[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
In 1979, S.D. Systems and Micro Design Concepts released the Z80 Starter Kit as an SBC – single board computer.<\/p>\n
Able to run either 8080 or Z80 software, it was designed as the best value on the market for the hobbiest \/ experimenter \/ student who wants to learn about and work with microcomputers.<\/p>\n
The built-in ZBUG Monitor program is a 2,048 byte program written for the Z80 which allows the user to enter and debug machine-level Z80 programs.<\/p>\n
Input is accomplished via a hexadecimal keyboard plus 12 command keys.
Output is the 6-digit 7-segment LED display.<\/p>\n
The expansion capabilities are vast, with on-board wire wrap area and two optional S-100 bus connectors, although only 45 out of 100 signals are present.<\/p>\n
The on-board S-100 interface allows the use of a large selection of expansion cards from several manufacturers for various I\/O and industrial use.<\/p>\n
Two 8-bit parallel interfaces are standard. An audio cassette interface is included, compatible with the Kansas-City-Standard coding and the Intel hexadecimal format.<\/p>\n
Installed is 1,024 bytes of RAM (2102 type static RAM chips), with room for an additional 1,024 bytes.<\/p>\n
The Z80 Started Kit runs on +5vdc @ 1 Amp, but +25vdc @ 30mA is required for EPROM programing – the on-board EPROM programmer works with type 2716 and 2758 EPROMS<\/p>\n
Released: 1979
Price: US $530 \/ $400 kit
CPU: Zilog Z80 @ 2MHz
RAM: 1,024 – 2,048 bytes
Display: 6-digit LED display
Ports: Two 8-bit parallel
Storage: External cassette player
OS: Debug “Monitor” (ZBUG)<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sd_system2.jpg” title_text=”sd_system2″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
I got this kit not going. Was a easy fix just needing a new Zbug monitor ROM and a couple of RAM ic’s and 2 pcb traces fixed.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sd_system3.jpg” title_text=”sd_system3″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
I have now\u00a0 built a custom case with power supply buit in for the Z80 starter kit.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sd-system4kRAM.jpg” title_text=”sd-system4kRAM” _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
I picked up a SD System 4K RAM S100 board to try out and expand memory.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”] In 1979, S.D. Systems and Micro Design Concepts released the Z80 Starter Kit as an SBC – single board computer. Able to run either 8080 or Z80 software, it was designed as the best value on the market for the hobbiest \/ experimenter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-single-board-computers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=490"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1816,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490\/revisions\/1816"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}