A Shout-Out to the Zilog Z80

As referred to in my previous post, I’ve been struggling to figure out what specific Z80 processor I need to get my spare Scramble PCB working. I had the main processor for the board, which was a Zilog Z80 chip, socketed so I could add a daughter board with not only high score save and free play functionality, but also the ability to add multiple games.

Zilog Z8400A

A look at the Zilog Z80 Main 40-pin CPU Chip on my spare Scramble PCB

I’ll save you from the gory details, but suffice to say not just any Z80 chip will work with my Scramble board (it’s the Z80A that works), which led me down a rabbit hole of researching the various types of Z80 chips. There are many variations to be sure, but what I learned while on this deep dive is that the Z80 chip played a crucial role in the “evolution of early computing”:

Initially intended for use in embedded systems like the 8080, the Z80’s combination of compatibility, affordability, and superior performance propelled it to widespread adoption in video game systems and home computers during the late 1970s and early 1980s, fueling the personal computing revolution.

So here’s a piece of personal computing history that I’m still trying to figure out so that I can get my Scramble video game board to work. Turns out the past isn’t dead, in fact it’s not even the past. The Zilog chip, until 6 months ago, had been in constant production for almost 50 years, and if you’re trying to keep old electronics from the 70s and 80s running you’ll likely run into this chip family sooner or later. So here’s a shout-out to the Gen X chip Z80 for a very impressive run! Now I just hope these chips don’t triple in price as a result of this retirement.

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One Response to A Shout-Out to the Zilog Z80

  1. Pingback: Between a Penis and Composting the Rich… | bavatuesdays

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