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Z80 Motherboard preliminary designs underway

A project log for Z80 overpowered computer

I am building a computer with a 4MHz Z80, 32KiB EEPROM, 32KiB RAM, IDE interface and UART.

dylan-brophyDylan Brophy 05/27/2017 at 23:430 Comments

Preliminary designs

I basically took my old schematics and made some modifications. NGT20 graphics on the motherboard, EEPROM/RAM switch, support for modern computer power supplies. I guess this isn't 1980s, but rather a 1980s/present hybrid. I will update the project accordingly. I still am adding more things to the design, and I want to add support for RC2014 computer parts (see here). Here is the preliminary schematic:

Expenses

A smaller-than-ATX design I put on OSH Park to see the cost for 3 boards costs about $250.

Cool 3D Printing Idea

I want to make some more money before I do that, plus I just bought a 3d printer and 2kg of filament... Which brings me to an idea I have. What if I could 3d print a pcb? Not like make it in one of the specialized machines, but literally make the board from PLA or ABS filament? And have an alloy that melts at the same temp. as the filament? That will be a project I post in the future. So I might make the motherboard of my Z80 computer in the 3D Printer.

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