FPGA Based IBM-PC-XT
9 comments
·November 16, 2025dlcarrier
The title is a bit misleading; it's running on an 8088-compatible CPU, and a 1 megabyte SRAM, with the FPGA containing the display adapter and drive controller, as well as the glue logic.
II2II
A bit misleading, albeit in an impressive way. I nearly skipped the article thinking that it would be an all FPGA solution. Instead, they interfaced somewhat period correct chips: the V20 was used in XT compatibles of the era, the DAC was authentic (even if it is only a small part of the sound card), and the 1 MB RAM chip is the sort of cost cutting measure they would have used back in the day if it was available (though it would likely have been DRAM rather than SRAM). The rest being on an FPGA is certainly understandable since it was listed as an FPGA based project!
ssrc
And the FPGA is a modern day equivalent to an ULA. If they could have put all of the chips in a single programmable one, they would.
inglor_cz
Wow. A lot of memories unlocked instantly. My first PC in 1995 was a very old IBM PC XT.
Lio
Yeah I had a little Carry-I PC XT clone with CGA/Hercules graphics, V20 8088 and an amber screen that I really regret selling.
I guess it couldn’t really do that much at the time compared to Amigas, STs and Acorns but there was something magic about my experiences with the PC.
snvzz
Looks nice, but there's no license. Can't do a thing with this.
smokel
Marvel and enjoy.
fortyseven
Jesus christ, must everything be transactional?
I love the hard drive sound emulation! I find that modern restorations of vintage hardware using SD cards to emulate drives are missing an important part of the nostalgic experience when they just start up completely silently.