I can imagine this question would only be considered by Mad Professors, to design and build there own 8-Bit Micro may be pure folly?
Just was intrigued at what 8-bit machine could be developed . Is the design of a machine doable by one person? Or is it something a team would only envisage?
I know that even if it were done , it would only serve the person who built it really , labour of love .
Any thoughts on this lunacy. Welcome
Youtube has many videos of people building their own computers, some even build the processor using hundreds of TTL chips.
There is a chip called the Parallax Propeller and someone has got it to emulate a CP/M computer system, so it is all on one chip.
Really , will see whats on offer . Thanks
One that is actually made with TTLs is the Duo Adept, a pretty cool machine. You can have a look here:
http://www.ostracodfiles.com/adeptpage/menu.html (http://www.ostracodfiles.com/adeptpage/menu.html)
It is definitely something serious to build. In this particular case, the guy making it created the operating system and the rest of the things that you would expect in a working computer, like the compiler for the machine code :) Of course, if you were crazy enough, it would be possible to build it from discrete components. It would be huge and really complicate, though... :-X
In the 8-bit category I know the V6z80P (V6Z80P @ Retroleum (http://www.retroleum.co.uk/electronics-articles/v6z80p/)) and the Veronica (http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?cat=6 (http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?cat=6)). There are probably a lot more.
I built my own 8-bit microcomputer last year, as an excuse to learn electronics and microcontrollers. Is not the same, but given that I had to include a VM (for the 6502) and that included sort of designing some aspects of that machine, perhaps can count as "designing my one 8-bit micro".
Disclaimer: it was a tinkering project, not that you would want to build an 8-bit micromputer using a microcontroller :D
Hardware: DAN64, an AVR based 8-bit microcomputer - usebox.net (https://www.usebox.net/jjm/dan64/)
I've designed and built a few complete Z80/TTL based 8-bit systems over the years. I don't think any of them have survived, but I might still have schematics somewhere.
And to answer your question: Yes, it is easily possible for one person to do on their own.
Bryce.
6502 fans do it here (http://forum.6502.org/)
Other CPU fans do it here (http://anycpu.org/forum/)
Grant's done his here (http://searle.hostei.com/grant/index.html)
Izabella did it here (http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/)
There are many others...
And yes, I have bread-boarded a Z80 CPU before.
BTW, does your question make me mad :-\
Some people have made new versions of existing systems, like the ZX80CORE (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1196) and the ZXmore (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1696) also here (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1553). If you look carefully, I think I posted a picture of the one I built (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=1553&p=17569#p17569)...
There have been various ZX Spectrum recreations, too many to list... The Harlequin (http://www.zxdesign.info/harlequin.shtml) being the most interesting. WoSf thread (one of them anyway) here (http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/47524/a-tally-on-the-number-of-successful-builds-of-the-harlequin/p1).
Mark
I wouldn't consider the ZX80Core and similar systems to be a self-designed system, it's more of a clone than anything else. But very cool :) I have one too.
Bryce.
Quote from: 1024MAK on 10:02, 26 September 16
6502 fans do it here (http://forum.6502.org/)
Other CPU fans do it here (http://anycpu.org/forum/)
Grant's done his here (http://searle.hostei.com/grant/index.html)
Izabella did it here (http://www.sbprojects.net/projects/izabella/)
There are many others...
And yes, I have bread-boarded a Z80 CPU before.
BTW, does your question make me mad :-\
Some people have made new versions of existing systems, like the ZX80CORE (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1196) and the ZXmore (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1696) also here (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1553). If you look carefully, I think I posted a picture of the one I built (http://www.sinclairzxworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=1553&p=17569#p17569)...
There have been various ZX Spectrum recreations, too many to list... The Harlequin (http://www.zxdesign.info/harlequin.shtml) being the most interesting. WoSf thread (one of them anyway) here (http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/discussion/47524/a-tally-on-the-number-of-successful-builds-of-the-harlequin/p1).
Mark
My hats off to you , Have great respect for anyone who is creative . I trust you won't take my question as an insult lol . Being Flippant.
Really interesting at what software (Games Primarily)looks like on some of the machines , How unique they are or what . I am sure that to find a Home Designed 8-Bit AND a Top notch programmed game for it , very few and far between. Still it is interesting to see what can be achieved.
Quote from: PulkoMandy on 08:00, 26 September 16
In the 8-bit category I know the V6z80P (V6Z80P @ Retroleum (http://www.retroleum.co.uk/electronics-articles/v6z80p/)) and the Veronica (http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?cat=6 (http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?cat=6)). There are probably a lot more.
Very nice , I am somewhat gutted that the limitations of the 8-Bit are nowhere to be found , which is to be expected given progress.
I suppose in my ideal world my hope would be to see an 8-Bit machine that is restricted to using hardware and materials from 1982/84 and with a budget in line with what the Speccy /CPC was up against .
But it is great to see these machines .
It's a little bit difficult to compare, as the cost of large SRAM chips has fallen, making the harder to use DRAM chips redundant on 8 bit systems.
And the Internet allows you to locate chip Datasheets, plus locate the hard to find chips (well, sometimes). We also now know a lot more about how the retro micros actually worked.
Mark