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You can build a computer that runs ZX Spectrum software without reproducing the original circuit board. The practical choices are a Pico-based recreation for hands-on prototyping, an FPGA design for a more hardware-oriented clone, or open hardware such as the Spectrum Next for a modern compatible machine. Decide how closely you want to reproduce the original hardware before choosing a design or buying parts.
First decide what “from scratch” means
For this project, “from scratch” can mean three different things: assembling a simple recreation around a microcontroller, building a custom board that uses programmable logic to reproduce Spectrum hardware, or making an open-hardware compatible computer with modern features. These routes differ in fidelity, electronics work, sourcing demands, and the display, keyboard, and storage options they provide.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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ZX Spectrum Handheld | $129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Spectrum Handbook | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The ZX Spectrum Ula: How to Design a Microcomputer (ZX Design Retro Computer) | $37.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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ZX Spectrum Assembly. Let's make a game? | $2.08 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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ZX Spectrum Games Code Club: Twenty fun games to code and learn | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Choose a Pico recreation if your priority is a relatively approachable breadboard or prototype project and you accept that it is not a highly accurate emulation.
- Choose an FPGA design if you want to work with a board-level clone design and its specific components.
- Choose a Next-style machine if you want a modern-compatible platform with features such as HDMI, VGA, and SD storage rather than a literal copy of the original board.
There is no universal parts list for all three: each route has its own hardware and firmware requirements.
Route 1: Build a Pico-based Spectrum recreation
The pico-zxspectrum project targets the Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 and documents breadboard and prototype builds. Its maintainer describes it as “not a highly accurate emulation,” so treat it as a hands-on way to make a Spectrum-style computer, not an exact hardware clone.
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- 25 built-in Spectrum games
- A classic design, reimagined in clamshell form
- MicroSD slot for endless gaming
- 800x480 IPS high resolution screen
- Themed rubber key funtion buttons, Stereo speakers and headphone jack
What this route can connect
The project documentation describes support for VGA and HDMI/DVI output, LCD displays, USB or PS/2 keyboards, joystick input, Spectrum audio, tape input, and TAP/TZX or snapshot loading. The particular connections and supported firmware target depend on the board or configuration you choose.
Plan the prototype around your chosen configuration
- Choose a documented board or breadboard configuration. The project describes multiple community boards and configurations, rather than one canonical bill of materials. Use the documentation for the exact configuration you intend to build.
- Choose its video method. Confirm the wiring and firmware target for the documented VGA, HDMI/DVI, or LCD setup before assembling the display connection.
- Choose keyboard and audio connections. Check which USB or PS/2 keyboard and audio arrangement applies to your configuration; do not assume every board uses the same wiring.
- Transfer the matching firmware. The project explains UF2 firmware transfer. Follow its instructions for the build target you selected rather than installing a file intended for a different configuration.
- Connect storage or tape input as needed. Check the project instructions for the TAP/TZX, snapshot, or tape-input method supported by your setup.
This is the clearest option when you want to prototype without designing an FPGA board. The trade-off is the project’s stated limit on emulation accuracy.
Rank #2
Route 2: Start from an FPGA clone design
An FPGA-based clone is a more board-oriented project. The ZX-Uno specification and parts list gives a concrete example: its design names a Xilinx Spartan XC6SLX9 FPGA, static RAM, SPI flash, a 50MHz oscillator, an AD724-based video circuit, PS/2 keyboard input, RCA composite output, audio, an SD card slot, and an expansion port, alongside passive components.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →This list illustrates why “buy an FPGA and wire it up” is not a sufficient build plan. The board’s programmable logic, memory, clocking, video circuitry, connectors, and other components belong to a particular design. The published parts list does not establish that every listed component is currently easy to source or that a substitute will work without engineering changes.
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- Used Book in Good Condition
Consider whether you want a real Z80 in the design
Sizif-XXS takes a different approach, combining a real Z80 with an Altera FPGA. Its documentation describes Spectrum 48, 128, +3e, and Pentagon modes, 512K RAM, SD storage, and PAL output. That makes it a useful reference if retaining a physical Z80 is part of your goal; it is not the same architecture as an FPGA design that recreates the processor in programmable logic.
Route 3: Use open hardware in the Spectrum Next style
The Spectrum Next is a modern compatible platform built around FPGA gateware. Raspberry Pi Official Magazine’s article by Gareth Halfacree explains that the gateware recreates the Z80 and other machine components, and states, “The Next isn’t an emulator, though.” The same article describes HDMI and VGA output, SD storage, and a 1MB RAM configuration expandable to 2MB, as well as compatibility with original media and many original hardware and software items.
Those capabilities make the Next a practical choice if you want a Spectrum-compatible computer with modern connections. They also distinguish it from a stock 48K board: expanded memory and modern video and storage are features of this platform, not a claim that it reproduces every aspect of the original hardware.
The SpecNext Wiki’s cloning information describes the hardware as open and discusses cloning it or porting its core to other platforms. It names N-Go and Xberry Pi among related hardware and lists core ports. Check the specific project documentation for the hardware or port you are considering; “open hardware” does not make different implementations interchangeable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare the routes against your build goal
| Route | What the sources establish | Best fit | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pico recreation | RP2040-based project with breadboard and prototype documentation; described support includes several display, keyboard, input, audio, and loading options. | A relatively approachable hands-on prototype. | The maintainer says it is “not a highly accurate emulation.” |
| ZX-Uno FPGA design | Published specification and component list identify an FPGA, memory, flash, clock, video circuit, input, storage, and other board components. | A reader prepared to work from a specific FPGA board design and parts list. | The parts page does not establish current availability or drop-in substitutions. |
| Sizif-XXS | Documented combination of a real Z80 and Altera FPGA, with several Spectrum modes, SD storage, and PAL output. | A reader who wants a physical Z80 in a programmable-logic design. | Its architecture and requirements differ from the other FPGA examples. |
| Spectrum Next-style open hardware | FPGA gateware recreates machine components; documented modern features include HDMI, VGA, and SD storage. | A modern compatible computer rather than a literal original-board recreation. | Expanded memory and modern connections mean the platform is not identical to a stock 48K board. |
Choose display, keyboard, storage, and compatibility before ordering
Write down the connections and compatibility you require, then verify that your chosen design documents them. These are not interchangeable details: the Pico project describes several video and keyboard possibilities; ZX-Uno specifies PS/2 input and RCA composite output; the Next account describes HDMI and VGA; and Sizif-XXS documents PAL output.
- Display: Decide which output your monitor or display can accept, then check the exact board’s supported video circuit and firmware or core.
- Keyboard and controls: Verify the design’s documented keyboard interface and whether it supports the joystick input you want.
- Storage and media: Check whether the design uses SD storage, tape input, TAP/TZX files, snapshots, or another documented loading method.
- Compatibility: Be specific about the Spectrum mode, software, or original peripheral you want to use. A project’s description of compatibility does not prove support for every title or device.
- Fidelity: Decide whether you need a close hardware recreation or primarily want to run Spectrum software. The Pico project expressly qualifies its accuracy; the Next is described as FPGA gateware that recreates components but adds modern capabilities.
Use a design-specific sourcing checklist
Once you have selected a route, source parts against that design rather than mixing lists from different projects.
Quick Recap
- Lock the design and revision. Identify the exact board, configuration, and firmware or core you intend to build.
- Verify every part against its documentation. Check the component identity and any stated requirements; a similar-looking part is not automatically a compatible replacement.
- Confirm power, voltage, and connectors. Check the chosen design’s requirements for the board, display, keyboard, storage, and peripherals you plan to attach.
- Check sourcing before committing. Confirm that the specified components are obtainable for your build. The published ZX-Uno list is a design reference, not confirmation of current stock.
- Order only after the full configuration is consistent. Make sure the parts, wiring, display method, and firmware or FPGA core all correspond to the same documented build.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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