If you’re looking for a simple Ardunio project, why not replicate the first personal computer?
After discovering the Arduino, [Mark] realized recreating really old computers would be a fun project. An Altair 8800 was on the table, but the sheer number of blinkenlights, switches and the Intel 8080 CPU made that a fairly difficult project. After a bit of searching, [Mark] discovered the Kenbak-1, widely regarded as the first personal computer. The Kenbak also had the added bonus of having a very minimal I/O compliment and was built entirely with TTL components.
Since the Kenbak-1 is an extremely simple computer, [Mark]’s build ended up being fairly minimal. The schematic is only an ATmega328, a few shift registers and a real-time clock for a few added features the OG computer didn’t have. The completed build is programmed by pushing buttons to enter machine code into the mega’s RAM and then executed. [Mark] has a few programs already figured out – a program that counts in binary, a ‘Cylon eye’ and a BCD and binary clock. While the Kenbak-uno doesn’t have the awesome vintage case of the original, it’s still a remarkable build.
Check out the videos after the break for a walk through.
[flickr video=”6173367704″]
[flickr video=”6173359238″]
Arguably the Scelbi-8H was the first hobbiest PC, but the hobby really took off after the Altair was introduced.
I stand corrected, I apparently skipped over the mention of the Kenbak-1 in the summary.
Very cool! Glad to see documentation and such! Great job in my opinion.
I would love to commission you to make another Kenbeck replica for our computer museum
Bob Roswell
(410) 771-5544 ext 4336
can it run CS:S or do i have to settle for CS?
Do I need an Arduino to run the Ardunio?
Great!
Which compiler was used, since there es no compiled HEX file in the zip?
Thanks
The Arduino app uses the GNU C Compiler. It’s open source.
Arduino App..Hmm? Used AVR Studio 4 with avrgcc under Win$. So I see no project file, no makefile..
Maybe one can compile it and supply a hex file ready to be flashed into ATmega328 for 16MHz xtal.
Thanks, Peter
Awesome!
Even though this project doesn’t really have much of a home page, it’s all there! Photos from the build, videos with demos, documentation… When I first read about the Kenbak-1 a while ago I was wondering how it would work, but this should give everyone a good idea of how to operate an early computer that didn’t even have a CPU. It makes me want to ask: when are you going to design a PCB and make it into a kit?
PS I wonder how this would look in a blue acrylic case (hexagonal of course, like the original — if that’s even possible).
This is by far my favorite non-hack in years.