[sdiy] looking for old DIY articles with RAM projects

[Scott Nordlund]

I guess it could be slightly tricky to find the right source of info, since 70's or 80's DIY computer stuff may focus on assembly language while modern computer architecture texts would be more about cache, pipelining, etc.   

You might do best with something that focuses on the basics of simple 8/16-bit computer hardware design (chip enable lines, address bus, bidirectional data bus, timing diagrams..), after which the SRAM and DRAM datasheets should be fairly straightforward.  

Also maybe it would be helpful to start think about ROM/EPROM chips first, since they basically work the same an SRAM with no ability to write (I mean the interface as it's ordinarily used, not the internal structure or when connected to an EPROM burner).

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> From: subjectivity at hotmail.com
> To: gsn10 at hotmail.com; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: RE: [sdiy] looking for old DIY articles with RAM projects
> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:13:17 +0000
>
>
>
>
> yeah i have been re-reading the TTL and CMOS cookbooks and looking at a few other texts. but sort of how ray wilsons WSG got me comfortable with soldering back in 2007, it might be helpful to have a simple RAM based project that has already been tested and works, with an article that explains how the circuit works.
>
> although now that you mention it, i dont know if any of the books i have get into state machines.
>
> the newer edition of the cmos cookbook has a chapter on memory but doesnt really have any projects that USE the ram.
>
> I have purchased both types of ram now, DRAM and SRAM for any potential projects.
>
> i am kind of a nerd in the sense that i LOVE to find old electronics articles to learn from ;)
>
>
> thanks
>
>
>> Most simple digital delays (based on plain logic ICs rather than a CPU and/or DSP) probably use DRAM, which has a more complicated interface than SRAM (the address lines are multiplexed into columns and rows, the RAM needs to be refreshed, etc.). Probably it would be best to read an introductory digital electronics text to get the basics of flip flops, memory, state machines, then some old school computer architecture type stuff to see how latches and 3-state buffers are used for bus control, interfacing with peripherals, etc.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------
>>> From: subjectivity at hotmail.com
>>> To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>>> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:33:22 +0000
>>> Subject: [sdiy] looking for old DIY articles with RAM projects
>>>
>>>
>>> hey there
>>>
>>>
>>> It seems looking at commercial digital delay schematics has been a dead
>>> end as they are SO complex. So maybe starting small and learning what
>>> does what would help.
>>>
>>> SO
>>> someone told me about an old Polyphony article that had a digital delay schematic. And someone else just told me
>>> there was an article with a 128 (?) step sequencer that used RAM.
>>>
>>> I am trying to find these (and any other articles or scheamtics) that might be simple starting points on learning to use
>>> RAM, latches, etc.
>>>
>>> I would assume at some point that Popular Electronics might have had some articles or how-to's on this stuff as well.
>>>
>>> maybe Elektor too?
>>>
>>>
>>> If anybody has any info or links or scans, I woud really appreciate it.
>>>
>>>
>>> many of these can be found on ebay but they rarely include what is IN the magazine.
>>>
>>>
>>> thanks
>>>
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>>
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