I had a 6502 based system way back in 1979. Its architecture was very similar to your version of Ben Eater's computer. I still have a dump of the monitor program from my original machine, so I thought I'd see if I could modify it to work on Ben Eater's design. I was wondering how to get a display up and running (the original used an RF modulator to go into a TV). Your video has given me some ideas on how to get something up and running.
This is awesome! I'm planning on building Ben's 6502 computer in a few weeks and happened to run across this video. I subscribed to your channel, and hope to learn something from you. Best wishes to you!
Haha sorry about that, I started working on another project after this. I'll eventually go back to this one but I don't think there's a lot more I could do with it besides adding in the BASIC interpreter.
Nice project. Further development could include Gpascal from Nick Gammon. You can use the VIA for serial as he does or adapt the code for the ACIA (which I did for another SBC board). Also he make a recommendation for increasing the RAM available which you could make use of. EHbasic is available also and should be adaptable as it has the IO section near the end of the source code. Good luck!
You don't get RS232 compatible signals out of the 6551 so there's no point in connecting a 9 or 25 pin D-type connector. On the other hand there are plenty of devices that plug into a USB port and interface an FDTI UART chip, which connects via those Dupont connectors and accepts the TTL level signals on the pins of the 6551. If you want to get real RS232 out of the 6551 you need a level-changing transceiver chip.
Thanks for sharing, but the GITHUB files are missing components from the KICAD PCB board. Like for example in the ATMEGA part, some resistors, capacitors and crystal. Thanks.
Very cool build! I am also building the Ben Eater 6502 computer and I plan to have a PS/2 interface and composite (RCA) output just like you. However I am wondering where you got the PS/2 and composite connectors from?
Thanks! I got them from Digikey. But there are a few different variations so if you're making a PCB make sure you get the one that matches the footprint you're using.
Thanks, yeah I'll try to upload the kicad files to my github sometime today. But the video circuit I used is copyrighted, so I'll probably remove that before uploading. But if you're interested in adding it back in, I definitely recommend looking at Grant Searle's website that I linked in the description, he has all the schematics and code for the video+keyboard interface on there!
@@invent0r137 Very interesting machine! Can you link to the files when they are uploaded? Also consider asking Grant Searle if you can publish the full circuit in your github with a license for the video part from him. He gives away the designs on his site for personal use, so maybe he would appreciate the wider coverage and allow the reuse.
@@aftbit Thanks, I'll try to get them uploaded soon. Yeah, I actually tried emailing him about a month ago using the email on his website, but I haven't heard anything back, so just to be on the safe side I'll exclude his copyrighted material and just refer people to his website with a short Readme file of how to connect it if they want. The good thing is this computer works just fine without the video interface since I've made it possible to connect to a laptop or any other external computer.
question. if you have a tx and rx port. or something like an audio output. or another digital to anologue converter. dac. then makeing a video card could be. two wires. more or less too an output port. meeting the display input criteria. modulated at will. with an array or maytrix parse software algorithme. so the screen is about so much pixels height and so much pixels width. then you speak to the television or display decoder (wich is build in the display) with two signal wires. wich meet the signal strengt in watts. and a timed modulated digital array. thru the dac-chip. or suchs. more or less.
also make a fuse or a ground or so for the tv connector ,(hardware) becuae you can blow up your hardware by peek-power. wgen you turn the tv on and off. then you can have a power fluctiation thru the signal wire. but i am not sure about all this.
So, just so I can get my head around this. Are you using 2 more powerful micro controllers to provide keyboard and monitor functionality to a 6502. I'm looking to find something that works like an NES PPU. Is anyone aware of a chip that does that?
Yeah, that's pretty much it, one atmega168p for the keyboard, and one atmega328p for video. I'm not familiar with the NES PPU, but Texas instruments has a TMS9918 video display controller chip, have you looked into that?
Thanks! I used an existing design for the video and keyboard interface. Since it's copyrighted I don't think I'd be able to sell it as a kit unfortunately 😕. But if you decide to build it I can help answer any questions.
Time to replace that smoke detector battery!
I really appreciate when people use through-hole components instead of SMD (caps, crystals and etc); good job!
It's a bit prehistoric 🙂 probably good for playing
I do electronics development and if I used THT components the PCB would look like a car door 🙂
@@the8bitpc_805 I mean through-hole boards pass the military towel test with flying colors so it's pretty sturdy
I had a 6502 based system way back in 1979. Its architecture was very similar to your version of Ben Eater's computer. I still have a dump of the monitor program from my original machine, so I thought I'd see if I could modify it to work on Ben Eater's design. I was wondering how to get a display up and running (the original used an RF modulator to go into a TV). Your video has given me some ideas on how to get something up and running.
That is so sweet. Wish the LCD wasn't as bright as the sun though. It's nearly impossible to see anything on it in the video.
This is awesome!
I'm planning on building Ben's 6502 computer in a few weeks and happened to run across this video. I subscribed to your channel, and hope to learn something from you. Best wishes to you!
I think you have a smoke detector calling for a new batterie ... *Ping* ... or, maybe a bird thinking it is a smoke detector ;-)
Yeah I changed the batteries but the chirping continued. I might just need to replace the whole thing 🤔
I was trying to figure out if that was my smoke detector.
There are some people on the 6502 forum that would love to see this.
Awesome, thanks for letting me know. Feel free to share the video if you'd like!
@@invent0r137 OK, I shared a link on the 6502 hardware sub forum.
Boy you really know how to leave on a good note! I feel ripped off! Now I have to go digging in your videos to see if you followed up.
Haha sorry about that, I started working on another project after this. I'll eventually go back to this one but I don't think there's a lot more I could do with it besides adding in the BASIC interpreter.
That board looks really nice! Makes me want to go learn to design PCBs. Thanks 🙏
Thanks, go for it! I recommend KICAD.
@@invent0r137exactly what I was going to say. To the T.
based and ben eater-pilled
My dude. This is so sick. Well done.
Thanks man!
Nice project. Further development could include Gpascal from Nick Gammon. You can use the VIA for serial as he does or adapt the code for the ACIA (which I did for another SBC board). Also he make a recommendation for increasing the RAM available which you could make use of. EHbasic is available also and should be adaptable as it has the IO section near the end of the source code. Good luck!
Amazing work! Really inspires me to make something on my own!
very good, i hope ben sees this
Probably worth wiring up a RS232 jack and cable and ditching the DuPont fiddle stuff.
You don't get RS232 compatible signals out of the 6551 so there's no point in connecting a 9 or 25 pin D-type connector. On the other hand there are plenty of devices that plug into a USB port and interface an FDTI UART chip, which connects via those Dupont connectors and accepts the TTL level signals on the pins of the 6551. If you want to get real RS232 out of the 6551 you need a level-changing transceiver chip.
Thanks for sharing, but the GITHUB files are missing components from the KICAD PCB board. Like for example in the ATMEGA part, some resistors, capacitors and crystal. Thanks.
Cool! More Ben eater style videos please
Beautiful board!
Very cool build! I am also building the Ben Eater 6502 computer and I plan to have a PS/2 interface and composite (RCA) output just like you. However I am wondering where you got the PS/2 and composite connectors from?
Thanks! I got them from Digikey. But there are a few different variations so if you're making a PCB make sure you get the one that matches the footprint you're using.
my mannn
Nicely done!
This is awesome, thanks for sharing
Thanks, happy to share!
Cool Computer! Wonder what I could do with the 65C02...
woah this is awesome what the hell
Nice video. Thank you. Can you post a schematic on your GITHUB page in PDF format, please?
Sure, check back in about a day and the schematic pdf should be up on my github!
Very nice!
cool
Keep it up bro! Very cool and aesthetically pleasing videos. One Q: Which brand/model of oscilloscope are you using?
Thanks! I use a Rigol DS1054Z
Very nice. It looks relatively simple to add the ACIA as the NAND chip has a free gate available anyway. Might you be able to share your files please?
Thanks, yeah I'll try to upload the kicad files to my github sometime today. But the video circuit I used is copyrighted, so I'll probably remove that before uploading. But if you're interested in adding it back in, I definitely recommend looking at Grant Searle's website that I linked in the description, he has all the schematics and code for the video+keyboard interface on there!
@@invent0r137 Very interesting machine! Can you link to the files when they are uploaded? Also consider asking Grant Searle if you can publish the full circuit in your github with a license for the video part from him. He gives away the designs on his site for personal use, so maybe he would appreciate the wider coverage and allow the reuse.
@@aftbit Thanks, I'll try to get them uploaded soon. Yeah, I actually tried emailing him about a month ago using the email on his website, but I haven't heard anything back, so just to be on the safe side I'll exclude his copyrighted material and just refer people to his website with a short Readme file of how to connect it if they want. The good thing is this computer works just fine without the video interface since I've made it possible to connect to a laptop or any other external computer.
@@aftbit I just added a link in the description to my github with the schematics and the avr makefile.
Looks fun!
The PCB is really shiny, did you ultrasonically clean it?
Nice work!
No I didn't, it came that way. Thanks!
Commodore BASIC can be downloaded.
Cool !
Nice
Thanks!
Any plans on video with lvds?
What are lvds?
Anybody know where I can get this kit or assembled PCB please?
Please replace your smoke alarm battery
Have you tried running visicalc on your 6502?
I have not, does it require basic first?
What make of keyboard is that? It can do USB as well as PS2?
I think I got it off of Amazon, it was originally built as a USB keyboard, but it came with a USB to PS2 adapter which is what I'm using in the video.
question. if you have a tx and rx port. or something like an audio output. or another digital to anologue converter. dac. then makeing a video card could be. two wires. more or less too an output port. meeting the display input criteria. modulated at will. with an array or maytrix parse software algorithme.
so the screen is about so much pixels height and so much pixels width. then you speak to the television or display decoder (wich is build in the display) with two signal wires. wich meet the signal strengt in watts. and a timed modulated digital array. thru the dac-chip. or suchs. more or less.
also make a fuse or a ground or so for the tv connector ,(hardware) becuae you can blow up your hardware by peek-power. wgen you turn the tv on and off. then you can have a power fluctiation thru the signal wire. but i am not sure about all this.
Do you have one of this PCB for sale ?
your 1,000 subscriber Ü
So, just so I can get my head around this.
Are you using 2 more powerful micro controllers to provide keyboard and monitor functionality to a 6502.
I'm looking to find something that works like an NES PPU.
Is anyone aware of a chip that does that?
Yeah, that's pretty much it, one atmega168p for the keyboard, and one atmega328p for video. I'm not familiar with the NES PPU, but Texas instruments has a TMS9918 video display controller chip, have you looked into that?
@@invent0r137 I haven't, I will check it out. Thanks!
This is fantastic, amazing work! I would gladly buy this as a kit, have you considered selling the boards with a bag of components?
Thanks! I used an existing design for the video and keyboard interface. Since it's copyrighted I don't think I'd be able to sell it as a kit unfortunately 😕. But if you decide to build it I can help answer any questions.