This is pure gold. I am building a 6502 computer as a functional replica of my first computer from 1979, but using modern components. I have created a PS/2 keyboard interface using an Arduino Nano, but I like the idea of using The Pi Pico to access USB input devices and get a VGA display (which is something I wasn't looking forward to trying to create.) The advantage of building your own is that you can change your mind whenever you want, and upgrade whenever you want. I shall be watching the rest of this series with interest.
Finally, someone with common sense (and obviously considerable experience) designs a retro system! Great work. Just discovered your channel. Will now binge watch the other 9 episodes. Your work is inspiring.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm surprised more folks haven't watched this. What's cool about the pico boards is they're readily available. The rest of the Pi devices are unobtanium.
This sounds like such an awesome project. Been wanting to build my own 6502 retro system for a while just as a great way to tinker and learn. I was hooked on what Ben Eater produced but never committed to getting the parts to get his setup going (And since he pretty much vanished I never revisited). Using a pico is a great way to make things much more streamlined, I do hope to see some more videos from you detailing the process and everything. Thanks for putting this out there!
Nice. Subbed. Thank you for making this series. I got plenty of picos laying around. Working a ttl computer at the moment, but will definitely get around to getting some 6502’s and trying this out.
You could use the same approach to build a Z80 based retro system too to emulate CPM machines, Spectrum, ZX81 etc. This is a really interesting approach and a lot more accessible than using FPGAs.
I'm actually in the process of trying this with a SNES Ricoh 5A22, and the SNES ram. I'm a Noob, but I got a couple diagrams, hot-air gun, 2 SNES that dont work. My current goal is to study circuitry enough to get the Pico controlling the SNES chips then booting through the cart slot, and if possible maybe upgrade the RAM, sound, and PPUs by using both SNES parts inside 1 board, and maybe it all fit back inside a SFC, and SNES.
Looks nice, you mentioned HDMI, from an adapter, well if you want to run an old TV off it then just use a VGA to composite converter instead of the HDMI one.
I love this :) more people should make videos about this kind of projects :) I've been playing with VGA on the Pico for some time and it is actually rock solid at 296MHz (the rp2040 can take much more, but the flash chip does not like anything above 300) this will give you 74 (*4) MHz pixel clock which is close enough to 74.25 for 720p VESA DMT timing and it works great on all monitors I have tried. ( I peeked at the code, saw you had 640x360 and it is my favorite resolution on the Pico :D )
very nice work I also want to start a similar project a project that will reflect a little more retro spirit It also supports original joystick, keyboard and tape drives. I'm sure this will work with the rp2040 without using complex systems without using fpga. wish you continued success
I think I found an AC version of a gate that may work in place of the 74HC30. The pin-out is different but other than that, it looks like it might work. The chip I found was the 74AC20.
I'm glad someone with experience has done this! I've been running in circles with an idea and not enough know-how to know if it's possible let alone to try it; could I make the equivalent of an old DOS computer with a Pico?
I would like to help out! Schematics and specifications would be nice to peruse… btw I am somewhat active at the Commander X16 site… but your project’s simplicity is perfect for a DIY home-brew machine.
Yeah I'm personally excited for both projects. I'm really wanting to learn the 6502 and about the NES, so hopefully one day I'm able to make my own Homebrew NES, while fully understanding. Maybe even a NES with wireless capabilities with a Pico w.
Fun fact: The word "monitor" is just a shortening of the term "console monitor" which back in the dark past was a little program that could be loaded in through the computers "front panel" to allow the use of some sort of keyboard/printer combination referred to as the console. Later these "console monitor" programs were kept in ROM and loaded at power-up and eventually provided the means to do sophisticated memory and I/O manipulations. Somewhere in there the word "console" got dropped.
Is that a Logitech mouse? If so, it may report as a keyboard because the Logitech Unify adapters also work with keyboard. It may be reporting due to that capability.
@@rumbledethumps HDMI uses the DVI video standard for it's video, which has since been extended to display port. I believe at a hardware level you only need 8 resistors for each wire in the 4 twisted pairs to hook it up to the Pico. I've not looked at how to drive it yet.
Exactly. At the 0:16 mark you can see the PCB is silkscreened with "NOT HDMI just sparkling DVI". th-cam.com/video/GyZS_efRyiY/w-d-xo.html Even when someone figures out how to use the data periods of DVI+/HDMI, 720p requires a Pi Pico clock of 371.25 MHz and 1280x1024 needs an impossible 540 MHz. VGA-to-HDMI isn't even double the price of a plain HDMI cable and you get licensed HDMI, widescreen HD resolutions, zero lag (
not officially but Eben Upton made some v.interesting comments in a reply on a hackaday article about getting an IBM PC110 online with a Pi Pico PCMCIA emulator card pi-pico-w-does-pcmcia-gets-this-ibm-pc110-online
These videos would be far more professional if you edited your wet mouth sounds out of the audio tracks. Great material, but the lip smacking makes it unwatchable and amateurish.
Wanted to comment to show support for this awesome project. Can’t wait for update vids.
This is pure gold.
I am building a 6502 computer as a functional replica of my first computer from 1979, but using modern components. I have created a PS/2 keyboard interface using an Arduino Nano, but I like the idea of using The Pi Pico to access USB input devices and get a VGA display (which is something I wasn't looking forward to trying to create.)
The advantage of building your own is that you can change your mind whenever you want, and upgrade whenever you want.
I shall be watching the rest of this series with interest.
Finally, someone with common sense (and obviously considerable experience) designs a retro system! Great work. Just discovered your channel. Will now binge watch the other 9 episodes. Your work is inspiring.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm surprised more folks haven't watched this.
What's cool about the pico boards is they're readily available. The rest of the Pi devices are unobtanium.
Cool project, looking forward to the next video.
What is unique about your approach is your extending the 6502 to be used with modern hardware.
Keep it up. Looks like a fun side project. Waiting on more videos!
This sounds like such an awesome project. Been wanting to build my own 6502 retro system for a while just as a great way to tinker and learn. I was hooked on what Ben Eater produced but never committed to getting the parts to get his setup going (And since he pretty much vanished I never revisited). Using a pico is a great way to make things much more streamlined, I do hope to see some more videos from you detailing the process and everything. Thanks for putting this out there!
He's not vanished, he just has to work, so there are some gaps in his releases. He's released a few over the last month or so though.
Nice. Subbed. Thank you for making this series. I got plenty of picos laying around. Working a ttl computer at the moment, but will definitely get around to getting some 6502’s and trying this out.
I've built it. Great little project.
I can't wait to tackle a project like this.
interesting concept, and a good idea too :)
You could use the same approach to build a Z80 based retro system too to emulate CPM machines, Spectrum, ZX81 etc. This is a really interesting approach and a lot more accessible than using FPGAs.
I'm actually in the process of trying this with a SNES Ricoh 5A22, and the SNES ram. I'm a Noob, but I got a couple diagrams, hot-air gun, 2 SNES that dont work. My current goal is to study circuitry enough to get the Pico controlling the SNES chips then booting through the cart slot, and if possible maybe upgrade the RAM, sound, and PPUs by using both SNES parts inside 1 board, and maybe it all fit back inside a SFC, and SNES.
Looks nice, you mentioned HDMI, from an adapter, well if you want to run an old TV off it then just use a VGA to composite converter instead of the HDMI one.
that's a real giant swab bro
I love this :) more people should make videos about this kind of projects :)
I've been playing with VGA on the Pico for some time and it is actually rock solid at 296MHz (the rp2040 can take much more, but the flash chip does not like anything above 300) this will give you 74 (*4) MHz pixel clock which is close enough to 74.25 for 720p VESA DMT timing and it works great on all monitors I have tried. ( I peeked at the code, saw you had 640x360 and it is my favorite resolution on the Pico :D )
very nice work
I also want to start a similar project
a project that will reflect a little more retro spirit
It also supports original joystick, keyboard and tape drives.
I'm sure this will work with the rp2040 without using complex systems without using fpga.
wish you continued success
I think I found an AC version of a gate that may work in place of the 74HC30. The pin-out is different but other than that, it looks like it might work. The chip I found was the 74AC20.
I'm glad someone with experience has done this! I've been running in circles with an idea and not enough know-how to know if it's possible let alone to try it; could I make the equivalent of an old DOS computer with a Pico?
th-cam.com/video/eDVazQVycP4/w-d-xo.html
It’s a bit weird as the PICO can already emulate entire 6502 computers and consoles by itself. So it doesn’t need any other parts 😁
I would like to help out! Schematics and specifications would be nice to peruse… btw I am somewhat active at the Commander X16 site… but your project’s simplicity is perfect for a DIY home-brew machine.
Yeah I'm personally excited for both projects. I'm really wanting to learn the 6502 and about the NES, so hopefully one day I'm able to make my own Homebrew NES, while fully understanding. Maybe even a NES with wireless capabilities with a Pico w.
Those is so cool!
Fun fact: The word "monitor" is just a shortening of the term "console monitor" which back in the dark past was a little program that could be loaded in through the computers "front panel" to allow the use of some sort of keyboard/printer combination referred to as the console. Later these "console monitor" programs were kept in ROM and loaded at power-up and eventually provided the means to do sophisticated memory and I/O manipulations. Somewhere in there the word "console" got dropped.
I LOVE C64 AND 6502 👍🥂🎩
Yes !=8)
Is that a Logitech mouse? If so, it may report as a keyboard because the Logitech Unify adapters also work with keyboard. It may be reporting due to that capability.
Türkce dil icin egi gecenlere tesekürler.
Apple IIe on pi pico?
If you substituted the RAM/ROM and TTLs with another Pico wouldn’t it be smaller and easier to build/develop?
There was never going to be ROM. Check out the next video to see what I did with two Pi Picos.
This is very interesting but I'm a little confused. Is the Pico emulating a 6502? I see the 6502 on the board but no wires.
Cb you look like a Centauri !=8)
@@JLowe-uu8lr ???
Babylon 5 !=8)
@@JLowe-uu8lr Well, I never watched that show so I guess I don't get the reference.
Just wondering why you didn't go direct to HDMI given the Pico can output HDMI as well?
The Pi Pico outputting HDMI is news to me. I've only seen demos of DVI.
@@rumbledethumps HDMI uses the DVI video standard for it's video, which has since been extended to display port. I believe at a hardware level you only need 8 resistors for each wire in the 4 twisted pairs to hook it up to the Pico. I've not looked at how to drive it yet.
Here is an example from another creator: th-cam.com/video/GyZS_efRyiY/w-d-xo.html
Exactly. At the 0:16 mark you can see the PCB is silkscreened with "NOT HDMI just sparkling DVI".
th-cam.com/video/GyZS_efRyiY/w-d-xo.html
Even when someone figures out how to use the data periods of DVI+/HDMI, 720p requires a Pi Pico clock of 371.25 MHz and 1280x1024 needs an impossible 540 MHz. VGA-to-HDMI isn't even double the price of a plain HDMI cable and you get licensed HDMI, widescreen HD resolutions, zero lag (
How about rca 1802 cosmic elf ?=8)
That's a bit before my time. www.sunrise-ev.com/1802.htm
Where did you get the VGA board/Socket from?
Does RPi Pico have 5V tolerant GPIO pins?
not officially but Eben Upton made some v.interesting comments in a reply on a hackaday article about getting an IBM PC110 online with a Pi Pico PCMCIA emulator card
pi-pico-w-does-pcmcia-gets-this-ibm-pc110-online
The W5500-EVB-Pico with a 6909 would be great too.
Where can one find the 6502?
www.westerndesigncenter.com/wdc/distributors.php
These videos would be far more professional if you edited your wet mouth sounds out of the audio tracks. Great material, but the lip smacking makes it unwatchable and amateurish.
to each their own, i just feel like this is cheating so thats why i went through the annoying process of learning 6502 assembly.