Without the textbook Digital Computer Electronics by Albert Malvino I wouldn’t have been able to even start this project. If you are considering building, or even learning about a computer using TTL this book is extremely worth the small amount of money you have to pay for it on Amazon. The TTL Cookbook by Don Lancaster is also extremely useful and provides pinouts for most of the 7400 series TTL chips that you would need for such a project.
The Golden Book
The 7400 Dictionary
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
I haven’t read all your posts, but just in case you’re not aware, there’s a ton of information relevant to your computer cpu design if you search for bit-sliced design, microarchitecture, or micro-programmed design. As I recall, I think this was really becoming formalized and widely available around 1978 or so. AMD was one of the main vendors of the bit-slice components, and they had lots of info. Or maybe you’re trying to get down even closer to the nuts and bolts.
Thanks for the info. I love reading up on the history of the CPU, it does help me a lot with my computer project.
Hi Kyle,
Cool project!
Another interesting book on the subject, is “Code: The hidden language of computer hardware and software”. it is much lighter theoretically, but an excellent and fun read. Probably the best book to come out of Microsoft Press ever (it has nothing to do with windows or microsoft, cant even remember if windows is ever mentioned)
An early rough draft of a book about TTL CPU design and related topics is available at:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Microprocessor_Design/Wire_Wrap
You can help us make it better. (I hope Kyle is happy I added a link from that book to 8 bit spaghetti).
This is awesome! Thanks for the reference. I had to change the URL since my old domain expired and was bought by a parking agency before I could grab it again…