Editing Acorn Electron (section)

== Hardware Specifications ==

=== Main Board Components ===

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%; text-align:center;"
! Component !! Part Number !! Function !! Notes
|-
| '''CPU''' || MOS 6502A || Central processor || 2 MHz clock, 1 MHz effective
|-
| '''ULA''' || Ferranti 12C021 || Video, sound, memory control || 68-pin custom chip
|-
| '''RAM''' || 4× HM4864P-2 || 32 KB total || 64K×1 bit DRAMs, 200ns
|-
| '''ROM''' || 2× 23128 || 32 KB total || OS + BASIC interpreter
|-
| '''Crystal''' || 16 MHz || Master clock || Divided down for all timing
|-
| '''Keyboard Controller''' || None (ULA) || Key matrix scanning || Via ULA ports
|-
| '''PSU Regulator''' || 7805 || +5V regulation || External PSU provides 18V AC
|}

=== ULA (Uncommitted Logic Array) ===

The Ferranti-manufactured ULA performed multiple functions:

{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:85%; text-align:center;"
! Function !! Implementation !! Performance Impact
|-
| Video generation || 6845 CRTC emulation || Steals RAM cycles during display
|-
| DRAM refresh || Automatic during video scan || Hidden refresh, no CPU impact
|-
| Memory mapping || Address decode logic || Enforces 1 MHz/2 MHz regions
|-
| Sound generation || Simple tone + noise || Single channel only
|-
| Cassette interface || 1200/300 baud FSK || Integrated modulator/demodulator
|-
| Keyboard scanning || 14×4 matrix decode || Interrupt-driven scanning
|-
| ROM paging || 4-bit latch || Supports 16 ROM banks
|}