diff --git a/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp b/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp
index 6fbf71f211f..96484294ece 100644
--- a/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/video/i8275.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
     TODO:
 
     - double spaced rows
-    - blanking of top and bottom rows when underline MSB is set
     - end of row/screen - stop dma
     - preset counters - how it affects DMA and HRTC?
 
@@ -120,7 +119,6 @@ i8275_device::i8275_device(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *tag, devic
 	m_rvv(0),
 	m_lten(0),
 	m_scanline(0),
-	m_du(false),
 	m_dma_stop(false),
 	m_end_of_screen(false),
 	m_preset(false),
@@ -175,7 +173,6 @@ void i8275_device::device_start()
 	save_item(NAME(m_irq_scanline));
 	save_item(NAME(m_vrtc_scanline));
 	save_item(NAME(m_vrtc_drq_scanline));
-	save_item(NAME(m_du));
 	save_item(NAME(m_dma_stop));
 	save_item(NAME(m_end_of_screen));
 	save_item(NAME(m_preset));
@@ -199,6 +196,50 @@ void i8275_device::device_reset()
 }
 
 
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  vrtc_start - update for beginning of vertical
+//  retrace period
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+void i8275_device::vrtc_start()
+{
+	//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u VRTC 1\n", y, x);
+	m_write_vrtc(1);
+
+	if (m_status & ST_VE)
+	{
+		// reset field attributes
+		m_hlgt = 0;
+		m_vsp = 0;
+		m_gpa = 0;
+		m_rvv = 0;
+		m_lten = 0;
+
+		m_dma_stop = false;
+		m_end_of_screen = false;
+
+		m_cursor_blink++;
+		m_cursor_blink &= 0x1f;
+
+		m_char_blink++;
+		m_char_blink &= 0x3f;
+		m_stored_attr = 0;
+	}
+}
+
+
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  vrtc_end - update for end of vertical retrace
+//  period
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+void i8275_device::vrtc_end()
+{
+	//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u VRTC 0\n", y, x);
+	m_write_vrtc(0);
+}
+
+
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  device_timer - handle timer events
 //-------------------------------------------------
@@ -227,10 +268,7 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 		m_write_hrtc(0);
 
 		if (m_scanline == 0)
-		{
-			//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u VRTC 0\n", y, x);
-			m_write_vrtc(0);
-		}
+			vrtc_end();
 
 		if ((m_status & ST_VE) && m_scanline <= (m_vrtc_scanline - SCANLINES_PER_ROW))
 		{
@@ -239,14 +277,17 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 				if (m_dma_idx < CHARACTERS_PER_ROW)
 				{
 					m_status |= ST_DU;
-					m_du = true;
+					m_dma_stop = true;
+
+					// blank screen until after VRTC
+					m_end_of_screen = true;
 
 					//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u DMA Underrun\n", y, x);
 
 					m_write_drq(0);
 				}
 
-				if (!m_du && !m_dma_stop)
+				if (!m_dma_stop)
 				{
 					// swap line buffers
 					m_buffer_dma = !m_buffer_dma;
@@ -263,42 +304,15 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (m_scanline == m_irq_scanline)
+		if ((m_status & ST_IE) && m_scanline == m_irq_scanline)
 		{
-			if (m_status & ST_IE)
-			{
-				//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u IRQ 1\n", y, x);
-				m_status |= ST_IR;
-				m_write_irq(ASSERT_LINE);
-			}
+			//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u IRQ 1\n", y, x);
+			m_status |= ST_IR;
+			m_write_irq(ASSERT_LINE);
 		}
 
 		if (m_scanline == m_vrtc_scanline)
-		{
-			//LOG("I8275 y %u x %u VRTC 1\n", y, x);
-			m_write_vrtc(1);
-
-			if (m_status & ST_VE)
-			{
-				// reset field attributes
-				m_hlgt = 0;
-				m_vsp = 0;
-				m_gpa = 0;
-				m_rvv = 0;
-				m_lten = 0;
-
-				m_du = false;
-				m_dma_stop = false;
-				m_end_of_screen = false;
-
-				m_cursor_blink++;
-				m_cursor_blink &= 0x1f;
-
-				m_char_blink++;
-				m_char_blink &= 0x3f;
-				m_stored_attr = 0;
-			}
-		}
+			vrtc_start();
 
 		if ((m_status & ST_VE) && m_scanline == m_vrtc_drq_scanline)
 		{
@@ -315,7 +329,7 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 		if ((m_status & ST_VE) && m_scanline < m_vrtc_scanline)
 		{
 			int line_counter = OFFSET_LINE_COUNTER ? ((lc - 1) % SCANLINES_PER_ROW) : lc;
-			bool end_of_row = false;
+			bool end_of_row = (UNDERLINE >= 8) && ((lc == 0) || (lc == SCANLINES_PER_ROW - 1));
 			int fifo_idx = 0;
 			m_hlgt = (m_stored_attr & FAC_H) ? 1 : 0;
 			m_vsp = (m_stored_attr & FAC_B) ? 1 : 0;
@@ -463,32 +477,38 @@ void i8275_device::device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param,
 
 READ8_MEMBER( i8275_device::read )
 {
-	uint8_t data;
-
 	if (offset & 0x01)
 	{
-		data = m_status;
+		uint8_t status = m_status;
 
-		if (m_status & ST_IR)
+		if (!machine().side_effects_disabled())
 		{
-			//LOG("I8275 IRQ 0\n");
-			m_write_irq(CLEAR_LINE);
+			if (m_status & ST_IR)
+			{
+				//LOG("I8275 IRQ 0\n");
+				m_write_irq(CLEAR_LINE);
+			}
+
+			m_status &= ~(ST_IR | ST_LP | ST_IC | ST_DU | ST_FO);
 		}
 
-		m_status &= ~(ST_IR | ST_LP | ST_IC | ST_DU | ST_FO);
+		return status;
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		data = m_param[m_param_idx];
-		m_param_idx++;
+		uint8_t data = m_param[m_param_idx];
 
-		if (m_param_idx > m_param_end)
+		if (!machine().side_effects_disabled())
 		{
-			m_status |= ST_IC;
+			m_param_idx++;
+			if (m_param_idx > m_param_end)
+			{
+				m_status |= ST_IC;
+			}
 		}
-	}
 
-	return data;
+		return data;
+	}
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/devices/video/i8275.h b/src/devices/video/i8275.h
index bf4dc21206f..f3d248643b4 100644
--- a/src/devices/video/i8275.h
+++ b/src/devices/video/i8275.h
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ protected:
 	virtual void device_reset() override;
 	virtual void device_timer(emu_timer &timer, device_timer_id id, int param, void *ptr) override;
 
+	void vrtc_start();
+	void vrtc_end();
+
 	void recompute_parameters();
 
 	enum
@@ -213,7 +216,6 @@ protected:
 	int m_irq_scanline;
 	int m_vrtc_scanline;
 	int m_vrtc_drq_scanline;
-	bool m_du;
 	bool m_dma_stop;
 	bool m_end_of_screen;
 	bool m_preset;
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/ms6102.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/ms6102.cpp
index ba5bedd6800..2b1183db73e 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/ms6102.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/ms6102.cpp
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ I8275_DRAW_CHARACTER_MEMBER(ms6102_state::display_pixels)
 {
 	const rgb_t *palette = m_palette->palette()->entry_list_raw();
 	u8 gfx = (lten) ? 0xff : 0;
-	if (linecount < 12 && !vsp)
+	if (!vsp)
 		gfx = m_p_chargen[linecount | (charcode << 4)];
 
 	if (rvv)
@@ -284,23 +284,23 @@ void ms6102_state::machine_start()
 	// copy over the ascii chars into their new positions (lines 0-7)
 	for (i = 0x20; i < 0x80; i++)
 		for (j = 0; j < 8; j++)
-			m_p_chargen[i*16+j] = m_p_chargen[0x1800+i*8+j];
+			m_p_chargen[i*16+j+1] = m_p_chargen[0x1800+i*8+j];
 	// copy the russian symbols to codes 0xc0-0xff for now
 	for (i = 0xc0; i < 0x100; i++)
 		for (j = 0; j < 8; j++)
-			m_p_chargen[i*16+j] = m_p_chargen[0x1800+i*8+j];
+			m_p_chargen[i*16+j+1] = m_p_chargen[0x1800+i*8+j];
 	// for punctuation, get the last 4 lines into place
 	for (i = 0x20; i < 0x40; i++)
 		for (j = 0; j < 4; j++)
-			m_p_chargen[i*16+8+j] = m_p_chargen[0x1700+i*8+j];
+			m_p_chargen[i*16+8+j+1] = m_p_chargen[0x1700+i*8+j];
 	// for letters, get the last 4 lines into place
 	for (i = 0x40; i < 0x80; i++)
 		for (j = 0; j < 4; j++)
-			m_p_chargen[i*16+8+j] = m_p_chargen[0x1a00+i*8+j];
+			m_p_chargen[i*16+8+j+1] = m_p_chargen[0x1a00+i*8+j];
 	// for russian, get the last 4 lines into place
 	for (i = 0xc0; i < 0x100; i++)
 		for (j = 0; j < 4; j++)
-			m_p_chargen[i*16+8+j] = m_p_chargen[0x1604+i*8+j];
+			m_p_chargen[i*16+8+j+1] = m_p_chargen[0x1604+i*8+j];
 }