8080 CP/M Computer running Zork 1

[anothga]

*whistles in amazement*

Well, this is what I mean when I say computer history. In a good way of course. How the heck did you managed to find the correct hardware to build this?

[LifeAreShort]

lol i see this through my iphone 4 XD

[RP0I]

Was that radiation at 0:10?

[256byteram]

@RP0I Chances are the camera didn't like the sudden change in light.

[psychonaut25]

wow, nice setup...this reminded me on a interior of a rally or dtm cars...lots of switches and leds...nice. it is 8080 from Intel or it is a Zilog derivate?

[256byteram]

@psychonaut25 The 8080 is an Intel device. The Z80 from Zilog is binary compatible with more instructions.

[ForViewingOnly]

Hi, I have an old computer called a PC-80 (not sure if that means 8080 or Z80). It is in storage and hasn't been used for decades. I'm planning on firing it up in the next few months. If I find that the 8" floppy disks have degraded over time and won't load CP/M, is there anything I can do to make the machine usable? Or is it useless without the CP/M disks? Thanks.

[256byteram]

@ForViewingOnly I can't find any information about the PC-80. What manufacturer is it? You might find it has a basic machine monitor which could allow you to bootstrap the computer from a PC should the CP/M disks not work. I would want to make sure those old drives are clean before putting anything in them first.

[ForViewingOnly]

@256byteram Thanks for the info. Not sure about the manufacturer, but that's an interesting suggestion about booting from a PC. I wonder if you could load CP/M programs like Zork from PC too? I never worried about floppies degrading until I tried a 27 year old 5.25" disk in another system recently, and the surface coating of a whole track was stripped and deposited on the heads of the floppy drive. And this disk was stored in perfect condtions too... it seems that some disks don't last well.

[jesuszafra]

@ForViewingOnly I am playing a bit zork1 in a Commodore 128, in CP/M mode, in the Vice x128 emulator... So, it's posible to play it in modern PCs :D

[ForViewingOnly]

@256byteram Hi, just a bit of an update: I cleaned the PC outside and in, and the drive heads too. I can see now that it is a Z80-based system. I fired it up and connected a laptop running Hyperterminal with a serial USB interface and it works. Well, the A: (and C:) drive works but the B: (and D:) drive doesn't. Just wondering now how to backup the system disk with only one drive. Also wondering how to transfer a floppy image from PC to the CP/M system... might need to buy a HxC floppy emulator?

[rockangel1967]

i am thinking about to build an altair 8800 or altair 680 replica too. but its very hard to find stuff for this :-(

are you willing to ahre experience? you built yourself, right?

[phreakindee]

Amazing all those chips still work so well, incredible machine and undeniably sexy.

[TNG128MB]

whats with the gigantic box with the lights and switches?

[256byteram]

@TNG128MB It's the computer...

[RedTellus]

@256byteram why not get a mac ?

[VintageJunior]

Wow. I wish I could build something like that - then I would have a use for this terminal I have.

[LivingdeadMetal]

That is really old, that PC Model and OS is from the 1970's. How did you get hold of that PC and CP/M? Could you please give me a download link or send me an email containing it? Please? 5/5, adding it to Favorites and Playlist!

[256byteram]

@LivingdeadMetal

I made it myself and ported CP/M to it. There's a link in the description.

[LivingdeadMetal]

@256byteram

I went there. Is there a download of CP/M there? Couldn't find it.

[256byteram]

No, there isn't. If you want to play with CP/M you can Google 'Altair 8800 simh' (no quotes). The first link has a mountain of CP/M disk images and a simulator.

[LivingdeadMetal]

@256byteram

Thanks, gotta love those TUI's (Text User Interface). Sometimes they look better to me. Like MS DOS. XD! And... s**t this was made in the 1970's and the first version of CP/M was in 1973. I wonder, could it be the first Desktop OS? Thanks anyway!

[seriouslybad6767]

was that puppy a dual boot floppy drive?! I remember when we got a 3 color monitor ... we thought it was the shiznitty!

[TheGamersGig]

dont know what it iz but it looks ancient

but if u built urself still nice job

[LivingdeadMetal]

@TheGamersGig

It is good but ancient! That was the first PC Model ever, by built (I think) he means he swapped cords around (that how they use to do it to create and use Operating Systems) and CP/M is the first EVER Disc Operating System and maybe even the first OS that had an Interface!

[256byteram]

@LivingdeadMetal

It's not the first PC model ever. I built it from scratch from about 2004 to 2007. It's just using really old technology. Have a look at the link in the description, there's more info about it.

[LivingdeadMetal]

@256byteram

Yeah but you got it from a very old PC right? I've seen them.

[256byteram]

I got the processors from some old industrial control equipment. The 8080 wasn't the first microprocessor either.

[LivingdeadMetal]

@256byteram

One of the first.

[256byteram]

To be pedantic, the first useful microprocessor.

[MrGoomba909]

Wow. I am astonished. You built your own 8080 computer. I'm just... Wow.

[RottenRroses]

The graphics are astonishing. The computer looks almost real.

[SouthwesternEagle]

Holy SH*T that's old!!

[Maestrp37388]

classic 15 stars!

[DrN0OB]

Party Like it's 1978!

[MrHal90000]

This could have been a LOT faster, the 8080 processor is not so bad;

1. The floppy drive is extremely slow

2. The display is not a real display card fed display, but just a serial terminal

[produKtNZ]

Hey, i was wondering if anyone can help me find a video.

It's of an 8080 pc, or maybe a 8086 playing a full screen video somehow. I lost the name of it :(

[256byteram]

Google '8088 Corruption'

[produKtNZ]

HAHA! That's it!

Thanks heaps :), i just forgot the text to search for so i could find it :P)

[PunjabYT]

omg it can handle zork

[mashersmasher]

i think the average wrist watch can handle zork :P

awesome that you were able to get this to actually work though!

[fartbarker]

sweet fancy moses

>kill princess

[GroovyMango]

Great!!

[Boneyourgod]

I recall so much frustration when I first played this. Still miss it today.

Also "Leather Goddesses of Phobos" and "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy". They are not the same in emulation.

[AFNYOAQIS]

i have zork 1 (original 5.25 disks) for the c64 i also have karateka on a 5.25 disk in mint condition for the c64. and from what i have heard, the c64 version of karateka is pretty rare. does anyone know what its worth?

[DoctorVernAcula]

Pity the shop is closed. An IDE drive now? This is a seriously good project! Back to coding 8080 machine code...

[DoctorVernAcula]

Great stuff. And on a proper green screen too. Your website is great - lots of photos of point to point wiring. If you get sick of the tedium of wiring, pop over to the N8VEM site where we have pre-made boards so you can build one of these in an evening. Though that is cheating a bit! I must get zork running on a N8VEM - the ram disk ought to make it quicker to boot. Keep posting the vids. PS we are in the same city, where did you get the boards?

[256byteram]

I got them from an old shop everyone seems to call Robbie's. He closed his doors in 2007. I think he opened in 1947. The shop was on Long Street at the end of Taplies Hill Road.

The reason why the disks were so slow was because I didn't have a correct interleave and they were formatted for FM. The system now has MFM disks and an IDE hard drive.

[moetube1337]

4 8 15 16 23 42

;P

[soulchip2]

LOL!!!! HAHHAAHAHAHAAH

[moetube1337]

execute!

;)

[cowboydan1991]

Looked like you were getting ready to launch a missile there for a minute

[rudeydudey05]

Nice, love the old tech, good to see people who still use machines like the Altair 8800 or IMSAI 8080.

What machine is this?

[256byteram]

I built it myself from scratch. I'll update the description with a link to my website about it.

[rudeydudey05]

Thats very impressive, i'd like to read more about it if you post it. Thanks.

[Robsie2300]

time to play halo !!!

[hyrulehistorian]

...so what do all those red lights mean?

and does the game play as slow as it loads?

[Robsie2300]

yea i think lolol

[ysflightman]

Crysis FTW

[thegamer1236]

i wonder what crysis would look like if it could run on that :3

[ysflightman]

it would be very....... green.....

[themaritimeman]

Pretty cool. I like CP/M. The green monitor is pretty cool, too.

[eramthin]

thats wicked fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LUSIANO1994]

U CAN PLAY WOW IN THAAT PC LOL ONLY A JK

[elreservista]

Uaaaaaaauu amazing!!! you have time!!

[bumblechicken69]

Lightning speed, lol.

I wonder how much an H-89 would cost me nowadays. I threw mine in the dumpster.

[debiani3866]

wow i would so totally fall in love with cp/m if i had a computer that could do it :P

[stupidfish100]

you should make a vid ofshowing the inside of ur vintage comp(s)

[Tracebebo]

How'd u get the CP/M in there?

[256byteram]

It's on the disks. I had to port it to my specific hardware myself. Gary Kildall had the wisdom to put everything that was system dependent into a thing called the BIOS (which is where the name for the PC BIOS comes from - but they're not the same). The rest of the OS doesn't need to be touched. Same applies for software.

[Strider505]

this thing could run crysis. no problem. silky smooth. lol just kidding. pretty nifty though.

[noooodl]

Yeah, but if zork 1 takes 20 seconds to load, humanity would have been extincted before the game even started! ;)

[1xWertzui]

A billion led on the front of the computer? Disk drives in a separate box? 1979 CP/M? If that is not oldschool then I don't know what is it. Who says that a Pentium with Windows 95 is old, knows nothing about computing!

@Strider505 Well imagine your Crysis as a Wolfenstein 3D clone with monochrome ASCII graphics (characters as pixels) and beeping sound effects, that is more possible...

[KoroOutbreak]

Man, this brings back memories. My first machine was an 8088, it loaded Zork a staggering 4-5 seconds faster.

[bebeo4]

OF CORSE! Games roxzorz mai boxzorz

[soylentgreenb]

Ah, complete with a clicky keyboard(buckling spring?)

[256byteram]

no just a dodgy microphone in the camera.

[Lyrelia]

Ah, those opening words will be forever etched in my mind. Cut leaflet. lol

Well done.

[Logsdaman11]

you built this?

[256byteram]

yes

[Eatingshooting]

spoiled, we are

[DNARevolutions]

Could I have your computer? XD

The first computer age were the good times.

[iPodGameNerddottube]

back when computers started in garages.

awsome

[iPodGameNerddottube]

back when computers started in garages.

awsome

[curlyfriesaretasty]

in 1998 we went straight from DOS to windows 98.

not sure of the model number of our DOS machine but it was an IBM running MS-DOS, had a 5.25" floppy drive, black / yellow screen, and a dot matrix printer!

[Vyggy]

The long-lost B: drive! So its a floppy drive, then? Oh yea, nice computer you have there.

[firepower01]

Old school indeed

[romesfaith]

lol I love how there's a loading time for Zork xD

[flunk09]

NOOOO! The mailbox is a trap!

[draw123]

cool!

[JoeChrisMorris]

Watch out for that lurking grue! (GRUEsome)

[pvx]

Also, bonus points for the Wyse terminal. ;);)

[pvx]

Awesome machine you built, even has the programming switches/LEDs on it. That is quite hardcore. :) (Have you ever loaded any programs into it using such?)

[256byteram]

Unfortunately none of the switches let you enter data into the memory. The four to the left are Reset, Single-Step, Stop and Start. The eight switches to the right are readable in software from port 0FFh, the top most row of LED's to the right are writeable at the same port. I use them for debugging hardware and software and for real time program flow control. The Wyse terminal is an old WY-50 which a friend found in a dumpster.

[Pugopugo]

Very nice to see your collection! I collect computers and videogames myself and it was very inspiring to see your machines. I wish I could rearrange my collection room in some way, to be able to display my stuff as nice as you do!

[256byteram]

heh the video doesn't show the rest of the room ;)

[Pugopugo]

Yes, sorry, miscommented and didn't find any way to remove my post. It was about another video. But CP/M on green glowing screen isn't bad either! ;)

[nitewaves77]

<3 Those were the days...

[nicolunacba]

Hey! I am making a computer too! Ok, it's a pocket calculator. But it is great!!!

[MrNoahTall]

Ah.... CP/M. I still have a Sanyo MBC 1000 running a Z-80 with 64k RAM w/ CP/M and WordStar, etc. in a box out in the garage. The sucker was like $4000 brand new. Those were the days. We gotta remember our roots. Good stuff.

[cutebikerwannabe]

Is that a Altair?

[256byteram]

No I made it myself. There are pictures of the internals on my website, link's in the description.

[thisismyname007]

North! South! Open mailbox. Take bird!

[kingcrimson123]

haha NICE! wow, cp/m... talk about oldschool!