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Dubna 48K
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<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2> <p>According to the manual, this computer was intended for: </p> <ul><li>studying the principles of PC operation</li> <li>various kinds of calculations</li> <li>"intellectual games"</li></ul> <p>By the time this computer was released (1991), there were already much more powerful <a href="/facts/X86/Kypq5fgu">x86</a> CPUs and commercially available advanced operating systems, such as <a href="/facts/Unix/0pNL2seI">Unix</a>, <a href="/facts/DOS/sWwDXNmX">DOS</a> and <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Windows</a>. The Dubna 48K had only a built-in <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a> <a href="/facts/Interpreter_(computing)/JB85fbyb">interpreter</a>, and loaded its programs from a cassette recorder, so it couldn't run any of the modern operating systems. However, the Dubna 48K and many other Z80 clones, though outdated by that time, were introduced in high schools of the Soviet Union. Many of the games for the Z80-based machine were ported from games already available for <a href="/facts/Nintendo/dMrLpaHu">Nintendo</a>'s 8-bit game console, marketed in Russia under the brand <i><a href="/facts/Dendy_(console)/HLGqDzab">Dendy</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>The machine comes in two versions: in a metal case for the initial 1991 model, and in a plastic case for the 1992 model.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="included-items">Included items</h2> <p>The Dubna 48K was shipped with the following units: </p> <ul><li>Main unit ("data processing unit", as stated on its back side), with mainboard and built-in keyboard</li> <li>External power unit<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li>Video adapter for connecting the computer to the TV set<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li> <li>BASIC programming manual</li> <li>Reference book, including complete schematic circuit</li></ul> <p>Additionally, there were some optional items: </p> <ul><li>Joystick</li> <li>32 cm (12") colour monitor</li></ul> <p>The computer could also connect to a <a href="/facts/ZX_Microdrive/a3bGGsAQ">ZX Microdrive</a>, but such device was never included. </p> <h2 id="technical-details">Technical details</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">CPU</a>: 8-bit <a href="/facts/U880/d9qj0nJr">MME 80A</a> at 1.875 <a href="/facts/Megahertz/6Wshj5qm">MHz</a> (half the speed of the original ZX Spectrum)</li> <li><a href="/facts/RAM/DuD4bxh6">RAM</a>: 48 KB (16× КР565РУ5Г chips)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Read-only_memory/P9QMuDLH">ROM</a>: 16 KB (2× К573РФ4А)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li>Resolution: 256 x 192 pixels, or 24 rows of 32 characters each</li> <li>Number of colours: 8 colours in either normal or bright mode, which gives 15 shades (black is the same in both modes)</li> <li>Power unit: 5V, 1.7 A</li> <li>Dimensions of main unit: 47×320×240 mm</li></ul> <h2 id="in-culture">In culture</h2> <p>A device named Dubna 48K is referenced in the American film <a href="/facts/Jason_Bourne_(film)/PNJ1X22t">Jason Bourne</a> (2016).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> In the film, rogue agent <a href="/facts/Nicky_Parsons/zus1Uf2y">Nicky Parsons</a> uses a "palm-sized authentication device" named Dubna 48K to get connected to the <a href="/facts/Mainframe_computer/nrBR6rWa">mainframe computer</a> of the <a href="/facts/Central_Intelligence_Agency/U7urmQYL">Central Intelligence Agency</a> (CIA). Parsons downloads all the files on the Agency's <a href="/facts/Black_operation/PzI6fkXG">black operations</a>. The Agency later finds out that the Dubna 48K unit was reportedly destroyed back in 1993, and its access to the mainframe was never revoked. The Agency did not know that it had actually survived its reported destruction. The film does not explain how a device from the 1990s could be still compatible with a mainframe computer of the 2010s. The film also does not point out that the real Dubna 48K was a Soviet <a href="/facts/Home_computer/CDEPVd1T">home computer</a> which was primarily used to play ports of <a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">video games</a>. The video games available to the real Dubna 48K were released by <a href="/facts/Nintendo/dMrLpaHu">Nintendo</a> and were products of the <a href="/facts/Third_generation_of_video_game_consoles/UAbnBDlz">third generation of video game consoles</a> (8-bit era).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dubna 48K. <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_ZX_Spectrum_clones/gBj9Ce2c">List of ZX Spectrum clones</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Directory: /Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K (ДУБНА-48K)/". Kio's Sinclair ZX Computers Archive. <a href="https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K%20(%D0%94%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9D%D0%90-48K)/" target="_blank">https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K%20(%D0%94%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9D%D0%90-48K)/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Dubna 48k ROM". SPECCY4EVER. <a href="https://speccy4ever.speccy.org/_DU.htm" target="_blank">https://speccy4ever.speccy.org/_DU.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Teixeira, Luís (2008). "Videojogos: Um (novo) média para a educação". Revista Portuguesa de Pedagogia (42–3): 37–53. doi:10.14195/1647-8614_42-3_3. <a href="https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/rppedagogia/article/view/1647-8614_42-3_3/697" target="_blank">https://impactum-journals.uc.pt/rppedagogia/article/view/1647-8614_42-3_3/697</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Frolov, Sergei. "Dubna 48K -- Дубна 48К -- Коллекция советской цифровой электроники". Soviet Digital Electronics Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-20. <a href="http://www.leningrad.su/museum/show_calc.php?n=327&lang=0&test=0" target="_blank">http://www.leningrad.su/museum/show_calc.php?n=327&lang=0&test=0</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Fonseca, Pedro (April 29, 2007). "Os 25 anos do 'Speccy'". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). <a href="https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/2007/os-25-anos-do-speccy-656642.html" target="_blank">https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/2007/os-25-anos-do-speccy-656642.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Frolov, Sergei. "Dubna 48K -- Дубна 48К -- Коллекция советской цифровой электроники". Soviet Digital Electronics Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-20. <a href="http://www.leningrad.su/museum/show_calc.php?n=327&lang=0&test=0" target="_blank">http://www.leningrad.su/museum/show_calc.php?n=327&lang=0&test=0</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"На празднике профессий" [On the holiday of professions]. Официальный интернет-портал органов местного самоуправления городского округа Дубна Московской Области (in Russian). September 17, 2019. <a href="https://naukograd-dubna.ru/article/na-prazdnike-professij-103852" target="_blank">https://naukograd-dubna.ru/article/na-prazdnike-professij-103852</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Rodríguez, Jonathan (18 September 2015). "Dubna 48K, el clon soviético del ZX Spectrum". teknoPLOF! (in Spanish). <a href="https://www.teknoplof.com/2015/09/18/dubna-48k-el-clon-sovietico-del-zx-spectrum/" target="_blank">https://www.teknoplof.com/2015/09/18/dubna-48k-el-clon-sovietico-del-zx-spectrum/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"На празднике профессий" [On the holiday of professions]. Официальный интернет-портал органов местного самоуправления городского округа Дубна Московской Области (in Russian). September 17, 2019. <a href="https://naukograd-dubna.ru/article/na-prazdnike-professij-103852" target="_blank">https://naukograd-dubna.ru/article/na-prazdnike-professij-103852</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Dubna 48K PSU photo". Kio's Sinclair ZX Computers Archive. <a href="https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K%20(%D0%94%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9D%D0%90-48K)/PSU.jpg" target="_blank">https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K%20(%D0%94%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9D%D0%90-48K)/PSU.jpg</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Dubna 48K TV modulator photo". Kio's Sinclair ZX Computers Archive. <a href="https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K%20(%D0%94%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9D%D0%90-48K)/TV%20modulator.jpg" target="_blank">https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Clones/Russia/Dubna-48K%20(%D0%94%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9D%D0%90-48K)/TV%20modulator.jpg</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Dubna 48k ROM". SPECCY4EVER. <a href="https://speccy4ever.speccy.org/_DU.htm" target="_blank">https://speccy4ever.speccy.org/_DU.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"На празднике профессий" [On the holiday of professions]. Официальный интернет-портал органов местного самоуправления городского округа Дубна Московской Области (in Russian). September 17, 2019. <a href="https://naukograd-dubna.ru/article/na-prazdnike-professij-103852" target="_blank">https://naukograd-dubna.ru/article/na-prazdnike-professij-103852</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Captain, Sean. "Mission Impossible: The Ridiculous Tech Of Jason Bourne". Fast Company. Parsons connects through a palm-sized authentication device called Dubna 48K. The CIA notices the attack, and IDs the unit as one that was supposed to have been destroyed in 1993. "Sounds kind of careless of the CIA to not revoke its access, especially to parts of its network which carry details of top secret covert ops," says security analyst Graham Cluley in an email. And how is a 23-year-old device still compatible? Small concerns compared to the fact that the real Dubna 48K was an underpowered Soviet PC used to play ports of 8-bit Nintendo games. <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3062417/mission-impossible-the-ridiculous-tech-of-jason-bourne" target="_blank">https://www.fastcompany.com/3062417/mission-impossible-the-ridiculous-tech-of-jason-bourne</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>