Build an 8-bit computer from scratch (2016)

(eater.net)

398 points jcartw | 1 comments | 31 Mar 25 11:29 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source

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JKCalhoun ◴[03 Apr 25 23:55 UTC] No.43576877[source]▶

I always upvote Ben Eater's project(s).

I got his 6502 kit and worked through his YouTube videos to get it up and running with LCD display and all. I want to actually frame it and get it running, hanging on a wall.

If anyone is new to Ben, find a comfortable chair or couch, make some tea, take a breath, and begin your descent into his long-form breadboard series of nerd-splaining how a CPU works, beginning with basic logic gates.

His follow-on series is a little higher level. He's still at it with the breadboards but he allows that this time the CPU (a 6502) is already built for us. He then walks through how the address bus works, how to attach RAM, etc.

It makes me wish I could be transported back to the 70's when things could still be understood.

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wvenable ◴[04 Apr 25 03:53 UTC] No.43578162[source]▶

>>43576877 #

I also did the 6502 and added a Pi Pico for VGA output and USB input.

I'm still working on ways to add more to the design -- it's been a fun hobby. I actually enjoy cutting the wires and physically putting it together.

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1. ninalanyon ◴[04 Apr 25 16:33 UTC] No.43584763[source]▶

>>43578162 #

If anyone wants to avoid adding a full scale computer just to get TV out I recommend the late Don Lancaster's The Cheap Video Cookbook and Son of Cheap Video.

See https://archive.org/details/donlancaster_socv1/page/n3/mode/..., https://annas-archive.org/isbndb/9780672217234

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