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There are 11 emulators currently listed for Microsoft Windows users. Many more are available, and several will be added during
later revisions of this FAQ. Please see the World of Spectrum
for a list of available alternatives if the products listed do not meet your requirements.
- Spectaculator v5.0 - Updated
Emulates: 16K / 48K / 128K / +2 / +2a / +3 ZX Spectrums.
ZX Interface I (including RS-232) and
ZX Microdrives.
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .sna and
.z80 snapshots,
.tzx and .tap
tape images, or .voc, .csw and .wav audio cassettes through a built-in 'tape-recorder' simulator.
Includes Microdrive support, using .mdr files, and +3 Disk support via
.dsk files (both standard and extended .dsk).
Saves .sna,
.szx and .z80, .dsk, .tap and .tzx files.
Requirements: Windows 9x, Me, NT4.0, 2000 or XP.
Created by: Jonathan Needle.
Last updated: April 15th, 2003.
Comments: Version 5.0 includes ZX Spectrum +3 emulation, with up to 2 disk drives. Both 3" and 3.5" disks are supported,
and Spectaculator will switch automatically to the correct emulation mode for the disk size inserted. A 'Fast Disk' loader is included, as
is an 'Auto-Boot' option ('On' by default, but can be over-ridden). A small disk utility window has been included that allows disks to be quickly
inserted/ejected, fomatted (3.5" disks can be formatted to a full 720k) and write-protected. Increased disk capacity for 3" disks can be achieved
by formatting them using Amstrad CPC 'Data' format (this option is also provided). The zx-state format, introduced in version 4.0 includes support for
disk images.
The ZX Interface I and Microdrive emulation introduced with previous versions has been enhanced, with the Interface I RS-232 connector now being emulated.
Both Input and Output can be (independently) directed to either the Serial port or to a file. Up to 8
ZX Microdrives can be 'connected' at once, and the original Business and Games cartridges
are included in the distribution. Zipped Microdrive files can now be loaded directly. An added bonus is that drive noise is emulated.
A Black & White TV mode is available, as is proportional scaling of the display window.
Various enhancements to the virtual tape recorder have been made with v5.0; these include improvements to the tape loading noise emulation, a 'boost volume' option
that can be used to load files directly into a real ZX Spectrum, plus other additions.
The Currah µSpeech
(16K / 48K Spectrums only), SpecDrum, Multiface 1 / 128
(includes licensed ROM, write-able in v5.0) and Kempston / AMX Mice are also emulated.
The .pok
'cheat' format is supported. A comprehensive compiled HTML help file is included, as are several popular games. Instructions for games
can be viewed from the 'Help' menu if they are saved as [snapshotname].rtf or [snapshotname].txt and placed in the correct folder.
Supports .zip archives directly, and will load the contents automatically if they are in a supported format.
Includes support for the
zx-state format (.szx), which allows every aspect of the machine to be saved along with the snapshot; this
includes the name of the cassette in the cassette recorder, the optional hardware attached to the emulated machine, which ROM is in use,
etc. (this format is described in the emulator help file), and the .rzx
input recording format. Supplied as a standard Windows Installer package with a full uninstall options, Spectaculator is considered to be
one of the most accurate and complete emulators available. Please view the
Spectaculator web page for additional information.
Please refer to the Z80 Format page for details of the extensions to the .z80 format
supported by Spectaculator.
- SPIN v0.41
Emulates: 48K / 128K / +2 / +2a / +3 and +3e
ZX Spectrums. Can be switched to emulate Pentagon timings.
Tape/Disk Formats: Automatically senses .sna
and .z80 snapshots, and will switch to the
appropriate hardware mode dynamically (this feature can be disabled if required) when loading. Saves to your choice of
.sna or
.z80 formats.
Supports automatic loading of tape images stored as .tzx,
.tap, .csw or .wav files.
Tape images can be replayed at normal speed, or 'fast-loaded' Using this option, tapes are loaded more quickly than with any other
emulator. Original tape files can also be loaded directly from the LINE IN socket of your sound card. Disk files may be loaded using either
.dsk or enhanced dsk format. Currently, emulation of the
+3 / +3e FDC is believed to be 98-99% accurate. It is also possible to load and save binary
images. Using MIC output recording, .wav or .csw files can be saved for transfer to tape.
Also supports the new .rzx file format for playback of suitably encoded
snapshots. Direct support for .zip encoded archives.
Requirements: Windows 9x, Windows Me, 2000 or XP. Uses MMX extensions where available.
Created by: Paul Dunn, Mark Boyd, Damien Guard and
Woody.
Last updated: December 1st, 2002
Comments: Includes the enhanced SE Basic
and +3e ROMs as part of the standard distribution. Also emulates the
ZX Printer,
ZX Interface II, Kempston Mouse,
Multiface 128/3 (without ROMs - see note on main 'Emulators' page), the Currah µSpeech
and several popular Joystick Interfaces. AY sound is emulated very
accurately (with support for the Fuller Audio Box), with full stereo ACB/ABC
user-defineable panning. Includes the option to save screen images directly as a bitmap (including border), or
.scr images. An integrated debugger is included, with support for single-stepping and
setting breakpoints.
SE Basic provided by Andrew Owen.
+3e ROM provided by
Garry Lancaster. A SPIN
IRC Channel is available to discuss this emulator with the development team.
- vbSpec v1.80 - Updated
Emulates: 48K ZX Spectrum, Timex TC2048
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .sna,
.z80,
.tap, .tzx, .rom and
.scr files. Saves .tap,
.sna, .z80 and .rom files.
'Save Binary' option (included since v1.70) allows any area of memory to be saved.
Requirements: Unspecified.
Created by: Miklos Muhi.
Last updated: May 1st, 2003.
Comments: Written using Microsoft Visual Basic, and released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) Supplied with standard
ROM files for supported systems, and includes the enhanced SE Basic ROM
provided by Andrew Owen.
Also emulates the ZX Printer,
Alphacom 32 and Kempston Mouse.
Includes the option to save screen images directly from the emulator as a bitmap or .scr
file. Enhancements included with v1.80 include improved Joystick emulation (up to 8 buttons), a full-screen mode, and support for multiple keyboard
layouts (English, German).
A full distribution package (including the VB6 runtime) is available, as is a 'core' version which comprises just the emulator itself. Souce code is available.
Versions up to v1.70 were developed and maintained by Chris Cowley - version 1.80 and above are developed and supported by [].
Chris still maintains and supports his ZX81 emulator (vb81) which is available from his web site
(see the 'other machines' page for details).
Please refer to the Z80 Format page for details of the extensions to the .z80 format
supported by vbSpec, and the .scr format entry for details of additional features provided.
- Klive v1.10
Emulates: 48K, 128K, +2, +2a and +3 ZX Spectrums.
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .sna,
.z80, .rom,
.dsk, .wav,
.tap and
.tzx files. Saves .sna files.
Requirements: Microsoft Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP. Requires DirectX 7.
Created by: Steve Snake.
Last updated: September 9th, 2002.
Comments: Also emulates the
Currah µSpeech, which is well documented,
Fuller Audio Box,
ZX Interface II, Cursor and Kempston
Joystick Interfaces and Cheetah SpecDrum
(requires SpecDrum software) Offers variable emulation speed, various video modes and options, and the ability to switch sound chip emulation
between AY-3-8912 and YM2149 options. Screen images can loaded & saved as
.scr or .pcx files.
- RealSpec v0.96.16 b13
Emulates: Various.
Tape/Disk Formats: Various.
Requirements: Unspecified.
Created by: RamSoft.
Last updated: September 10th, 2002
Comments: Version of the MS-DOS emulator compiled to run under Microsoft Windows. Please refer to the
MS-DOS entry.
- Z80 v4.0
Emulates: 48K / 128K ZX Spectrums.
Tape/Disk Formats: Various.
Requirements: MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.1 / 9x or NT.
Created by: Gerton Lunter.
Last updated: September 9th, 2002
Comments: See MS-DOS entry for more information. Released as shareware,
but apparently no longer regularly maintained.
- SpeccyAl v0.72b
Emulates: 48K ZX Spectrum.
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .sna,
.z80,.tap and
.scr file. Saves .sna
and .scr files.
Requirements: DirectX (unspecified version).
Created by: Stephane Schmitz.
Last updated: February 29th, 2000
Comments: Also emulates the Kempston, Sinclair and Cursor Joystick Interfaces.
Development of several other features is imcomplete, with several options having been removed since previous versions.
- DelphiSpec v0.30
Emulates: 48K / 128K ZX Spectrums.
Tape/Disk Formats Loads and Saves .sna,
.z80 and .rom files.
Requirements: Unspecified.
Created by: Jari Korhonen.
Last updated: July 28th, 2001
Comments: DelphiSpec is based on a previous version of vbSpec (see below) by Chris Cowley.
Source Code is available.
- Gleck v0.0.5 Beta
Emulates: 16K / 48K / 128K / +2 / +2a ZX Spectrums, Pentagon, Scorpion, TK-90x and TK-95 clones.
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads (with optional preview) .sna,
.tap, .tzx, .blk, .voc,
.dsk, .trd,
.scr, .pok, .sp,
.z80 and compressed archives (.zip) files. Saves
.z80, .sna,
.sp and .scr files.
Requirements: Recent version of DirectX recommended.
Created by: Ignacio Burgueño.
Last updated: March 8th, 2001
Comments: Features an integrated debugger, and Tape/Disk browsers. The colour palette used can be varied.
The author notes that Gleck does emulate the ZX Spectrum +3, but that emulation of the disk drive is not implimented,
so the behaviour in this mode is similar to the +2a. Optimized versions for AMD and Intel Pentium processors are
available. Documentation is provided in English and Spanish languages.
- MultiMachine v1.30b
Emulates: 16K / 48K / + / 128K / +2 / +2a and +3 ZX Spectrums.
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .sp, .sna,
.z80, .zx, .snx, .llt,
.slt, .tap, .blk, .voc and
.dsk files. Various other formats as required by other emulated machines.
Requirements: Microsoft Windows 9x. DirectX 5.0 or above.
Created by: Paul A. Hodgson.
Last updated: June 16th, 1998
Comments: Apparently no longer maintained. Also emulates the Amstrad CPC, Enterprise, Jupiter Ace, ZX-80, ZX81,
Timex TS1000 and TC/TS2068 machines, and the Microdigital TK-90X an TK-95 clones Warajevo
.dck files are not supported (Timex Cartridge), but
.tap files are. Please note that the download links on the MultiMachine
web page are broken.
- ZX-32 v1.03a
Emulates: 48K / + / 128K / +2 / +2a and +3 ZX Spectrums.
Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .zx, .sna,
.z80,
.tap, .cpd, .dsk and .zip files.
Saves .sna, .zxs, .z80, .dsk and
.tap files.
Requirements: Microsoft Windows 9x or NT. DirectX 5.0 or above.
Created by: Vaggelis Kapartzianis.
Last updated: December 13th, 1997
Comments: Also emulates the Kempston, Cursor and Sinclair Joystick Interfaces,
and features variable emulation speed. Although no longer actively developed or maintained, ZX-32 is one of the most frequently used
of all emulators. Various patches and special editions of ZX-32 are available that provide additional functionality - please visit the ZX-32
web page for details of these, the latest beta version
(v2.00.04.04 - updated April 4th, 2000) and various incremental updates for previous versions. Will not operate on systems with more
than 256 colours/16-bit colour depth.
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