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Developer Creates DIY 8-Bit CPU
MaizeMan writes "Not for the easily distracted: a Belmont software developer's hand-built CPU was featured in Wired recently. Starting with a $50 wire wrap board, Steve Chamberlin built his CPU with 1253 pieces of wire, each wire wrapped by hand at both ends. Chamberlin salvaged parts from '70s and '80s era computers, and the final result is an 8-bit processor with keyboard input, a USB connection, and VGA graphical output. More details are available on the developer's blog."
Why does this question keep coming up? Of course it does. It's turing-complete, so it's just a matter of writing the software. Not for the impatient users, obviously.
That's the way it used to be done: I wouldn't claim that DEC engineers did not "make" the PDP-1 because it was constructed from wire-wrap discrete components. The only other sensible option for someone who wants to "make" their own CPU at home would be to program an FPGA, which is certainly less interesting than what this guy has done.
Yeah, baby...
Back before the days of the 4004, 8008, and 8080, when we built computers, we REALLY built computers.
None of this: take a pre-built-motherboard, add a pre-built-power-supply, add a pre-built graphics card...
oblig: get off my lawn
Karma: Excellent. 15 moderator points expire sometime.
To have fun is not a good enough reason to do something?
I guess you would be happier if he was just another fat slob who "has fun" by watching American Idol?
This is quite possibly the most asinine comment I have seen on Slashdot in a long time.
Good enough for Space Invaders.
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.