective computer that required nothing more than a television set and a cassette recorder. The ZX Spectrum ULA is an essential read for the electronics hobbyist, student or electronic engineer wishing to design their own retro-style microcomputer or anyone with an interest in historical micro-electronic and digital design. All topics are explained in simple yet precise terms, building on their careful introduction towards the full functionality presented by the Sinclair computer. Some of the topics covered are: The architecture of the standard microcomputer, Ferranti and their ULA, manufacturing process and structure, The functional layout of the ZX Spectrum ULA, Video display generation, Memory contention and timing, ZX Spectrum design bugs such as "The Snow Effect", Hidden features, ULA version differences. Review: Nerd heaven! - If you grew up in the British 80's, you probably either had or knew somebody that had the ZX spectrum. This book is super nerdy, it covers the design of the ULA chip that was a core chip that was in the specie, the ULA was a custom chip that was responsible for tieing the various other chips inside the spectrum together, it was the bit that made the spectrum, well, the spectrum. The ULA was a forerunner of the PLD and FPGA devices, they were effectively "blank" chips that were configured in the factory. This book strips the chip down to circuit diagrams and explanations of how the ULA worked, what it did, and a whole host of other information. The information inside this book would allow you to create your own working ULA on a modern CPLD or FPGA device. These chips are a common problem when trying to use a spectrum these days, over time many of them have just failed, some had faults from the factory and some were just poor quality, so it might come in handy if you ever wanted to create your own....although there are people around who have already done this and you can buy replacement "modern" ULA's that plug straight into an old speccy to bring it back to life. Not a book for people who do not understand digital logic or electronics (at least at a basic level), but interesting non-the-less. Review: A very interesting read - I was a commercial Spectrum games developer back in the day and am also into maintaining retro computer equipment. This book came to my attention when I was building a Harlequin Spectrum clone, which was inspired in part by this book. The book is essentially about the Sinclair Spectrum ULA, a custom logic chip that generated the video signal in those home computers. The book is technical, and it helps to have some understanding of digital electronics and how composite TV signals are generated. Yet it walks the reader though the process of reverse engineering the Spectrum ULA in an easy to follow manner. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 452,941 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 208 in Computer Architecture & Microprocessors 9,621 in Engineering & Technology | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 151 Reviews | ## Images ![The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to Design a Microcomputer (ZX Design Retro Computer) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71-W9c82tuL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nerd heaven! *by A***E on 31 December 2021* If you grew up in the British 80's, you probably either had or knew somebody that had the ZX spectrum. This book is super nerdy, it covers the design of the ULA chip that was a core chip that was in the specie, the ULA was a custom chip that was responsible for tieing the various other chips inside the spectrum together, it was the bit that made the spectrum, well, the spectrum. The ULA was a forerunner of the PLD and FPGA devices, they were effectively "blank" chips that were configured in the factory. This book strips the chip down to circuit diagrams and explanations of how the ULA worked, what it did, and a whole host of other information. The information inside this book would allow you to create your own working ULA on a modern CPLD or FPGA device. These chips are a common problem when trying to use a spectrum these days, over time many of them have just failed, some had faults from the factory and some were just poor quality, so it might come in handy if you ever wanted to create your own....although there are people around who have already done this and you can buy replacement "modern" ULA's that plug straight into an old speccy to bring it back to life. Not a book for people who do not understand digital logic or electronics (at least at a basic level), but interesting non-the-less. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A very interesting read *by D***0 on 19 October 2023* I was a commercial Spectrum games developer back in the day and am also into maintaining retro computer equipment. This book came to my attention when I was building a Harlequin Spectrum clone, which was inspired in part by this book. The book is essentially about the Sinclair Spectrum ULA, a custom logic chip that generated the video signal in those home computers. The book is technical, and it helps to have some understanding of digital electronics and how composite TV signals are generated. Yet it walks the reader though the process of reverse engineering the Spectrum ULA in an easy to follow manner. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ An interesting read *by R***Y on 17 May 2013* Interesting blend of history/people and technology. I was looking for an overview of the Spectrum hardware (I did not have one back in the day) and where the ULA fitted in to that (Ferranti also did the ULA for the Acorn Electron) and this book hit the nail on the head for me. I particularly wanted to know how the graphics on the machine worked. Some of it way over my head, but the information I was looking for was definitely there and explained well. Short chapters, so easy to skim the technical detail I wasn't interested in and get back into my comfort zone, and didn't feel there was unnecessary padding. Criticisms - minor one - I think the second chapter - very low-level detail on integrated circuits - might have been better placed at the end of the book or as an appendix. For me it was really heavy going for such an early chapter and it didn't get the book off to a good start ... but I persevered and it swiftly picked up in chapter 3 onwards. Not sure I would be able to "design a microcomputer" after reading this book, but definitely a good read from a programmer's perspective. ## Frequently Bought Together - The ZX Spectrum Ula: How to Design a Microcomputer (ZX Design Retro Computer) - Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner (Retro Reproductions) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.no/products/52592385-the-zx-spectrum-ula-how-to-design-a-microcomputer-zx](https://www.desertcart.no/products/52592385-the-zx-spectrum-ula-how-to-design-a-microcomputer-zx) --- *Product available on Desertcart Norway* *Store origin: NO* *Last updated: 2026-09-16*