8080 vs. 8080A

From: John Galt <gmphillips_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Sun Sep 30 14:11:19 2001

"The i8080A is essentially twice as fast as the
 standard i8080 and COULD be used more easily with low-power logic since its
demands aren't as stringent".

Ok, that's a good start.

But, I don't think "low power" TTL (transistor transistor logic) had
anything to do with the complexity of the code being executed on the chip.
True? I had assumed
that the references to the 8080 only being compatible
with "low-power TTL" and the 8080A being compatible
with "standard TTL" had something to do with the support chips (Ram, clock,
etc) that could be used with the 8080 vs. the 8080A.

Since I'm new to this mail list, let me explain why I would
show up here and ask such a question to begin with.

I'm a chip collector. I am trying to document the differences between the
different early Intel microprocessors. Not worried about massive detail,
just the major differences (PMOS, vs. NMOS, vs.
HMOS, clock speed, transistor count, etc).

The only microprocessor that I don't have a good handle
on is the 8080 and the difference between the 8080 and 8080A.

I also know that the 8080 was introduced sometime
around April 1974. I have not been able to find an
introduction date for the 8080A. Was it introduced at
the same time? Does anyone know?

I also need an Intel C8080 or C8080-8 for my
collection. If you have one, I want it. I have been looking
for one for months and have not been able to find one.
If you have either of these chips in good condition
(no desoldered parts wanted), I'm offering 400.00
for the C8080-8 and 500.00 for a C8080.

If you need a replacement for the C8080 or C8080-8 you sell me, I'll GIVE
you a D8080A free as part of the
deal.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Erlacher" <edick_at_idcomm.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: 8080 vs. 8080A


> This makes no sense at all, though it may be because I'm misinterpreting
the way
> in which you've put it.
>
> I have Intel boards that come in versions with the i8080 and also,
> optionally,with the i8080A, and, aside from the clock frequency and memory
> access times, they're identical. The i8080A is essentially twice as fast
as the
> standard i8080 and COULD be used more easily with low-power logic since
its
> demands aren't as stringent.
>
> The i8080A will, AFAIK, replace the i8080 in all applications without ill
> effects.
>
> BTW, please turn off "rich-text" mode in your email editor when you
compose
> messages for this group, as some folks' mail readers can't interpret the
> rich-text/HTML format.
>
> Dick
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Galt
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 10:17 AM
> Subject: 8080 vs. 8080A
>
>
> Can anyone here describe the technical differences between
> an Intel 8080 and Intel 8080A CPU?
>
> The ONLY ref. I have been able to find seems to indicate that there was a
bug in
> the 8080 and as a result it would only work with low power TTL?
>
> The problem was fixed in the 8080A and it would work with standard TTL?
>
> Does this make sense to anyone?
>
> Could anyone put this into laymans terms for me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> George Phillips - gmphillips_at_earthlink.net
>
Received on Sun Sep 30 2001 - 14:11:19 BST