NobodyIsHere
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2006
- Messages
- 2,410
I would like to know if there are S-100 computer building kits available.
In the early 1980's I used to be able to buy empty circuit cards for IBM PC clone computers, purchase the components, solder up the boards, test, and use them. I made a memory card and a floppy disk controller. A friend made an IBM PC clone motherboard the same way. It was inexpensive and a lot of fun.
Years later (early 1990's) I did something similiar building a VHF radio transceiver from Ramsey Electronics. I also built a Poor Man's Packet TNC adapter modem and attached it to my PC to do packet radio. It was by far the most interesting thing I ever did Ham radio.
I would like to do the same thing but building an S-100 based computer.
Do any companies sell just plain empty S-100 cards, motherboards, cases, etc? Something inexpensive that could be built up one component at a time.
If S-100 based kits are not available, where can I start with kit building a computer? I am not interested in just assembling ready made parts to form another clone computer like a P4 or Athlon. Ideally, it would run something like CP/M or linux and avoid the whole modern x86 type machines.
I saw the AltairKit.com website but $1499 is a bit steep to begin kit building.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Andrew Lynch
In the early 1980's I used to be able to buy empty circuit cards for IBM PC clone computers, purchase the components, solder up the boards, test, and use them. I made a memory card and a floppy disk controller. A friend made an IBM PC clone motherboard the same way. It was inexpensive and a lot of fun.
Years later (early 1990's) I did something similiar building a VHF radio transceiver from Ramsey Electronics. I also built a Poor Man's Packet TNC adapter modem and attached it to my PC to do packet radio. It was by far the most interesting thing I ever did Ham radio.
I would like to do the same thing but building an S-100 based computer.
Do any companies sell just plain empty S-100 cards, motherboards, cases, etc? Something inexpensive that could be built up one component at a time.
If S-100 based kits are not available, where can I start with kit building a computer? I am not interested in just assembling ready made parts to form another clone computer like a P4 or Athlon. Ideally, it would run something like CP/M or linux and avoid the whole modern x86 type machines.
I saw the AltairKit.com website but $1499 is a bit steep to begin kit building.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Andrew Lynch
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