21-08-2024, 11:43 PM
Sad. But there is some hope down the track for a drop-in replacement :
GitHub - rejunity/z80-open-silicon: Z80 open-source silicon clone. Goal is to become a silicon proven, pin compatible, open-source replacement for classic Z80.
If I understand correctly, the TinyTapeout proof-of-concept silicon is still being processed. But the stated aim is to eventually have a drop-in part (SMD but with a 40-pin DIP adaptor board). It's scary that this design, based on a 130nm process (way behind the leading edge), takes just 0.064 mm2 of silicon (excluding the bonding pads, which would take up much more than that).
Then there's also the continuing single-cycle eZ80 microcontroller family from Zilog. It's a 3.3V but has 5V-tolerant I/O, and can run off external memory. Maybe that could be made to work, but timing based on instruction loops would be way, way off.
Joe.
GitHub - rejunity/z80-open-silicon: Z80 open-source silicon clone. Goal is to become a silicon proven, pin compatible, open-source replacement for classic Z80.
If I understand correctly, the TinyTapeout proof-of-concept silicon is still being processed. But the stated aim is to eventually have a drop-in part (SMD but with a 40-pin DIP adaptor board). It's scary that this design, based on a 130nm process (way behind the leading edge), takes just 0.064 mm2 of silicon (excluding the bonding pads, which would take up much more than that).
Then there's also the continuing single-cycle eZ80 microcontroller family from Zilog. It's a 3.3V but has 5V-tolerant I/O, and can run off external memory. Maybe that could be made to work, but timing based on instruction loops would be way, way off.
Joe.