Learning Single Board Computers

Maybe your next step should be a computer kit where the parts are supplied and there are instructions and support to help get it working.

You could check out the Maximite Color Computer kit to see if it is about the right level.

Note there are many variations of Maximite from several different suppliers so be sure to check which one looks most interesting to you.

I must agree with Douglas, a kit or a very well documented project would be the way to go.

Just as some encouragement this was actually done in a week on some breadboard so even quite nice stuff can be made with simple tools no PCBs required

http://www.bigmessowires.com/2014/11/04/breadboarding-the-68k/

No need for yours to be this complex to work very well note that he's using static SRAM not dynamic ram as this makes life a lot easier and just works no memory controller required!

And finally try NOS (New Old Stock ) or pulls there are lots of over priced stuff about but I found a reasonable price on a 6502 here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rockwell-R6502-CPU-/131330250274?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e93e49622

Happy hunting, please put your beast up on the E14 site so we can all have a look...Cheers

From this page here (http://www.6502.org/homebuilt/) which one would be the best to start with? Also would I need an EPROM for anything? What does an EPROM do? How much would it cost approximately?

Thanks for your help it is very much appreciated!

Nehemiah

That might be the single most annoying thing as to use an EPROM  you'll need an EPROM programmer and eraser for all the mistakes you'll  make. Have a look at the projects listed and see what they are using and see if they offer the code already to put into an EPROM or FLASH etc.

The EPROM programmer is about £30 and another £15ish for the eraser from say CPU Mall or EBAY

Which do you recommend from that list?

Thanks

Nehemiah

6502 / 65C02: Hardware / Software and 6502 FORTH

Grant's hardware homepage

Does this model need an EPROM? (Grant's 6502 computer)

Thanks so much

Nehemiah

Yes, he calls it a ROM. You can build or buy an EPROM emulator, but they don't seem to be low-cost. I might try it with a FRAM chip or a non-volatile static RAM chip (both available from Cypress Semiconductor), but this is beyond a simple cookbook build.

Yes the 27128 is an EPROM part. If they are supplying a working image then this isn't too bad .

You will still require the EPROM programmer and Eraser and a few EPROMS  but you should have near instant satisfaction.

Having to wait for an EPROM to be UV erased is a source of great frustration ..Buy a few and cycle them as you are working and this will save you waiting 10-20 mins per mistake. I used to hate that bit !

Do you recommend any EPROM programmers or erasers?

I have about $50 USD to spend!

Thanks,

Nehemiah

Do you recommend any EPROM programmers or erasers?

I have about $50 USD to spend!

Thanks,

Nehemiah

At that kind of budget you'll need to got to EBAY something like

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOP853-USB-Universal-Programmer-40-Pin-Socket-12-MHz-s-EPROM-MCU-GAL-PIC-PLCC-/291285858875?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item43d1fd7a3b

for the programmer

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UV-Eprom-Eraser-Erase-Ultraviolet-Light-Erasable-New-Timer-/271646003634?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f3f5d11b2

for the eraser (Check for compatibility in your country)

You can get better kit from a store but the budget would be blown

Check Ben Heck's Apple clone build it's actually quite good this time.

http://www.element14.com/community/community/experts/benheck?ICID=hp-e14TV-topvideo#bhtrailer

Is this the cheapest they go because I would still have to buy the rest of the parts!

Thanks,

Nehemiah

Could I make an eprom programmer by myself? Would that be cheaper?

Thanks again

Nehemiah

You can go cheaper but in reality you need one that works reliably  and with out too much hassle so that kind of figure is what you need

/dev/meeprommer | Ich bin zuständig!

Nice one Doug I wanted to show him one using modern components that didn't need a PC parallel port and old software. This fits the bill!

So I just order the board,slap the components on and its all done? Is this an eraser also? Here is an English version of this page! (MEEPROMMER (EN) | Ich bin zuständig!)

Thanks,

Nehemiah Branson

To erase you need a separate device with a strong UV light.

However these memory devices are supplied in an erased state, so if you are just copying tested and working EPROM images, you may not need to erase at all. In fact, you may still be able to buy them with no window for erasing - these are "one-time programmable" devices.

How much would the PCB cost to make if I didn't do it by hand?

Thanks

Nehemiah