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I just ordered 3. Old school DIP package. No idea what I'm going to do with them, I'm not really into hobby electronics (although I have messed with breadboards

I just ordered 3. Old school DIP package. No idea what I'm going to do with them, I'm not really into hobby electronics (although I have messed with breadboards for work). Am I a nostalgic idiot or what?

nanolith 3y ago
Make sure you order appropriate support ICs as well, as some of these are EOL too. I would recommend a Z80 DART, since that is actually useful to work with. As for what to do with them, consider a retro-controller project that you'd typically use an Arduino or similar, or consider porting Microsoft BASIC or CP/M. It depends if you want to be semi-practical by doing something with the former or have a little nostalgia fun by doing something with the latter. These can also interface with an SN76489 to do some old school sound effects and music. With some more advanced interfacing, it would be possible to drive an OPL3 or similar. These are surprisingly capable CPUs.
- nottorp 3y ago
  > As for what to do with them, consider a retro-controller project Yeah, problem is i have an arduino and an esp32 plugged into other stuff on my desk right now for work (and a couple Pis with different setups). Because I'm paid to do stuff like that, it's not new and interesting as a hobby. I'll do look into getting some support chips for the z80s though, thanks. > These are surprisingly capable CPUs. I grew up with zx spectrums and some access to cp/m machines :)
  - nanolith 3y ago
    I do firmware work as well. There is something nice about building a 65C02 based cellphone, or a fermentation system controller using a 68010 and a CPLD based MPU. A Z80 fits nicely into this. It's not practical, but it can be an interesting application of art.
oliviersca 3y ago
You are not alone! I ordered 5 cpus from RS yesterday. ;-) For what ? I do not know exactly. Rebuilding my first TRS-80 perhaps when I will be retired ? I spent so many years programming on this machine. As I didn't have enough money to buy floppy disk drives, I did everything on tape, with an oscilloscope in the way, to properly adjust the treble and bass to have a good square signal! During eight years ! Yes, it's definitely nostalgia. Nostalgia for a time when we tried to push technology to the limit to solve small problems, without having to manage dependencies, writing unit tests, doing upgrades ... Time when each computer has its own personality ...

nanolith 3y ago

Make sure you order appropriate support ICs as well, as some of these are EOL too. I would recommend a Z80 DART, since that is actually useful to work with. As for what to do with them, consider a retro-controller project that you'd typically use an Arduino or similar, or consider porting Microsoft BASIC or CP/M. It depends if you want to be semi-practical by doing something with the former or have a little nostalgia fun by doing something with the latter. These can also interface with an SN76489 to do some old school sound effects and music. With some more advanced interfacing, it would be possible to drive an OPL3 or similar. These are surprisingly capable CPUs.

nottorp 3y ago
> As for what to do with them, consider a retro-controller project Yeah, problem is i have an arduino and an esp32 plugged into other stuff on my desk right now for work (and a couple Pis with different setups). Because I'm paid to do stuff like that, it's not new and interesting as a hobby. I'll do look into getting some support chips for the z80s though, thanks. > These are surprisingly capable CPUs. I grew up with zx spectrums and some access to cp/m machines :)
- nanolith 3y ago
  I do firmware work as well. There is something nice about building a 65C02 based cellphone, or a fermentation system controller using a 68010 and a CPLD based MPU. A Z80 fits nicely into this. It's not practical, but it can be an interesting application of art.

oliviersca 3y ago

You are not alone! I ordered 5 cpus from RS yesterday. ;-) For what ? I do not know exactly. Rebuilding my first TRS-80 perhaps when I will be retired ? I spent so many years programming on this machine. As I didn't have enough money to buy floppy disk drives, I did everything on tape, with an oscilloscope in the way, to properly adjust the treble and bass to have a good square signal! During eight years ! Yes, it's definitely nostalgia. Nostalgia for a time when we tried to push technology to the limit to solve small problems, without having to manage dependencies, writing unit tests, doing upgrades ... Time when each computer has its own personality ...