A 6502 Single Board Computer built from scrap!

This is my Hackaday Prize summary video for the 2022 Hackaday prize.
For the full overview watch: • My 6502 SBC R1 Complet...
The ABN6502 R1 is a retrocomputer, a development board and an amazing experience to play with!
Source code and hardware files: github.com/And...
Project description and log:
hackaday.io/pr...
#hackadayprize
Credits:
Video by Tom Fisk: www.pexels.com...

[@AndersNielsenAA]

UPDATE - The SBC is now available as a kit with most SMD components presoldered right here: www.imania.dk/index.php?currency=EUR&cPath=204&sort=5a&language=en Come join the free clubhouse on Discord: discord.gg/kmhbxAjQc3

[@AlexeyFilippenkoPlummet]

I'm also a fan of reusing! In terms of microelectronics, I wish someone made an 8-bit style operating system for modern devices. Remember how OS was loaded as soon as you pressed the power button, and how 80s machines were doing so many tasks on such limited resources? If we compare old hardware with modern one, even with obsolete cheap devices like old phones, the difference is immense. And so, if someone wrote an OS with high efficiency as the priority, we could end up transforming e-waste into devices that are very useful and very fast. Imagine if all the 5 y.o. phones and 10 y.o. computers that get thrown into landfields were to be remade into useful desired things. The dream.

[@m.l.5284]

Fun fact, back in the 90s, I tried to build a simple computer, that could do home automation. Because there were no microcontrollers acailable, I had to use a 6502 some RAM, ROM and IO chips. Now I we have these super cheap and easy to program microcontrollers, and now people want to go back using discrete retro components.

[@VenturiLife]

They're actually grinding up electronics just for the copper content now, it's wild. That's why retro boards are getting so rare and expensive these days.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

Well at least the PCBs - you can’t sell them with the amount of lead they contain anyway, so once they leave their country of origin as e-waste they’re doomed. At least the ICs are getting refurbished from that process.

[@Dinkleberg96]

Absolutly amazing! And u made it free for everyone too! 10/10 Subbed!

[@jimmy21584]

Great idea! Coincidentally I have started scavenging the infrared receivers out of the busted up dumped TVs which litter the streets of Berlin. They interface directly with microcontrolller GPIOs, and so can add remote control or beacon detection to any project for free and almost zero effort.

[@paulspark7287]

Hehehe. I'm building my own homebrew 6502 machine (with the newer WDC 3.3v capable 6502) but I have a stack of NMOS 6502 & 6522 CPUs in my drawers.. so I just HAVE to build your SBC for a bit of soldering fun. Hopefully I have enough logic chips to finish it. Better check the BOM. Thanks for sharing. Your video logic will be simpler than the complicated crap I have implemented in my FPGA - I will probably learn a thing or two!

[@AndersNielsenAA]

If you haven't ordered the PCB yet, you might be happy you waited a bit - I made a few (untested) improvements. hackaday.io/project/184725-abn6502-sbc-r1/log/213702-hobby-friendly-gerbers-available

[@paulspark7287]

@@AndersNielsenAA I have a packet of your PCBs sitting on my desk just waiting for a bunch of components to arrive. I also stuffed up my own PCB in rushing it for the Xmas hols.. I can't wait until the day comes where you can buy a cheap PCB printer of some form 🙂

[@happysprollie]

Great project. I downloaded the KiCad files and was on the verge of ordering a PCB when I realised how many 0805 and even 0402 parts it uses. My old hands don't work well with anything much below 1206. But a sweet system, nonethless.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

The 0402’s are only meant as solder jumpers - no actual 0402 parts needed - I underestimated how hard it is to actually solder jumper them so I’ll have to change those to dedicated solder jumper pads for the next build. The next hardest thing to solder is the micro usb connector and the 3v3 regulator (which are both technically optional). And then there’s the 0603 capacitors but those are easy if you tin one pad first, tack the cap on there and then solder the other pad. Same idea for the 0805’s but even easier. Also, notice how many 0805 and 0402 pads are “no connect” - most of them are only there to test if I can run the system without the 74hc245s if I use a 65c02 and configuring the VRAM alternatively. I appreciate the input!

[@SUDONET]

Well done!

[@AndersNielsenAA]

Thanks - it was fun! :)

[@DigitLineEletronica]

Perfect, I love the project. It would be interesting to put 8-bit buses to add interfaces like the modem interface for example and others. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Brazil.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

Thanks for watching. You can check out my other video about my "Simple Universal Modem" as an example.

[@homeopathicfossil-fuels4789]

I wonder how much work I would need to port collapseos to this, I know there is an Apple 1 build of CollapseOS If DuskOS on an RPi is a godsend for the specific breed of hardware hacker I belong to, collapseos on this thing would be just as great we got a whole bunch of arduinos at the hackerspace I visit in copenhagen, I should be able to "complete the chain" with this thing, actually. It is amazing, supply chain resistant salvage computing is the way to go for me. Thanks for contributing with this device!

[@AndersNielsenAA]

Shouldn't be hard to get CollapseOS running at all :) At the moment it's a BIOS(tape I/O routines included), monitor and runs BASIC.

[@homeopathicfossil-fuels4789]

@@AndersNielsenAA Awesome!!

[@ShopperPlug]

This is interesting, would be great if you explained how and why it works. This is computer engineering in essence.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

This video is just the summary. If you'd like the full details you can check out the complete hardware overview - though a few things have been upgraded since I made that one. New video about the upgrades coming soon - until then, you can check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWbGcmlqrdSZaKs

[@ShopperPlug]

@@AndersNielsenAA Thanks.

[@ryzencraft2228]

omg i must have one

[@derekchristenson5711]

Cool!

[@pete3897]

What?! Reading SPI or I2C data over VGA? I have to know more!! :)

[@AndersNielsenAA]

I probably should’ve had a full stop in there somewhere - displays have this thing called DDC that can be read out like i2c. That’s hooked up to the 6522 on the newest build version. It’s a convenient way for me to test my bitbanging i2c implementation. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_Data_Channel

[@pete3897]

Ah yes DDC I should have remembered it but had long forgotten. Great PCB & project, well done 👍

[@ShopperPlug]

He also some how got wifi working on it... wonder how he was able to do that...

[@AndersNielsenAA]

2.4GHz RF doesn't have to be WiFi :) The RF module via SPI uses the nRF24L01-protocol - have another video on that. It's more like Bluetooth than WiFi. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHKlhmqdhqmnmdU

[@narayanbandodker5482]

I need this! Is there a way this can be bought as a kit?

[@AndersNielsenAA]

I'm considering it. On the topside of the board the smallest components are 0603 caps and the SOT-23-5 3v3 regulator - I don't know if I can expect the target audience to solder those successfully. On the bottom there's only a few pads meant to be shorted with solder and 0805 pads. Would you prefer a blank PCB + parts or a more expensive option with the SMD components preinstalled?

[@narayanbandodker5482]

@@AndersNielsenAA Yeah SMD soldering is pain, but I guess 0805 pads would not be as bad considering its in a few places and the caps, crystal are somewhat easy to do. Maybe you can keep optional THC option as well, but redesigning would be harder for you.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

I ended up changing the solder jumpers to something more reasonable and adding redundant 0805 capacitor pads easily accessible on the PCB back. A bit more hobby friendly now :) hackaday.io/project/184725-abn6502-sbc-r1/log/213702-hobby-friendly-gerbers-available

[@skynetcybersystem3tech]

super

[@jindongsong5905]

Very nice idea of recycling. How about 8051[2] for this recycling purpose? All full 8051[2] can be reusable except some modified small one such as ATMEL chips using /EA = 0. And most of 8051 were used for industry rather than personal computers. It has basic interpreter. It has cross compiler. It has GPIOs [at least 8] USART etc. If Arduino-like IDE can be considered, Long-time-usable low-cost SBC may be considered. I think. Surely, if we want reusage of old software… Z80 or 6502 is the best. But disasembling of old PC will be not issue with 8051.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

I already have a pretty big stack of 8051's lying around - I hope I will get around to making a few videos about how to use it .. "soon". Maybe I'll make an 8051 PC :)

[@jindongsong5905]

@@AndersNielsenAA great idea.

[@facist_monk]

very nice project, can one use it to learn programming in C language ?, apart from BASIC. in fact all primary schools should have these machines at begining level - you can even leave them and so that POOR students will be forced to learn basics - how much mischief can you do on these machines in this age of iphone & android.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

cc65 is actually meant to be a C compiler - so absolutely. I'm sure there's also a C compiler available for the 6502 but that's a different can of worms :)

[@Sjeedughait]

that is not scrap but second hand electronica.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

If the IC's were literally knocked off old boards, wouldn't you say they are scrap? :) Most of these are desoldered.

[@cbmeeks]

Are you saying take vintage 80's hardware and take it apart to build another computer? Why not use the vintage 80's hardware? Unless you mean to use parts that have already been pulled or found, etc.

[@AndersNielsenAA]

No vintage equipment was harmed in the making! The idea is to use parts already pulled and recycled properly.

[@gregclare]

He did say “to stop parts ending up in the landfill” @01:46

[@theashkone1530]

The point is not using the 8bit computer, it's about learning,when you build it from scratch you learn alooot,after finishing the project,you know so much more about electronics than befor finishing it

[@cbmeeks]

@@theashkone1530 Yeah, I get that. I designed my own 65C02 SBC a couple years ago. Used all new parts. So I was concerned he meant "take apart your vintage gear to build this!". Or perhaps encouraging people to do so. That was always my complaint with Ben Heck. I wonder how many Atari's, etc. died because newbie tinkerers tried to desolder chips only to destroy them all so they can make a portable 2600. 😕

[@AndersNielsenAA]

By the look of the online markets most of the 2600’s have already been scrapped and the parts are now for sale in the tens of thousands - hence my 6532 video. My point is to buy these old 6502s, 6507s, 90’s EEPROMs and RAMs, instead of buying new - so we encourage recycling instead of grinding the IC’s to powder or dumping them. And if we get a defective one here and there it’s just part of the fun :)