The state so far
Some of you know that Z80 chips in the same form factor have been manufactured continuously by Zilog since, well, they designed it.
What's the benefit? Well, replacing the CPU in your beloved Amstrad CPC if it no longer works. Or making your own Z80-based computer, see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Build_Your_Own_Z80_Computer and the links there.
Ok, what else?
The sad news
Well, 5 days ago, :o Zilog announced that they would stop manufacturing Z80s :'( : https://www.mouser.com/PCN/Littelfuse_PCN_Z84C00.pdf
You can still order some for around 8€ each. After that, no official Z80 from Zilog.
The 6MHz-rated version (https://www.mouser.fr/ProductDetail/ZiLOG/Z84C0006PEG?qs=pM1BbJKkACbODnYpdULEDA%3D%3D) @8,89€
The 10MHz-rated version (https://www.mouser.fr/ProductDetail/ZiLOG/Z84C0010PEG?qs=ZNtr8jqNHF5GD%2FNES0%2FHWA%3D%3D) @8,71€ slightly cheaper
The 20MHz-rated version (https://www.mouser.fr/ProductDetail/ZiLOG/Z84C0020PEG?qs=ahrryRM2ahtaw12qdP6z5A%3D%3D) @15,68€
Sure, these days the exact chip doesn't matter that much in a world where you can (well, if you have know-how and time):
* make your own Z80 or variant of it using a FPGA that costs a few € like the https://www.latticesemi.com/iCE40
* and run one of the Z80 implementations you can find on https://opencores.org/projects?expanded=Processor
* then a whole CPC6128 on it (e.g. https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/FPGAmstrad ).
* Or even use the FPGA-implemented Z80 as a drop-in replacement in the real CPC via voltage adaptation, 40-pin soldering and a lot of belief.
Anyway, possessing one of the last official Z80 chips might be a geek's gift after all.
It's not a huge problem. Stocks won't be running low any time soon. So many have been made in fact I doubt we'll see a shortage in our lifetimes.
They'll be large caches of 'new old stock' chips for years to come. Like when I needed to buy an NEC V30. Found a supplier in The Netherlands who sold me an unused chip date coded 1988!
Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 15:11, 20 April 24It's not a huge problem. Stocks won't be running low any time soon. So many have been made in fact I doubt we'll see a shortage in our lifetimes.
I agree. This is not a practical problem. I would be tempted to compare this to (like: a smaller case of) having a machine that behaves exactly like a CPC for all practical purposes, but doesn't have the same appearance. It would not be the real thing. "Oh you mean like a Schneider CPC." Oh. Well... never mind.
Moreover, the Z80 in the real CPCs weren't made by Zilog anyway, right. ;)
https://www.mouser.pl/ProductDetail/ZiLOG/Z84C0006PEG?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsk5yEqv3Bk8TNKQ0wAJ52zNy9vmnyWUZw%3D
6MHz "not ended" :D
Quote from: McArti0 on 06:57, 21 April 24https://www.mouser.pl/ProductDetail/ZiLOG/Z84C0006PEG?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsk5yEqv3Bk8TNKQ0wAJ52zNy9vmnyWUZw%3D
6MHz "not ended" :D
Z84C0006PEG is literally the second entry in the list of products for end of life posted in https://www.mouser.com/PCN/Littelfuse_PCN_Z84C00.pdf
eZ80 will continue.
... with 8 bit I/O only. :-X
Quote from: cpcitor on 23:56, 20 April 24Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 15:11, 20 April 24It's not a huge problem. Stocks won't be running low any time soon. So many have been made in fact I doubt we'll see a shortage in our lifetimes.
I agree. This is not a practical problem. I would be tempted to compare this to (like: a smaller case of) having a machine that behaves exactly like a CPC for all practical purposes, but doesn't have the same appearance. It would not be the real thing. "Oh you mean like a Schneider CPC." Oh. Well... never mind.
Moreover, the Z80 in the real CPCs weren't made by Zilog anyway, right. ;)
Absolutely, no practical problem. Like having a machine that behaves exactly like a CPC for all practical purposes, but doesn't have the same appearance. It would not be the real thing. "Oh you mean like a AZERTY CPC" Oh. Well... never mind.
In maybe ten years, everything will go fpga. So no worries. Even now, a custom chip wonder gizmo such as C64's the most sought-after incarnation is the Ultimate 64... A computer made of over the shelf components such as CPC will always be available in some form.
Well, time to get some spares for the future cpc next then. Especially the 20 MHz versions. ;)