Bill-1 8008 Computer Documentation
Below is the documentation for the Bill-1 computer. You can see that this is not a “hobby computer” but one that had some serious engineering behind it. It’s still unknown exactly what it is but each of the documents is centered around a board. There is general information, parts lists and test results in one set and schematics and artwork in another set as well.
Enjoy.
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 General Computer and Front Panel Schematics |
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RAM Schematics and Artwork |
I’d love to here any comments if you have any.
Santo, Thanks for publishing these documents and photos. This is a nicely documented 8008 system.
is this the only C8201 in existence?
do you have any documentation on that chip or a schematic where it was actually designed into the Bill-1 rather than kludged onto the edge?
thanks
Hi Craig,
The Intel C8201 is not listed in the schematics for the Bill-1. I should update my webpage but I later learned that the Bill-1 was built by two brothers from surplus boards from a Litton Data Systems prototype originally built for NASA to be used in space but passed on it as they decided to use discrete part design and use magnetic core memory in the original computers for the Space program. It’s possible my schematics are an earlier revision or William decided to use the chip and added it later. I have several Intel preliminary datasheets for a number of chips but not one specific for the C8201. I only have the 1975 Intel Data Catalog that he used for reference.
As such, you can find the Intel 8201 listed as “Clock Generator for MCS-8 ™” in the 1975 Intel Data Catalog. There is some summary information listed. It is no longer listed in the 1976 Intel Data Catalog. Why? I don’t know. I do know of one other example that I could find with a Google search but the owner didn’t have it at hand and wasn’t sure if they still had it. It is a bit of a mystery why the C8201 chip disappeared as I understand that the 8008 chip set was difficult to work with because of timing issues. Perhaps this chip a part of the problem as well? Both data catalogs can be found on Bitsavers if you want to take a look here: http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/components/intel/_dataBooks/
Hope this helps.
Santo