DUO ADEPT: An 8-bit Homebrew Computer

[nsaarela]

How have you implemented the instruction fetch from memory? I mean you have 1-byte opcodes and 3 bytes of arguments, right? So if the memory is byte addressable, how can you access all the 4 bytes during a single instruction? This issue has been troubling me in my own CPU implementation. Any tips would be appreciated!

[Esperantanaso]

@nsaarela The clock has several steps for loading an instruction. The CPU first loads the opcode, then enters a loop wherein it loads 2 or 3 arguments (1 per step). After that is done, the CPU executes the instruction. Look on my site for a more thorough description.

[nsaarela]

Oh, and what software did you use to do the schematics with?

[Esperantanaso]

@nsaarela MS Paint. :>

[nsaarela]

This is just incredible work! I'm designing my own 8-bit CPU with Logisim at the moment, while learning the stuff from a book. How did you come up with this design? I mean could you possibly link the schematics for the GPU, CPU or both, just to give me some idea how this stuff works? And how did you learn this much advanced electronic during highschool? I'm currently studying electronics in college and I still can't come up with such ideas as this.

This is simply some amazing work you did :D

[lovelplants]

amazing.. i dont know those stuff so i want to learn it.

[Groose1972]

Pretty cool, good job.

[SuperBunkerbuster]

Awesome, it runs and calculates fast for a homemade computer with TTL chips !

If you were 40 years older, you would have been the 70s computer star instead of Steve Jobs and his Apple I

[OldTimeyJunk]

That is seriously the most awesome thing I've ever seen...

[SeestarSunrunner]

wow...

[Pitzik4TheGreat]

Awesome! I'm designing a computer which I plan on building in a similar way. Right now I'm working on the machine code. Which I've been working on for a couple months now. I was surprised and impressed when I saw the muffin game. I doubt my computer will be fast enough to run any game effectively.

[jdflyback]

I can't belive that you wired and programed such simple chips I didn't think these chips were capaple if it. How many transistors do each chip have and how long did it take to write muffins?

[Esperantanaso]

@jdflyback Most of the chips have around 50-100 transistors, I think. Muffins took a few days to make. Machine code isn't very convenient!

[irascib1e]

What kind of instruction set architecture did you use for your processor? RISC I'm assuming. What kind of instructions did you use? I'm awfully curious about this. Please respond!!!

[Esperantanaso]

@irascib1e The instruction set is of my own design. I would say it is RISC. See my webpage in the description for details.

[keoni29]

Lots of noise in your gpu. Do you have a lowpass filter?

[tuhinbhatt1]

odd question...what is song(music)

[DoomedYouth666]

Congratulations, man! This is incredible! Hope you get a job with Microsoft, or better yet, take down Microsoft with your own "The Ultra Duo Adept" OS :)

[etaxalo]

OMG !!!

sir you have all my respect

[saintconnnor]

omg, pong :o

im loving it

[bobolopop]

I've just finished doing the schematic for my 8 bit ALU, started on the controller side of things and the RAM and have a pretty good Idea of how I'll do that. Just wondering mainly about the GPU, as I can't seem to find anything about it on the intertubes. What resource did you use for desgining that mainly and if possible could I peek at your circuit diagram?

[legokidnaruto]

absolutely amazing!! im making my own but im designing it first in logisim. :P but i do wonder how you made the graphics side...

[ghwizz]

glorious.

[NLS87]

BTW, next time, try first with logic simulation, then FPGA/PLD, then TTL ;) or CMOS logic for that matter… :)

[NLS87]

Wow! Awesome!

[twoofakindmagic]

I've been watching your videos since the initial conception of the duo. Having some experience with TTL logic, I can understand the amount of effort it took to make this. This is extremely impressive and I hope that you get very far in life.

[j00p1234]

As a 20 year old computer science student I must say: I am very impressed.

[StormHammy]

This was a triumph.

I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.

[sciman001]

is this project DONE? Whats next?

[RagnisArmus]

How much did it cost?

[myguitardidyermom12]

blue wires everywhere...imagine the debugging headaches

[rampage241]

wow this is awesome, good job

[jaimorjv]

Congratulations... now a days is not easy find projects like this... most people like the easier way to do things, in this case just a microcontroller or FPGA. You had realized that the knowledge you got with this project was superb than any other with current technologies. So, my conclussion based upon many years of experience that is fantastic to know real basis of things. You will be a real scientific, not just a simple technology implementor.

[RetroGamerVX]

Wow, I would LOVE to be able to do something like that, but would not have a clue where to start lol. That's some dedication there, how many hours do you think it took to do that?

[DuarteOnTheLine]

hmmm thats nice...LOL

I really could use some help building a graphic processor... scart to plub on the tv.. but i dont have enough skills lol

[M3n747]

Kinda looks like the Amiga prototype with all those wires. Impressive!

[fridgelawless]

way to kick ass. Will look awesome on the cv.

" Yeah I built my own computer using basic logic gates then designed an os for it and built some games.

- for fun

- with no formal education in the field

- when I was 18/19."

you ain't going to struggle for job offers.

[hugeliuz]

¿can i see redtube on this?...

thumbs ups moth3rfockers

[weed2luke]

this is cool but nothing can beat the DUO 14 PREMIUM

[BI05Gameplay]

one word SOOOOSWEEEEETTMANIMPOSTINGTHIS­ONFACEBOOK!

[Daver14X]

In the future, EMPs from nuclear wars wipe out all electronics and we will be again reduced to simple technology, this man will design simple processors to run machines built to survive the post-apocalyptic world. Eventually, this essential survival skill will be a common trade among the few who scavenge the earth for sustenance and rebuild civilization. However, the necessary resources used to build more advanced processors will be lost and thus a new age dawns : Eightbitopia.

[KlingonOG]

Epic! How well does Crysis run on it?

[TheDeadlyKind]

I wish! It's machine code!

[MightySavagE]

whoa, impressive, most impressive!

[TristEndo]

Truly impressive sir. I see good things in your future :)

[skyhigh007]

You Need to start come out a new brand of computer! Start your own brand like Gates and Jobs did.

[MrIgorNT]

Мы тоже в свое время компики собирали сами и это было в порядке вещей, а сейчас нах никому не нужно. Пошел да купил. Нормальный ноут или системник.

ZX Spectrum Foreva!!!!

[fallingwater]

Very interesting! I just wish you'd started working for someone I hated less than Microsoft, but congratulations nonetheless :)

BTW, what's the chiptune in the video?

[HertzBlut]

This is truly amazing. *hats of to you* Thank you for sharing :)

[thaboinger]

This is so awesome!

[PaladinMark]

what causes the random noise / squares that flicker all over the screen?

Ps. Super cool project

[longblackjimmy]

How many chips did you burn out?

[longblackjimmy]

I had a hernia after seeing the wiring. I'm sure that was really fun to debug.

Amazing work.

[danmick101]

thats a SHIT load of breadboards

[mrtamborineman10]

you have a job lined up at microsoft? :0

[tommyspade]

My gast is flabbered. My mind boggles at the thought of trying to build a computer from pretty much first principles alone.

[CzechDDR]

Respect!!

[jerrya27]

verry impressive who ever dislikes this is just mad cause they are tards and could never ever build anything this complex

[FutureLaugh]

Ide like to nominate this kid to win the Thiel Fellowship grant

[t0msw1ft]

What is the name of the track playing in the background?

[garrettw87]

Aside from myself, I wonder how many other people now feel like utter failures.

[lonelyday91]

did you make this vid on your computer? oh sorry, just joking :)

[adpdesign]

Very cool project. Nice job!

[s5SnipEmo]

You know if you could get it to do random useless effects and snap a Mac logo on it you could sell it for 3k or more :P

[Herearetheundead]

@s5SnipEmo so, you can't afford a mac, right :p

[JBGigas]

This... This is AMAZING! Great work!

[toahagahiruni]

This is pretty awesome, but I just love the music. What is it, perchance?

[weezel2007]

At least when you say to people you meet that you built your own computer, you can say it with a cheeky grin as they'll probably not realize what you truly meant :P

[justkiddingrollin]

buy a playstaiton kid

[MrSpc4]

You need to get a job at DARPA

[batlin]

Wow amazing stuff. Nice soundtrack for the vid too :) Keep up the hard work!

[StOnEdStE11]

Wow, what a utter legend. i thought i knew what i was doing when it comes down to computers, but jeeezusss nice work man, you must be very proud :)

[faiz434]

How old are you?

[Esperantanaso]

@faiz434 I'm turning 19 soon.

[faiz434]

@Esperantanaso Damn you're sick!

[jeffzero0]

awesome :) quite a retro machine :D love it. now you could add a sound chip from a C64 for some sound effects :)

[fiedel]

Very well. Since you got Pong covered, next logical step would be implementing a webserver and hook it up to the internets :)

[suedeslove]

love, love, love the track- what is it???... ALSO it doesn't take away from the sheer ingeniousness of your new toy!!

[junitono1]

But can it run Crysis at max?

[lgblgblgblgb]

It seems memory access of the video subsystem conflicts with the CPU accesses, so there is some snowing. However that's just part of the retro feeling anyway, as it was there with some old commercial computers as well :) Nice work!

[gonza7807]

This is great!!! I´ll use your video to inspire my students!! Thanks man

[Fraudzter]

HOW WOULD YOU INSTALL A GAME? >.<

[royrobotiks]

Superb!



[grinick]

What's the music?

[quake63]

This is awesome! Good stuff

[SJMSim]

Wish I had the kind of immense knowledge needed to make anything even remotely as good as this... great job! Now invent a time machine, and go back to 1947 and build one there, before Bill Gates has a chance ;)

[qoaa]

yea.... can it play crysis?

hehe really good job though

[subtheo]

Those who like this project should check out the Magic-1 homebrew computer. It's a much more complex machine that can run Minix (from wich Linux was derived) and actual programs. Also comes with DRAM and an IDE hard drive.

But it doesn't have the charm of the Duo :-)

[Donaldo]

Nice work. Don't work at Microsoft or Apple they're evil.

[ElecDashTronDotOrg]

Great work mate!

[aljoshabre]

I envy you, young colleague.

[NeronAurelio]

fucking genious im gonna kick ur ass for serious

[wakkowb]

Just amazing Grats!!!

[Black1056g]

Man...this is fu*king awesome! you have my glory!

Keep goin ;D

And i think you can be more and more better :)

[orlandotech]

does it run DukeNukemForever?

[Black1056g]

@orlandotech I dont't think so :D

[DieFrikadelle]

Simply amazing.

[Kevterminator]

Oh and Sorry, but no Words can Express how awesome this is :D

Really Amazing Work.

[Kevterminator]

Will it blend?

[Carlit0Tit0]

@Kevterminator lmfao!

[iToasterman]

I bet it runs portal 2...

[iToasterman]

Your on engadget :D congrats

[l7ll7ll7l]

loved the creative case

[linuxrealpower]

THIS IS AMAZING !!!

[syrus3k]

This is extremely impressive. I bet 99% of people here don't get how hard and time consuming it must have been to do this! Well done!

[jespdj]

What a great project Jack! Well done.

[denebgarza]

Amazing! Where did you get all your "informal" education on electronics? Google? Books? Both!? NEITHER!?!?

[Esperantanaso]

@denebgarza Google, other YouTube users, personal experimentation, and of course the datasheets for each chip.

[EveryThingInOneMusic]

@Esperantanaso That is exactly how I am learning all of my stuff on electronics.

[umloginqualquer]

Awesomeness: achievement unlocked.

[haleystorm31]

YEAH JACK!!!

[codenamex927]

@haleystorm31 thumbs up if you think haleystorm31 is a noob!

[ccaldera87]

man that's awesome! what a piece of work!!!

[chilenoneto]

I' ll try to port linux to that .... LOL

[ChristianRH90]

Nice job man. That's just amazing

[2xuq773pps]

but can it blend?...hahah but seriously nice job

[wakka247]

You can be really proud of yourself! Just amazing. How old are you at the moment?

[ownage300]

imagine what you did.. and imagine there are like 3D things already.. damn where is this all going to.. interesting..^_^

[douro20]

You could call it a miniprocessor.

[Esperantanaso]

@douro20 Or macroprocessor? :P

[Forgineers]

@Esperantanaso You do know Steve Woz commented on Engadet about you write? He said:

"I can smile.

Jack, we should get together someday...steve at woz dot org."

Email him bro! You could meet and talk with the Apple Co-Founder you lucky bastard!!!

[wensis2006]

you are a genius! :D..

[MonsterMikeMonster]

Now go back in time and make the first pc!

If you didn't do that already.

[TitaniumLocker]

@MonsterMikeMonster first he needs to make a time portal then. but maybe he already did in the future?

[yousuckhardtime]

Next step:

Build a macbook

ohh teh irony.

[cossackxxx]

whats the song

[DirkVDV01]

@cossackxxx: My First LSDJ by Derris Kharlan

[cossackxxx]

@DirkVDV01 thanks for your fast reaction! :D

[mrn95]

haha oke thanks

i get it!!

NIce jobb



[codenamex927]

5 people don't like muffins.

[lurynowicz]

Excellent job!!!!

[desertbard]

Reminds me of my old Altair which was a !@#$ to assemble. Later I had a COSMAC ELF by RCA. Now that was an easy one to put together, but by the time I did the TRS-80 model 1 had really dropped in price. You went through a lot of work on this one since you can get a lot on one chip now days.

[SamuraiM0]

Now get a job at microsoft and be the new bill gates :D

[Esperantanaso]

@SamuraiM0 It is funny you should say that, because my job at Microsoft starts next month. ;)

[SamuraiM0]

@Esperantanaso Damn dude Congrats! I'm so jealous of you :P

P.s In which department are you gone work?

[Esperantanaso]

@SamuraiM0 Application virtualization. It rhymes. :P

[SeanOMatic]

@Esperantanaso

Good stuff. Virtualization is really getting bigger and bigger. 

[xynix1986]

@Esperantanaso

Congrats! and keep up the good work!!

[CalyptratusTZM]

@Esperantanaso Oh man, that's sad news. Such a tradgedy when talanted makers gets lost in the realm of proprietary greedbased corporate filth, putting their efforts in holding back development and beeing a generall parasite on society =( -R.I.P. Esperantanaso's soul....

[stavnir91]

@Esperantanaso You can do THAT and you sell yourself to micro$oft?

Wow, that's a waste.

[XXXMRcoolkidXXX]

@Esperantanaso Shame, DOW Chemical could use people like you, sure Microsoft has you? In any case, good luck! Stick with the computers and get a degree!

[crazyceezy]

this is really cool

[alfvicente]

That's great, but... WILL IT BLEND??

[ArmenianPower09]

nice, but did you see the gorilla?

[1000Errors]

WOW! We're really living in the future now! ;)

[Dininiful]

But, can it make guacemole?

[WeFailinEMS]

8bit music + 8bit computer = Pure awsom3 n355

[mrn95]

i dont get it,....

[Esperantanaso]

@mrn95 I made a computer using simple parts. It lets you play games and stuff.

[Epkeee]

You are a genius!

[Whiteheadache]

But, will it blend?

[makedaevilmage]

Wow that's really cewl :D

Love the music to, can buy/download it somewhere !?

[Tcete1923]

the calculate thing was crazy

[888WhildChild888]

Wow, nice work!

[tony2001iscool]

cool

[ricodelta1]

i built one of them when i was 13,,sorry esper but im better than you

[SlickSlaw]

Well done you! Your computer is great!!!

[bolleaap9]

very nice ;D

[Cryptarchy]

I want to be like you when I gr- never mind, too late.

[rubenwashier]

but... will it blend

just joking

[IILarrII]

welcome to duo os :) you made my day :D

[nathanallan1]

That Get Muffins game was Mario straight up! Loved it! I had no idea Mario liked muffins. NICE!

[wiidsgamer]

no dislikes sweet :)

[Jumpen4Fun]

@wiidsgamer Why do you say that? there is always a retard reading your comment and then disliking it....

[simo4]

respect for you... respect!

[JeffCarlson84]

Very impressive, sir. You must have the patience of a saint because the wiring alone would have driven me insane. I've created a few different logic gates, adders and counters purely from transistors, but would never attempt to undertake a feat such as yours for fear of giving up halfway through once I realize I can just buy an 8-bit cpu for a song. I have no doubt you've got a bright future in EE, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or... hell, just about anything you choose to pursue.

[digitalintent]

This is awesome. Keep using that brain.

[retrocopy]

I should add this system to RetroCopy... :D

[TheAgamemnon911]

If it is Turing complete (which I assume it is) it can run anything - even Crysis. The interesting question is: At what framerate?

Anyway: Words cannot describe the awesomeness of this thing.

[Esperantanaso]

@TheAgamemnon911 If the memory were infinitely expandable, the DUO Adept would be Turing Complete. With color graphics, sound, and a lot more memory, the machine could run Crysis.

[TheAgamemnon911]

@Esperantanaso Oh, right... -infinite- memory... (DO'H my mistake)

About half of what that game seems to need... ;)

So, do you plan on expanding on the DUO or do you consider the project finished?

[Orvtrebor]

very cool man, nice work

[Nerobi]

This is awesome. Very cool and impressive stuff, now you just need to build an add-on board with some audio oscillators too so your computer can play its own chiptunes. :D

[vibonacci]

@Ryuuken24

You are so shortsighted. Ofc he did it for fun and to learn how to do it and to show that he can. Incredible.