1981 SINCLAIR ZX81 Review, Fix, Modern Mods & Games

Join me on this retro journey where we explore the Sinclair Research ZX81 and complete an existing project. We look inside, fix what we need to, install a retro case and a modern 16K RAM upgrade. We also feature the classic game 3D Monster Maze, some newer releases and hi resolution games - including an amazing colour game!

00:00 Introduction
00:30 Retro Relix Title
00:42 Motherboard Review and Solder Joint Fixes
02:04 Initial Power On Test
02:40 Original 16K RAM Expansion Test
03:12 Compatible Keyboard Case
03:34 Keyboard Review and Fix Montage
05:24 Power Supply Check and Edge Connector Review
05:56 Modern 16K RAM Pack Kit Assembly
07:08 DK'Tronics Motherboard Installation and Case Power Switch
09:18 Screen Characters and Blocks
10:50 Software Download and Sound File Conversion
12:34 3D Monster Maze Game
13:08 Virus Game
13:36 Miner Man Game
14:04 Psuedo Hi-Res Graphics
14:50 Invaders Game
15:16 Retro Snake Game
15:36 Against The Elements Game
16:08 Chroma 81 Interface
16:26 Against the Elements Game in Colour

LINKS

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION SET

DK'TRONICS KEYBOARD

EIGHTYONE EMULATOR

Hi-RES MODE

INVADERS

JORF: AGAINST THE ELEMENTS (ZX81) SPEEDRUN IN 16:29

PAUL FARROW: FEATURED WITH KIND PERMISSION

RETRO SNAKE

ROCK CRUSH

SHADOW OF NOICE: SOMEWHAT LESS LIMITED CAPABILITIES (ZX81 DEMO)

TECHNICAL DETAILS

ULA IMAGE

WAV GAME AND SOUND CONVERTER DOWNLOADS

ZX81 PSEUDO HIRES ROM FONT PATTERNS ANALYZER

SOUND CREDITS
Monster Roar from DINO WARS curtesy of Tandy Corporation

MUSIC CREDITS
Digital Voyage and Funky (Sting) by Twin Musicom. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.

Retro by Wayne Jones.

Press Fuse and Straight Fuse by French Fuse

Demo Music curtesy of ESI and Mnemotech

Developed on a Surface Pro 9 using PowerDirector 365 and Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8

#SINCLAR #ZX81 #RETROGAMING

[RetroRelixRestorer]

Hi Everyone. This time Retro Relix reviews the 1981 Sinclair ZX81, we complete an existing project and review some of the remarkable features from this little retro gem. Enjoy, Mark.

[Alex_Valentine]

I'd love to get my hands on a set up like that.

[Mrshoujo]

So why not repair the non-working 16K RAM pack?
And can the ZX81 be upgraded to 64k?

[johankoelman]

Great video, but where is the true hires (you needed modified RAM-pack or in 1K play my 1K hires games of which you had one in screen for a moment). And since may 2024 I discovered a new displaymethod which I call "quaracterdisplay". You can swap characters before the current character is drawn. So with 4 lines of the 8, 2 lines of the I and 2 lines of a D you get a key displayed.

[michaelcloutier]

You could have used the interal one Chip 32K upgrade that there are several videos about. I like that one and have done it to mine. It's much more stable and leaves the edge connector free.