You're right on the money, here. It depends almost entirely on what your
goals are or may be. ( Perhaps, like many of us, you don't know, exactly,
what your goal(s) at any given time might be.) I try to fool myself into
thinking that I do things involving computers and circuits to enhance/extemd
my ability to earn a living. Maybe that's true. However, using a task like
implementing a current strategy or algorithm on an old piece of hardware
tends to extend one's thinking, which is also of benefit to one's ability to
earn a living.
If I had the task of building a homebrew computer, I could probably fit the
whole thing on a single or maybe dual-width VME card. That's not much more
area than an S-100 board if you leave out the regulators. The way this
would have to come about, is that I'd build a processor<=>memory interface
and an interface to a bridge controller for mass storage. If the processor
didn't have I/O on board, which most of the ones in which I have interest
relating to building a system from scratch do, then a single high-speed link
to a system which had conventional resources would come next. Over time,
I'd migrate the mass storage interfaces into my computer and leave out the
bridge adapter. Likewise the external comm link(S). After that, it's
anyone's guess. It depends on what goal(s) I am chasing at the time.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, April 04, 1999 5:26 PM
Subject: Re: homemade computer for fun and experience...
><I'd thought of that, but if you're not careful, your 'homebrew computer'
><contains ready-built I/O cards only. That's no so educational as building
><them yourself.
>
>Depends on what your goals are. For me building yet another serial or disk
>card is tedious and repetition. I'd rather experiment with advaced
software
>on old style but enhanced platforms.
>
><Sure. But the IIRC, this thread started with somebody wanting to make
><their first homebrew machine. IMHO, this should be a fairly simple
><machine - say a Z80 + maximum of 64K memory. Adding lots more memory,
><MMU, etc can come later. The first machine should be something that is
><likely to work first time.
>
>No arguement. As a first pass machine static is usually the least painful
>to deal with as are simple serial IO. The usual first time builder wants
>more than their skills can generally support.
>
>Allison
>
Received on Sun Apr 04 1999 - 18:45:33 BST