Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit
Dublin Core
Title
Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit
Subject
computer hardware: microcomputer
Description
Historical Context:
Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit was a Canadian-made, low-cost computer designed around the Z80 microprocessor by Multiflex Technology Inc. and sold by Exceltronix Components and Computing of Toronto. Its early version, offered in 1980 or earlier, was advertised as a prototyping computer kit for computer hobbyists. In 1983, modified and packaged together with display, keyboard, and disk drives, it was sold as the Multiflex Super System. According to Exceltronix, Multiflex computers were sold across Canada to companies, educational institutions, and computer hobbyists.
In its basic configuration, the Multiflex Z80 Computer KIt consisted of two boards: the mother board and the CPU board. The motherboard featured four sockets one of which was designated for interfacing with the CPU board. The remaining three sockets were used for expanding the system with a range of expansion cards offered by Multiflex as well as by various manufacturers world-wide. The motherboard also featured a 16-key hexadecimal keypad, 14 monitor function keys, 2 user definable keys, a hexadecimal display, and an EPROM programmer for storing programs and data in EPROM chips. The CPU board was a single-board computer which was inserted into one of the expansion sockets on the motherboard.
The computer was designed to operate under Multiflex monitor (Z.MON, residing in EPROM), and later, under a dialect of CP/M operating system co-developed by National Multiplex/Pegasus and Exceltronix. The monitor software allowed full support for programming the computer in the Z80 assembly language as well as for using all the features available through the motherboard (e.g. programming EPROMs). Under the CP/M operating system, the Multiflex Z80 computer could execute a variety of popular applications software from word processors to data bases and spreadsheets.
Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit -- hardware specifications:
manual published in 1980.
Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit was a Canadian-made, low-cost computer designed around the Z80 microprocessor by Multiflex Technology Inc. and sold by Exceltronix Components and Computing of Toronto. Its early version, offered in 1980 or earlier, was advertised as a prototyping computer kit for computer hobbyists. In 1983, modified and packaged together with display, keyboard, and disk drives, it was sold as the Multiflex Super System. According to Exceltronix, Multiflex computers were sold across Canada to companies, educational institutions, and computer hobbyists.
In its basic configuration, the Multiflex Z80 Computer KIt consisted of two boards: the mother board and the CPU board. The motherboard featured four sockets one of which was designated for interfacing with the CPU board. The remaining three sockets were used for expanding the system with a range of expansion cards offered by Multiflex as well as by various manufacturers world-wide. The motherboard also featured a 16-key hexadecimal keypad, 14 monitor function keys, 2 user definable keys, a hexadecimal display, and an EPROM programmer for storing programs and data in EPROM chips. The CPU board was a single-board computer which was inserted into one of the expansion sockets on the motherboard.
The computer was designed to operate under Multiflex monitor (Z.MON, residing in EPROM), and later, under a dialect of CP/M operating system co-developed by National Multiplex/Pegasus and Exceltronix. The monitor software allowed full support for programming the computer in the Z80 assembly language as well as for using all the features available through the motherboard (e.g. programming EPROMs). Under the CP/M operating system, the Multiflex Z80 computer could execute a variety of popular applications software from word processors to data bases and spreadsheets.
Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit -- hardware specifications:
- bus architecture: IEEE S-100
- CPU: Z80A, 8-bit, (2-6MHz)
- RAM: up to 64KB
- ROM: 4 ROM sockets for BIOS, monitor software, etc
- disk drives: not included but supported whit an optional Multiflex disk drive controller card
- expansion sockets: 4 -- one taken by the CPU board and the remaining three were typically designated for a video card, and disk drive controller
- keypad: 16-key hexadecimal
- function keys: 14 monitor function keys plus 2 user definable keys
- display: hexadecimal display on the motherboard
- external display: not included but supported with an optional display or high-resolution card
- EPROM programmer: resident on the motherboard, could program a range of EPROMs
- ports: RS-232 serial port and 24-line parallel port
- keyboard: not included
- power supply: not included
- Z.MON monitor program (in EPROM)
- CP/M operating system
- a range of applications software written to operate under CP/M including BASIC programming language, WordStar (word processor from MicroPro International,), and SuperCalc (spread sheet from Sorcim)
manual published in 1980.
Creator
Multiflex Technology Inc.
Date
1980
Coverage
Canada, 1980s
Files
Citation
Multiflex Technology Inc., “Multiflex Z80 Computer Kit,” York University Computer Museum Canada, accessed November 7, 2024, https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/items/show/309.