[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][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
Welcome to our deep dive into the\u00a0<\/span>Ohio Scientific C4P<\/strong>, a formidable yet often overlooked star of the late 1970s microcomputer revolution. While the Superboard II brought computing to the masses as a single-board kit, the\u00a0<\/span>C4P<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>represented OSI\u2019s vision of a more expansive, professional-grade system\u2014packed with potential for business, education, and serious hobbyists.<\/p>\n Released in 1978, the\u00a0<\/span>C4P<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(sometimes called the\u00a0<\/span>Challenger 4P<\/strong>) was built around the legendary\u00a0<\/span>MOS 6502 CPU<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>but distinguished itself with a robust chassis, full-sized keyboard, and expansion capabilities that put it in competition with early Apple and Commodore systems. With support for\u00a0<\/span>floppy drives, parallel\/serial interfaces, and up to 48KB of RAM<\/strong>, it was a versatile machine that bridged the gap between hobbyist curiosity and real-world utility.<\/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\/20240228_160451-scaled.jpg” title_text=”20240228_160451″ _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/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_gallery gallery_ids=”571,570,569,573″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The boards currently installed in the system<\/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\/keyboard-2.jpg” title_text=”keyboard” _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”]<\/p>\n I picked up a OSI542 Rev C keyboard PCB a while ago so finally got around to making a case to put it in.<\/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\/20230604_133341-scaled.jpg” title_text=”20230604_133341″ _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”]<\/p>\n Working great with the 8-slot backplane and the 505-CPU boad plus 540C Video board and a DIY 32k RAM card.<\/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\/mock-up-scaled.jpg” title_text=”mock-up.” _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”]<\/p>\n A mock up case for the 8-slot backplane board and test fitting a power supply with a OSI400 board installed.<\/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\/20250214_194558-scaled.jpg” title_text=”20250214_194558″ _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 After a quick paint job, meanwell power supply install it’s a C4P with external keyboard with matching colours.<\/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\/20250221_202403-scaled.jpg” title_text=”20250221_202403″ _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 Now with a D13 data seperator installed I attached a cloneof a gotek to boot from disk.<\/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=”0px|||||”][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”] Welcome to our deep dive into the\u00a0Ohio Scientific C4P, a formidable yet often overlooked star of the late 1970s microcomputer revolution. While the Superboard II brought computing to the masses as a single-board kit, the\u00a0C4P\u00a0represented OSI\u2019s vision of a more expansive, professional-grade system\u2014packed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":554,"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":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vintage-computers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550","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=550"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1637,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550\/revisions\/1637"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagevibe.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}