2026 Retrocomputing Problem: A Homebrew Pc In Solely Three ICs

Homebrew computer systems don’t should be retrocomputers, however [Just4Fun]’s all-through-hole, 68008-based “68k-MBC” definitely qualifies, so it’s a worthy entry in our ongoing contest. While there are each “full” and “lite” {hardware} configurations, the three-IC “lite” configuration is what first caught our eye. Yes, three: the 68008, an SRAM chip, and a PIC microcontroller that acts because the ROM.

Software is supplied by the suitably-retro CP/M68K, or standalone executables, which run on each {hardware} configurations. The “lite” choice restricts you to a most of 512 KB of RAM and a single serial port, however it seems to be such as you nonetheless get I2C and the choice to plug in an SD “exhausting drive” or RTC module nonetheless you configure the machine. Through the serial port, you’ll be able to in fact join a terminal of you alternative, and even use a thermal printer. The “full” model has two serial ports, if you wish to do each. [Just4Fun] additionally has a parallel adapter enables you to plug in printers with that interface as properly. The demo video is under, however be warned that the text-to-speech narration received’t be to everybody’s liking.

We’ve featured different single-board-computers utilizing the 68k earlier than, however this one is a worthy contender in our contest, not least for the impressively low chip rely. This contest has gotten oodles of entries, however there’s nonetheless time for yours: entries shut October twenty seventh.