MZ80K

Sharp MZ-80K

Repository for the 2026 Board Folk recreation of the main board of the Sharp MZ-80K Computer.

This repository contains the Bill-of-Materials (iBOM), Gerbers and Kicad files for a remake of the Sharp MZ-80K main board and a collection of simple expansion boards to help use it in the absence of an original case, keyboard, screen and cassette player.

Projects are in Kicad 10.

Modifications

• Added 2.54mm pitch to 2nd row of keyboard header (in addition), to fit PS/2 adapter boards.

Revisions

• Version 1 Initial Public Release

Connectors

The power connector CN6 doesn't appear to be of any identifiable modern standard. The board takes -5V, +5V and +12V. An appropriate Meanwell should be suitable.

ROMs

Parts Substitution

As yet to be verified.

Jumper Configuration

The default configuration for a fully populated 48K board is:

Credit

Mainboard PCB layout by Rob Taylor @peepouk. Schematics recreated by Ian Cudlip @grandoldian. Help, support and assistance from Chrissy (@chris_jh).

Expansions

MZ80AV

A simple audio/video board which provides a collection of outputs. For audio, line out and an amplifier with a volume control for a small 8 ohm speaker. For video, a DIN connector for BBC/Amstrad type RGB cables (e.g. SCART). 9 pin D-Sub (as green with c-sync) and a basic, but maybe good enough composite output. Some previous trimmers used for testing have been left on and marked as DNP.

MZ80C2N

An adapter for Commodore C2N cassette players, the 1530 as an edge connector and 1531 as Mini-DIN.

MZ80MROM

A multi-image ROM adapter to allow the use of a 28 pin EPROM at the monitor ROM position with switches to select the bank.

MZ80MAX

A board that supports Maxduino compiled for the ATMEGA328 with an OLED screen and buttons to be used as a cassette replacement. Now also featuring a 9 pin connector for the MZ-700.

MZ80PS2

A PS/2 keyboard interface based on C64Keyboard by Robert VanHazinga. This version has both sockets for a full Arduino Nano and an ATMEGA328. As there is no 5V power on the keyboard connector on the MZ-80K, this requires a separate 5V power connection, with connection either as XH or barrel-jack.

MZ80PS2Mini

A simplified keyboard interface as above with the Nano removed and layout improved to make it more compact. If you're not planning to change the code, this might be more suitable.

MZ80AD724

An improved composite video and line out only interface board using the AD724 chip. Provides 3 (RGB) potentiometers to select the output display colour.

Thanks

• The rest of the Board Folk Team

Links

74100N
Aries 16-600-10

Legal

As the product of this project is a replica of a proprietary product, the the author makes no claim of copyright to the schematics nor PCB layouts and releases these into the public domain, solely for the purposes of study and historical preservation.

You are free to produce PCBs based on this project's designs at your own risk and without limitation, for your own use or for sale and/or repair at a reasonable price. Attribution is appreciated. The authors are not obliged to provide support of any kind.

Under no circumstances will the authors be held responsible or liable in any way for losses, damages or costs resulting from the use of the information and/or resources of this project.

The resources are provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.