Re: homebrew computer - where to start?

On 3 Sep 2005 00:33:24 -0700, racter@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

>hi,
>
>i've been a dedicated computer nerd for about twelve years now. i
>started with a cast-off tandy "laptop" that ran BASIC and have been
>hacking ever since, through 386/486/pentium/etc.
>
>now i find myself much more interested in computer systems that appear
>historically before my introduction to computers, and i'd really like
>to get to know these older computing methodologies more intimately.
>i'd like to try to build a computer from scratch - build my own
>processor, etc. - to gain a greater familiarity with the underlying
>technology.

How far back (and why?)? You could start with Babbage's Difference
Engine, I suppose.

And then there's the IMSAI, still alive over at http://www.imsai.net/.
I always thought they looked very "techy" but ended up getting a
Digital Group Z-80 system instead. Blazing 4.5 MHz, 18 KB static RAM:
http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/retrocomputing/the_digital_group/

>so where do i start? poking around on the internet, all i can seem to
>find is vendors trying to sell "homebrew" computer parts which
>basically involves piecing together readymade components.
>
>i know that the definition of "computer" covers a pretty wide continuum
>right now, but what i'm interested in building is just the basic
>machine: an electronic device that runs programs, whether it has a
>display, printer, or just an array of LEDs as its output.
>
>maybe someone knows a book or something that covers this material.

What I'd really recommend is a quick course in Verilog or VHDL and an
inexpensive development board like this (there are others out there, of
course): http://www.digilentinc.com/info/S3BOARD.cfm.

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: homebrew computer - where to start?
    ... >i've been a dedicated computer nerd for about twelve years now. ... >now i find myself much more interested in computer systems that appear ... >find is vendors trying to sell "homebrew" computer parts which ...
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  • Re: homebrew computer - where to start?
    ... >i've been a dedicated computer nerd for about twelve years now. ... >now i find myself much more interested in computer systems that appear ... >find is vendors trying to sell "homebrew" computer parts which ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
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