Coleco ADAM

SmartBASIC is an Applesoft work-alike.

Open the Coleco ADAM in Retro Bench
Year
1983
CPU
Z80A @ 3.58 MHz
RAM
64 KB main (8 × 4164) + 16 KB VRAM (8 × 4116)
ROM
OS-7 BIOS, EOS and SmartWRITER ROMs in the memory console
Video
TMS9928A: 16 KB VRAM, 32 × 24 text
Sound
SN76489: 3 tones + noise
OS
EOS (SmartBASIC 1.0 / 2.0)

Chips

ChipWhereRole
Z80A CPUMain CPU (8-bit, 40-DIP)
TMS9918A / TMS9928A / TMS9929A video display processorVideo display processor (VDP) with its own 16 KB DRAM bus. Composite out on 9918A; Y, R-Y, B-Y on 9928A/9929A.
SN76489 / SN94624 (TMS9919) sound generatorThree tone voices and one noise voice, written over an 8-bit data bus.
4164 DRAM 64K×1Main RAM (8 chips = 64 KB)
4116 DRAM 16K x 1Dynamic RAM, 16K x 1 (lower 16K on the Spectrum)
MC6801 microcontrollerADAMnet processors (single-chip mode, 1 MHz). Master and tape-drive 6801s on the Memory and I/O board; keyboard and printer each have their own.
EOS / SmartWRITER ROMEOS (Elementary Operating System) and the 32 KB SmartWRITER ROM on the Memory and I/O board.
MIOC (Memory Input Output Controller)Links the Z80 and the master 6801; selects the memory map; DRAM refresh and multiplex control.

Ports and connectors

Power rails

RailExpectMeasure at
+5 VAbout +5 V6801 pin 7
+12 V LAbout +12 V4116 pin 8
+12 V I11.4–12.5 Vadam-printer-power pin 2
-5 VAbout -5 V4116 pin 1

Symptoms