In mid-April I talked about the Xi 8088 kit that lets us build an 8-bit computer. Even with the advantage of PCBs, getting the parts isn't easy, but there's another way to assemble a computer... and that's to go even deeper. By that I mean connecting multiple protoboards using wires, switches, LEDs, and chips. Engineer and developer Ben Eater took the trouble to document the entire construction process, publishing more than 40 videos on YouTube.
Regardless of the format, the truth is that we use computers every day. Personally, I'm convinced that the vast majority of our readers know how to assemble their own PC and adapt the general configuration to their needs, but let's pause here and imagine the construction process from scratch. Logic gates, transistors, registers, the arithmetic logic unit, memory, buses... it gives a bit of a chill. Fortunately, documentation is more than abundant, and a good part of it can be found free on the Internet. One of those responsible is engineer and developer Ben Eater, who published over 40 videos on the construction of an 8-bit computer, one cable at a time. This is the intro:
The book behind the build
This super tutorial emerged as a response to several requests Eater received after publishing his first video about his 8-bit computer in February 2015. One of the most important details in the introduction video is the material Eater uses as a source: "Digital Computer Electronics" by Albert Paul Malvino, a book that's quite hard to find (unless you're willing to pay $27 on Amazon for its third edition). Now, when I say "from scratch", I'm not exaggerating: Eater covers all topics, from building and testing registers to designing the ALU, through creating the RAM and error detection... because if you're working with such a nest of wires, you're bound to make a mistake or two.
Parts and cost
The complete parts list was published on the official blog (link below), and with a quick calculation, I can say the final cost of this project lands just under $200 in the worst case (there's always the option to recycle). Eater's dedication is admirable, and I wish good luck to anyone who tries to follow in his footsteps.
Resources
Official site: eater.net/8bit | YouTube playlist: Building an 8-bit computer
