ZX80

The Sinclair ZX80 was launched in February 1980 by Sinclair Research Ltd., becoming the first fully assembled computer available in the UK for under £100. Powered by a Z80-compatible CPU and running with just 1KB of RAM, it was designed for affordability and accessibility. It connected to a household TV and used a membrane keyboard for input, running a BASIC interpreter from an 8KB ROM. Its most famous quirk was losing the display whenever a key was pressed or a program was running—yet this limitation helped drive down costs. Though soon eclipsed by the ZX81, the ZX80 was a groundbreaking system that opened the door to home computing for thousands.

Notable Features

• First affordable computer available in the UK under £100
• Sold as both a kit and pre-assembled
• Display would blank during key presses or program execution
• Single-chip ULA handled most video and system timing
• Limited RAM and lack of floating-point support in BASIC

Historical Significance

• First home computer by Sinclair Research
• Laid the groundwork for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum
• Offered the UK public a true entry point to home computing
• Considered one of the most important early microcomputers in Britain
• Strong presence in the DIY computing magazine scene (ads, mods, expansions)

Collectors Notes

• Rarity: Moderate – surviving examples with box and PSU are desirable
• Desirability: Very high among Sinclair, UK, and early microcomputer collectors
• Common Issues:
  • Brittle white plastic case discoloration or warping
  • Unreliable membrane keyboards
  • PSU and video output degradation over time

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	ZX80
Manufacturer	Sinclair Research Ltd
Launched	Wednesday, January 2, 1980
Discontinued	10/3/1981
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Zilog Z80A (or NEC D780C clone) @ 3.25 MHz
Units Sold	50,000
Original Price	£99.95 assembled, £79.95 kit
Power	9V DC external power supply (~700mA draw)
Storage	Cassette tape (250–300 baud)
Sound	None
Keyboard	40-key flat membrane keyboard
Graphics	No true graphics mode – uses block characters
Display	Black and white TV output (character-based, 32x24)
ROM	4 KB (includes 1980 Sinclair BASIC) - can be upgraded to 8k
RAM	1 KB onboard (expandable to 16 KB)