Buying vintage Intel parts in the UK

[netdudeuk]

Hi

I'm a new member so I'll say hello first. I've been an electronics enthusiast since the mid 70s, built my first radio when I was eleven years old and started using computers at sixteen.

I'd like to buy some vintage component to build my own variant of the Transam Triton, which is the very first computer that I used. Obviously it's not going to be easy to get new old stock components and I'm not going to be able to test used parts as soon as I bought them. So, any buying advice please ?

Thanks.

[Mark1960]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

How close do you intend to keep to the original transam triton design? It might be a little easier with the 8085 than the original 8080.

[Phil__G]

Hi, welcome aboard
8085 would be a simpler clock & power supply but has all the address-latch faff, swings & roundabouts I spose
Have a word with Ian Lockhart, he did a Triton PCB but be warned, its huge and therefore not going to be cheap! Ian's usually on the MK14 FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330313924562216/user/1038895886
Timbucus (on here or on the FB group) is also a Triton expert.

Personally I would expect the Intel parts to be less of a problem than the Thompson-CSF 96364 which is rocking-horse poop

Cheers
Phil

[Timbucus]

Yes welcome - there is a Transam group as well on facebook which Ian and I admin. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2368868130078094 I am sure between us we could help you locate any unusual parts if you do not have any luck - I was able to get all the bits by shopping around and taking a few chances on ebay from the far east.

Ian's PCB has some small modifications (like the RAM used) which make it easier to complete the build. He is also a source for the two programmed logic chips although if you can find blanks I have a programmer that can do them. I can also do Eproms for you for the OS. You would need an expansion card (which Ian has a modern solution for using newer RAMS (to get it to 48K) and EPROMS) to get to Level 7.1

He does look here on the forum as well as he is a member but, not so often. The first question is do you have a PCB? Sites such as Cricklwood and SilconArk will have most of the needed TTL.

As you are new here your first few posts will be moderated so will appear after a delay and will be out of order - that goes away as you keep posting

[netdudeuk]

Hi

Thanks for the prompt replies and the warm welcome.

In answer to some of your questions -

I've yet to define my full plans but just the thought of switching on a machine and seeing the list of menu options displayed is appealing.

I've included VGA outputs in my previous own design Z80 and 6502 systems but, ironically, that feels a bit dated now. A serial connection would be ok.

I'd not thought about using the 8085.

I don't have a PCB and having the original design would mean being forced down, for example, the same RAM/EPROMs route. So, I could do it with something like a AS6C1008-55PCN and a 27128. That would be so much better than a pile of 2102s.

I appreciate the EPROM programming offer. That's very kind of you. I have two programmers.

I also have a big pile of TTL chips, memory devices, etc. The 8080, the 8224 and the 8228 are the risky ones to obtain.

Maybe someone on here bought the main board listed on eBay a few months ago. That would have been a good bet and it went to ~£80. I should have gone for that. Recently, there was another one with the expansion board and extra memory but that went for a big wedge.

Thanks again.

[Steve_Bell]

Not sure how rigidly you want to stick to using Intel parts but I've got NOS National Semiconductor INS8080AN, INS8255N and INS8251N that you can have for the price of postage. Dated 1979. I can also include a couple of 2708 EPROMS, free, similar age. You will need to erase these before use. I don't know if any of these work after all these years, as I have no way of testing.

[unitelex]

If anyone needs old Eproms, old RAM or logic testing I have a Retro Chip Tester

Regards
Chris

[KeithsTV]

Originally Posted by netdudeuk

Hi

I also have a big pile of TTL chips, memory devices, etc. The 8080, the 8224 and the 8228 are the risky ones to obtain.

.

You may be in luck for the 8080, 8224 & 8228 as I have just found the board I put together in the late 70s to check out the 8080A that I'd been given. It has the three ICs plus a crystal but I'm unsure of the frequency. It may be 10MHz as that was the only one I had at the time but the board worked in conjunction with a ROM emulator.

You can have it for the cost of the postage.

Let me know if you are interested.

Keith

[netdudeuk]

I'd like to say a big thanks to everyone who has generously offered their parts and time. You've obviously got a great community.

Hopefully one day I'll be able to pay it forward.

[netdudeuk]

Originally Posted by Timbucus

Yes welcome - there is a Transam group as well on facebook which Ian and I admin. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2368868130078094 I am sure between us we could help you locate any unusual parts if you do not have any luck - I was able to get all the bits by shopping around and taking a few chances on ebay from the far east.

Ian's PCB has some small modifications (like the RAM used) which make it easier to complete the build. He is also a source for the two programmed logic chips although if you can find blanks I have a programmer that can do them. I can also do Eproms for you for the OS. You would need an expansion card (which Ian has a modern solution for using newer RAMS (to get it to 48K) and EPROMS) to get to Level 7.1

He does look here on the forum as well as he is a member but, not so often. The first question is do you have a PCB? Sites such as Cricklwood and SilconArk will have most of the needed TTL.

As you are new here your first few posts will be moderated so will appear after a delay and will be out of order - that goes away as you keep posting

Ok so I think that I've just discovered the two logic chips that you referred to

I'm guessing that you're referring to IC54 (74S287) and IC70 (74S472) ?

I don't use Facebook and don't want their claws in me. Is Ian / the info available elsewhere please ?

It's funny that you should mention 'Ian' as I will credit an Ian for my interest in computers and a forty+ years career with them. Ian White was a science teacher at my school who built the original Triton and had it in a science lab one day. That was my first interaction with them and I went on to use the college Altair before using the Triton for my programming project exam submissions. It would be so cool if this was the same guy but I'm guessing that this would be a very long stretch. He was the best teacher that I never had.

[Timbucus]

I have let him know - he is a member and occasional visitor here so hopefully will be along.

[ijl_Bitsa]

Hi Netdude,

Everything is available to build a Triton…

I have a few PCBs left. I was about to archive everything. There’s been a bit more interest recently tho.

Get in touch, send me a PM ?

Cheers

Ian Lockhart

Originally Posted by netdudeuk

Ok so I think that I've just discovered the two logic chips that you referred to

I'm guessing that you're referring to IC54 (74S287) and IC70 (74S472) ?

I don't use Facebook and don't want their claws in me. Is Ian / the info available elsewhere please ?

It's funny that you should mention 'Ian' as I will credit an Ian for my interest in computers and a forty+ years career with them. Ian White was a science teacher at my school who built the original Triton and had it in a science lab one day. That was my first interaction with them and I went on to use the college Altair before using the Triton for my programming project exam submissions. It would be so cool if this was the same guy but I'm guessing that this would be a very long stretch. He was the best teacher that I never had.

Here’s the Triton main PCB repro…

[electroanorak]

I have lots of vintage computer stuff. CPU's, EPROMS, periferals and TTL. Send me a list and I can have a look and send it over to you.

Dan.