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Feasbility of buying and owning an S-100 compatible computer?

Hi All;

Jnz, I would need to look at John's Homepage to be sure.. But, I think in His Video's they mostly would be stand alone for initial checkout.. But, Yes, You are right You would need to get the following for a Minimal System..
A motherBoard and Power Supply, At first You could use an old PC type of Power Supply, I keep my old ones for just this reason..
A Z-80 Cpu, later, You could get other type of processors..
A Memory Board, Anything from 2K to 2 Meg, would be enough to get You started, You could add more memory later..
A Serial card of some sort, preferably two ports..
"" How do I verify the operation of something like a Z80 CPU card without also configuring a memory card and SIO board? An oscilloscope? ""
A scope would be the top of the line, but at first Led's, or a Monitor or FrontPanel Board would work just as well..
"" Is there a standard metal component that can hold S-100 bus cards? ""
After you get a motherboard, You could then measure both Length and width and height and find something on the internet, that would fit what You have.. A plane Bare chassis Would be cheaper than one that has an Old name on it, like Altair, Imsai, etc.. And later, when funds are there You could get something with a name on it..
A Desk would be Ok, as long as its Not metal, I do alot here on my Wooden Kitchen Table..
Go look at my Links for my various machines, like my PDP 11/45 or my PDP 11/40 and Yes I have an Altair 8800 and my current project my PDP 8i Clone in/with wire-wrap sockets..
THANK YOU Marty
 
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JNZ said:
This is a neat idea too. In terms of chassis, I'm drawn to metal chassis and bus monitors or other useful and unique looking front panels. Is there a standard metal component that can hold S-100 bus cards? Something I can attach a backplane (or do you call them active-terminated motherboards?) to, so that at least I'm not connecting S-100 cards on my desk?

How do I verify the operation of something like a Z80 CPU card without also configuring a memory card and SIO board? An oscilloscope?
Click to expand...

Well, if you have the Bus Monitor you would be able to use that to confirm things are happening.

A minimal Z80 system with the current s100computers.com boards would be something like:
-16 & 8V power supplies
-A backplane
-The bus monitor card
-Z80 CPU (w/onboard EPROM for the monitor)
-1MB PROM/RAM card or 4MB RAM card (1MB is simpler and cheaper to build, the SRAM chips are expensive to populate the 4MB card)
-Serial IO card

That should get you to the ROM monitor with a serial terminal. Then you could decide what other cards to add based on cost and availability of parts.
 
Thanks Marty and MarsMan2020 for that information. I don't yet have access to the N8VEM wiki (which is frustratingly private), so I can't check, but what's the availability like on the PCBs for those sorts of cards? Not necessarily all of them, but is it the sort of thing where I'll be sitting for six months waiting to have the card I need to progress to the next step in checking and building my system?
 
JNZ said:
Thanks Marty and MarsMan2020 for that information. I don't yet have access to the N8VEM wiki (which is frustratingly private), so I can't check, but what's the availability like on the PCBs for those sorts of cards? Not necessarily all of them, but is it the sort of thing where I'll be sitting for six months waiting to have the card I need to progress to the next step in checking and building my system?
Click to expand...

There are some hosting issues with the wiki which is why it is set to private right now (all the information is still there).

The way it works is usually John M. does an initial run of a small quantity of a board that gets tested, then different people have taken "ownership" of different boards and handle getting them made and distributing them once they are "stable".

I am looking at the list right now and all the ones you would want show that people have them, but you'd probably want to send some emails and check.
 
MarsMan2020 said:
There are some hosting issues with the wiki which is why it is set to private right now (all the information is still there).

The way it works is usually John M. does an initial run of a small quantity of a board that gets tested, then different people have taken "ownership" of different boards and handle getting them made and distributing them once they are "stable".

I am looking at the list right now and all the ones you would want show that people have them, but you'd probably want to send some emails and check.
Click to expand...

That's pretty encouraging. Thanks!

I'm really excited about this project, but I'm going to do more research. Still, I entered this thinking my only option was to buy an original Altair for $3-6k and turn it on once a month, pretty much just rubbing a baby diaper on it like a Ferrari.

Is it unrealistic to think I could have it running most of the time, executing some program or doing a simple task? Would an ECB-based computer, like the Zeta 2 SBC or N8VEM Mark IV be more practical for this?
 
I have the Z80 CPU, ZFDC (Floppy Controller), 4mb SRAM, 8088 and 8086 CPU PC Boards available, and others have most anything you'd need to get started. PM me and I can direct you to the correct folks and copy the availability to you.

The Zeta or Zeta2 SBC along with the Propeller card makes an easy CP/M entry.

- Gary
 
Hi All;

JNZ, "" I'm really excited about this project, but I'm going to do more research. Still, I entered this thinking my only option was to buy an original Altair for $3-6k and turn it on once a month, pretty much just rubbing a baby diaper on it like a Ferrari. ""
Actually, with the new boards, and new type of power supplies, You could have it on for days at a time..
And with my Altair, I put in switching power Supplies, and left in and only disconnected the origional power supplies And so I did and could run it for hours at a time..
So, no it can run regularly, especially if You are using John's Boards..

Here is the link for the site and the Boards that are available.. Look at the video's and His links for buying the boards along with the cost of the boards..

http://www.s100computers.com/My System Index Page.htm

THANK YOU Marty
 
smp said:
Yes, I agree with your concern about the water damage description. I cannot make any of that out in the pictures shown. Those pictures show a very decent looking system. I suggest that you contact the Seller and ask if he might provide pictures of the boards individually.

If that's you bidding on the unit, I will not over-bid you. :)

smp
Click to expand...

Hey, stop that! That's me you are bidding against. :rolleyes:

I agree that the boards could be toast, or, it might be a massive re-socketing job. Either way, it's going to be a lot of work to restore the original boards - it it's even possible.

Jim
 
Whoever wins it should have to post plenty of pictures of the restoration, complete with a video of it being resurrected!

There's simply not enough S-100 or ECB content on YouTube.
 
A beginner SBC board for the S100 bus.

A beginner SBC board for the S100 bus.

Guys, I thinking of trying to solve the chicken/egg problem by doing a single Z80 based S100 board that would contain 64K RAM, EEPROM, PS/2 keyboard input as well as a host of indicator LED's and jumpers to deactivate ROM/RAM keyboard etc. one at a time as other boards are added to get new people started on the S100 bus.

The only part I'm not sure of is what to do about console output/video. Was thinking of using the basic Propeller Console IO circuit
http://s100computers.com/My System Pages/Console IO Board/Console IO Board.htm

but this requires programming its two wire serial EEPROM with Parallaxes software and USB adaptor/software. Do you think that is outside the range capability of most newcomers. Alternatively we could go with a straight serial output to some dumb terminal IBM PC terminal emulator. Open also to other suggestions.

John
 
Hi All;

John, For my two cents worth, I would go with the Serial Port, as more people would find that easier to get going..
I for myself would not know how, nor have the means to program the Parallex..
And the same would probably be for the USB adaptor/software..

THANK YOU Marty
 
John -

The propeller console is very sweet, I'd encourage you to include it. Almost anyone who can program the boot EEPROM could also program the serial EEPROM directly. You wouldn't need the Parallax USB hookup or software unless you planned to modify the firmware.

Many of us would also be happy to program the EEPROM's up for folks getting started - and eliminate one potential source of frustration.

It might also be worthwhile to "piggyback" onto the software available for the Zeta2/ParPortProp and use the same port addressing etc. That way the RomWBW and SD card images could be used on both systems - having CP/M in ROM is rather nice.

- Gary

monahan_z said:
Guys, I thinking of trying to solve the chicken/egg problem by doing a single Z80 based S100 board that would contain 64K RAM, EEPROM, PS/2 keyboard input as well as a host of indicator LED's and jumpers to deactivate ROM/RAM keyboard etc. one at a time as other boards are added to get new people started on the S100 bus.

The only part I'm not sure of is what to do about console output/video. Was thinking of using the basic Propeller Console IO circuit
http://s100computers.com/My System Pages/Console IO Board/Console IO Board.htm

but this requires programming its two wire serial EEPROM with Parallaxes software and USB adaptor/software. Do you think that is outside the range capability of most newcomers. Alternatively we could go with a straight serial output to some dumb terminal IBM PC terminal emulator. Open also to other suggestions.

John
Click to expand...
 
On the other hand, a simple TTL-to-USB serial dongle (4 wire) runs less than $2 shipped on eBay and would probably satisfy the needs of most folks for text output. I used to build prototypes using the FTDI chips for serial-to-USB output, but given the cheap Chinese adapters, it doesn't make any sense--and you don't need +/-12 or converter (e.g. MAX232) to get RS232C signal levels.
 
Tor said:
ok, somebody got it? I noticed the bid doubled in the last few seconds.

-Tor
Click to expand...

Yep, that was me. :D I had to clench my jaw for the last few seconds, but thankfully whoever it was ran out of time before they could top my bid at the end.

So, finally, I have an S-100 system! This will certainly be a learning experience and probably a long winter project, especially after seeing the close-ups of the boards.

Jim
 
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