comp.sys.sinclair FAQ
Emulators - Microsoft Windows

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 no not meet your requirements.

  • Spectaculator v4.0

    Emulates: 16K / 48K / 128K / +2 / +2a ZX Spectrums. ZX Interface I (no RS-232 / LAN) 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. Saves .sna and .z80 files.

    Requirements: Windows 9x, Me, NT4.0, 2000 or XP.
    Created byJonathan Needle.
    Last updated: January 23rd, 2003.

    Comments: Extremely accurate ZX Microdrive emulation (up to 8 drives) and comes supplied with the original Business and Games cartridges, and a new Black & White TV mode. The Currah µSpeech (16K / 48K Spectrums only), SpecDrum, Multiface 1 / 128 (includes licensed ROM), 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.

  • 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 byPaul 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 v1.70

    Emulates: 48K ZX Spectrum, Timex TC-2048
    Tape/Disk Formats: Loads .sna, .z80, .tap.tzx, .rom and .scr files. Saves .tap, .sna.z80 and .rom files. 'Save Binary' option (new in v1.70) allows any area of memory to be saved.

    Requirements: Unspecified.
    Created byChris Cowley.
    Last updated: January 28th, 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.

    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. Chris has also written a ZX-81 emulator (vb81) which is available from his web site (see the 'other machines' page for details).

  • 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 bySteve 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 byRamSoft.
    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 byStephane 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 byJari 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 byIgnacio 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, ZX-81, Timex TS-1000 and TC/TS-2068 machines, and the Microdigital TK-90X an TK-95 clones Warajevo 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 .tapfiles.
    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.