Is the ZX81 / Timex Sinclair 1000 actually bad? Let's fix these to find out.

Video Description

People make fun of the ZX81/Time Sinclair 1000. It was a super cheap computer which had some questionable corners cut. Let's see if these three machines work, fix them if they don't and then see if these computers are worthy of praise or live up to their bad expectations. 0:00 What is the ZX81? 10:05 Testing and repair 44:36 Composite mod 53:46 Let's play some games 1:04:33 Final issue and conclusion -- Links ZX81 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX81 Schematics: https://www.retroisle.com/sinclair/zx81/Technical/Hardware/ZX81-Schematics.php https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Edoardo-Dotto-2/publication/352756710/figure/fig10/AS:1038793201164290@1624679007435/Electrical-diagram-of-the-Sinclair-ZX81-detail.ppm Composite Mod: https://blog.codesurfer.dev/zx81-timex-sinclair-1000-composite-video-mod/ https://github.com/redhawk668/ZX81-Composite Oregonian Issue: (With pricing) https://archive.org/details/computer-83-special-section-the-oregonian-june-16-1983/page/n1/mode/2up Keyboard membrane: https://zxrenew.co.uk/Sinclair-ZX81-Membrane-p102352920 ULA Replacement: https://www.tindie.com/products/charlieingley/vla81-zx81-ula-replacement/ Adrian's Digital Basement Merch store: https://my-store-c82bd2-2.creator-spring.com/ Adrian's Digital Basement ][ (Second Channel) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbtwi4wK1YXd9AyV_4UcE6g Support the channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/adriansdigitalbasement My GitHub repository: https://github.com/misterblack1?tab=repositories -- Tools Deoxit D5: https://amzn.to/2VvOKy1 http://store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1602/.f O-Ring Pick Set: (I use these to lift chips off boards) https://amzn.to/3a9x54J Elenco Electronics LP-560 Logic Probe: https://amzn.to/2VrT5lW Hakko FR301 Desoldering Iron: https://amzn.to/2ye6xC0 Rigol DS1054Z Four Channel Oscilloscope: https://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/1000z/ Head Worn Magnifying Goggles / Dual Lens Flip-In Head Magnifier: https://amzn.to/3adRbuy TL866II Plus Chip Tester and EPROM Programmer: (The MiniPro) https://amzn.to/2wG4tlP https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33000308958.html TS100 Soldering Iron: https://amzn.to/2K36dJ5 https://www.ebay.com/itm/TS100-65W-MINI-Digital-OLED-Programmable-Soldering-Iron-Anti-static-Structure/113382669853 EEVBlog 121GW Multimeter: https://www.eevblog.com/product/121gw/ DSLogic Basic Logic Analyzer: https://amzn.to/2RDSDQw https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Logic-DSLogic-Basic-Analyzer-16Ch-100MHz-4Ch-400MHz-Xilinx-Spartan-6-FPGA/202543965672 Magnetic Screw Holder: https://amzn.to/3b8LOhG https://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-magnetic-parts-tray-90566.html Universal ZIP sockets: (clones, used on my ZIF-64 test machine) https://www.ebay.com/itm/14-16-18-20-24-28-32-40-pin-IC-Test-Universal-ZIF-Socket-Fs/303206721971 RetroTink 2X Upconverter: (to hook up something like a C64 to HDMI) http://www.retrotink.com/ Plato (Clone) Side Cutters: (Order Five) https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-5-10PCS-Micro-Scissor-125mm-PLATO-170-Electronics-Cutter-Side-Cutting-Pliers/163458746184 Heat Sinks: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32537183709.html Little squeezy bottles: (available elsewhere too) https://amzn.to/3b8LOOI --- Instructional videos My video on chip removal without damage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQVjwPsVFd8 --- Music Intro music and other tracks by: Nathan Divino @itsnathandivino