Hi Rich! Thanks! I really appreciate the support! Here is a little
background information in case anyone was wondering about building your own
home brew CP/M computer.
At the N8VEM home brew computer project there are several boards to assemble
your own home brew CP/M computer.
The original is the SBC V2 which is a Z80 based Eurocard system. It can be
stand alone or act as an ECB bus controller for IO expansion.
Next is the Zeta which is an SBC without bus expansion but several built in
peripherals such as a floppy drive controller, IDE, serial, RTC, etc.
Finally there is the N8 which is a Z8S180 based all-in-one computer with
complete IO suite (FDC, IDE, serial, parallel, video, audio, etc). It is a
bit like the P112 with built in video, sound, and some other peripherals
along with hobbyist friendly components.
All of the N8VEM CP/M computers share a common ROM BIOS (RomWBW) or you can
use your own or someone else's custom BIOS (MSX CBIOS).
What is really neat is a sizable robust community has grown up around the
N8VEM computers and builders are even making their own systems (like the
Zeta) for the group. We don't always agree on things but manage to get
along pretty well. There are many points of view and not everyone sees
things the same way. That's OK -- its healthy.
There is also a fairly complete suite (25+ types) of S-100 boards with
backplanes, serial IO, drive controllers, video controllers, RAM boards, CPU
boards, etc. Really too many to mention here.
All the hardware and software design information is free (as in speech and
beer) and publicly posted.
There is a mailing list and wiki available for information and support if
you want it. You are free to use what's there even if you never participate
in the N8VEM home brew computer project. Several other projects have
branched off N8VEM and are now making their own CP/M computers, S-100
boards, etc.
http://groups.google.com/group/n8vem
http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com
Most boards have parts lists in addition to full schematic and PCB layout.
Complete KiCAD EDA files with custom libraries are included as well as full
source code listings, tools, etc.
I try to emphasize the use of free/open source tool sets so literally
*anyone* can build their own systems including making their own home made
PCBs. The PCBs are available through group buys which is a sort of informal
process. I try to keep the cost as low as possible and it more or less
works.
Active community participation is encouraged and expected but not required
since everyone is a *builder*. There are no bosses, management, users,
stockholders, clients, or customers!
So if you have the inclination or ever desired to build your own home brew
computer this is your chance. It is pretty easy to do and a lot of fun!
Please consider this your personal invitation to come to the N8VEM home brew
computer project. You are all most certainly welcome!
Thanks and have a nice day!
Andrew Lynch
PS, if you have questions feel free to contact me at LYNCHAJ at
YAHOO.COM
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at
classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
bounces at
classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rich Cini
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 9:19 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: The best CP/M machine ever? was Re: Kaypro II
Do you mean hobbyist or COTS? There are several hobby SBCs that can do it,
including the P112 and N8VEM. There are 68k and 8086 boards as well.
Rich Cini
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 23, 2012, at 8:56 AM, microcode at
zoho.com wrote:
> Are there any modern ready-to-go SBCs capable of running CP/M?
>
>