homemade computer for fun and experience...

From: CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com <(CLASSICCMP_at_trailing-edge.com)>
Date: Sat Apr 3 08:25:05 1999

>The goal: 8 bit or 16bit, running from ROM's for software and store
>work files on HD, tape or floppy, text based on 6845 IC or similar.
>That is beggining, in the end should able to run CPM or something.
>I prefer to interface the PC keyboards to it as by make up the
>convertor to something that cpu understands by microcontroller or
>like.

Why restrict yourself to PC-clone keyboards? May as well just put a
serial port on it, that way you can use just about any terminal
with it and won't restrict yourself to specific hardware.

>I have so many TTL's and LSI's and some VLSI's, CPU's of all
>kinds (intel, Zilog and others), memories, different crystrals and
>oscillators. Should it be single board with everything on it in
>stages or do it modular via cards?

A CP/M-capable computer doesn't have to be very big at all these days -
there are several commercially available designs/kits/boards which
are a single PC board with just a couple of chips. The comp.os.cpm
FAQ gives links to several of these designs.

If I were you, I wouldn't restrict myself to what's in the junk box.
Total semiconductor price for a CP/M capable computer can be kept
to well under $25 using new parts. If I were doing it, I'd go surface mount,
just to see if I could do it in under 2 square inches :-).

-- 
 Tim Shoppa                        Email: shoppa_at_trailing-edge.com
 Trailing Edge Technology          WWW:   http://www.trailing-edge.com/
 7328 Bradley Blvd		   Voice: 301-767-5917
 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817           Fax:   301-767-5927
Received on Sat Apr 03 1999 - 08:25:05 BST

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