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This is a re-upload of Episode 03 (th-cam.com/video/mVbhe-eQTJc/w-d-xo.html), but without background music during the narration.

In this episode, we go over the design of the pixel generator module, and see the complete working display controller in action. The full schematics, GAL equations, etc. are available on the project's Github site: github.com/daveho/HW_VGA Once again, I used "Brazilian Bossa Nova Jazz Acoustic Guitar Podcast Music" by Denis Pavlov as background music for the technical overview. You can support D...

In this episode of the Hardware VGA series, we explain and test the Readout module, which generates the video memory addresses of the character and attribute values that the pixel generator will need to render pixels. The schematics, simulation files, GAL equations, etc. are on the Github site: github.com/daveho/HW_VGA The "elevator music" in the Readout module overview part of the video is "Br...

This episode of the Hardware VGA series covers adding 8 KB of video memory to the display controller. All of the schematics, code, GAL equations, etc. are available on the project's Github site: github.com/daveho/HW_VGA I didn't explicitly cover the GAL programming for control signal generation in the video, but you can see the equation file here: github.com/daveho/HW_VGA/blob/main/Episode02/Ha...

In this video I begin work on a new approach to implementing a display controller for the 8-bit computer system based on discrete logic chips (and some programmable logic.) Contents: 00:00 Opening sequence 00:19 Introduction, previous difficulties 03:00 A new approach 04:08 Challenges and ways to address them 10:09 Getting started 10:43 Outline 11:40 640x480 VGA video 16:56 Hardware simulation ...

I will be teaching an OS course in spring 2024, and since the project sequence will target the 386/486 PC hardware platform, I became obsessed with the goal of having actual hardware to run student code on. Hence this video! (Also, I can't deny being nostalgic for this era of PC hardware. I had a PC in college with a 25MHz 486SX with 4MB of RAM; this was the first PC I ran Linux on, and it got ...

This is just a quick video in which I install aftermarket replacement drivers in a pair of Sony MDR-V6 headphones. Link to the replacement drivers on Aliexpress: www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802072910541.html Overall, these seem to be a reasonably good option, given the ridiculous price of the genuine Sony replacement drivers. One thing I did notice was that when I tried the headphones with the r...

Since I haven't uploaded a proper video in a while, here's some filler content! Specifically, a quick tour of my home office/lab. I will get back to the 8 bit computer project in the future, I promise :-)

This is a quick video where I replace the earpads and cable on a pair of Sony MDR-V4 headphones. The replacement earpads are these: www.amazon.com/dp/B093D26PHP The audio cable that I used as the replacement cable is (half of) this one: www.amazon.com/dp/B00LBJ780O

The goal of this episode is to experiment with a TMS9918A Video Display Processor and to attempt to use it as a display for the 6809 8-bit computer system. With the TMS9918A providing a display, we're one step closer to the 6809 system being a fully independent computer. Link to schematics and code for this episode: github.com/daveho/DIY8bit/tree/master/Episode1d The demo circuit shown in the v...

In this video I present a series of experiments to add support for displaying text characters to the FPGA-based display controller. As always, code and schematics are on the Githubs: github.com/daveho/DIY8bit/tree/master/Episode1c This took quite a while, but I am feeling fairly confident that the display controller will be fully working in the not-to-distant future.

In this video, I populate and test new revisions to the Harbin Repairs adapter PCBs allowing Haswell-era Dell motherboards (Optiplex 7020, Optiplex 9020, and Precision T1700) to be used in standard ATX and micro-ATX cases. The new revisions resolve a couple of issues with the adapter PCBs shown in the previous PC Tech video. Links to the design files, and information about how to fabricate and ...

This video demonstrates how to build a useful PC out of used and salvaged parts. As usual for me, the build is based on a Haswell-era Dell motherboard, specifically from an Optiplex 7020. The Harbin Repairs adapters (github.com/HarbinRepairs/Dell-Optiplex-MB-Header-Adapters) allow a Dell motherboard to be installed in a standard ATX or Micro ATX case. As I mention in the video, the original ver...

As the title suggests, this video is about making a test bench for testing Dell Optiplex motherboards and related PC components. If (like me) you are interested in building PCs based on Haswell-era Optiplex motherboards, the adapter PCBs from Harbin Repairs are super-useful, since they allow you to install a Dell motherboard in a standard ATX case: store.harbinrepairs.com/index.php/product/dfp1...

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 1B: DIsplay controller pipelining & block RAM

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 1A: DIsplay controller host interface

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 19: Interrupt and keyboard controller PCB

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 18: Memory & peripheral PCB

PC Tech, Episode 01: How I fixed my lab PC for (fairly) cheap

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 17: Fixed CPU/glue logic PCBs

Random stuff, Episode 09: Ultimate breadboard hex displays

Random Stuff, Episode 8: A trip to Skycraft Surplus

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 16: CPU and glue logic PCB, and a name

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 15: Display options & FPGA experiments

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 14: Enclosure planning & frame

Random Stuff, Episode 07: Slightly better hex displays

Random Stuff, Episode 06: Breadboard hex displays

DIY 8-bit computer, Episode 13: Finishing keyboard support

DIY audio amplifier, Episode 03: Preamp & finale