Category Archives: Drexel

Topics related to my work and study at Drexel University

Energy Star — Paleotechnology style!

Posted on 2008-12-15 by M. Eric Carr

A while back, I realized that the Z80 was drawing (relatively speaking) a lot of power. I know modern CPUs can both crunch your numbers and cook your dinner; the Intel Core i7 datasheet specifies a maximum of 145 AMPS … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital, DrACo/Z80, Drexel | Leave a comment

Prime Time

Posted on 2008-12-14 by M. Eric Carr

…and now, for something completely different. (By different, I mean almost useful!) The Z80 computer is now busy computing prime numbers! I wrote a straightforward BASIC program, which I then compiled using Oshonsoft‘s Z80 simulator suite of utilities. The resulting … Continue reading →

Posted in Coding, Digital, DrACo/Z80, Drexel, EET325 | 2 Comments

…and then there were two. Correction, four.

Posted on 2008-12-08 by M. Eric Carr

The EET325 class is wrapping up this week, but not before I got Bill’s prototype Z80 core working with the original protoboard control panel. Not only that, but two of the students (Mike and Austin) have finished, working Z80s. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital, DrACo/Z80, Drexel, EET325 | Leave a comment

Single-board at last

Posted on 2008-11-11 by M. Eric Carr

To paraphrase Emperor Palpatine… “And now, witness the power of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL … Z80 computer!” OK, so running at the current 40kHz system clock, it’s got more milliamps than megaflops — but at least it’s running properly … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital, DrACo/Z80, Drexel, EET325 | Leave a comment