1-bit CPU for ‘super low-performance computer’ launched – sells out promptly
Device is programmed with DIP switches to operate an LED. That's it.
What's the purpose of this thing?
It's a computer in almost its simplest form.
There's almost nothing to it, the circuit diagram is easy to read, you program it literally by flipping a couple of dip switches.
It's kind of an experiment for someone wanting to get into retro computer or hardware design.
That said it's essentially useless and I would much rather buy a kit from Ben Eater start with a 6502 and make something that can actually run complex programs.
Turn an LED on and off apparently.
ETA to someone setting up an array and running Doom or Linux?
3 months
How many for bad apple
Fun. It does not much, really. Two instructions (add, jump), parameters either 0 or 1, two instructions in total. It just shows how a computer works in general. All key signals are visible (Clock, Program Counter, Accumulator).
About as useful as a quantum computer, just way cheaper.
AFAIK, they are used as relays.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-bit_computing#1-bit
Computers and microcomputers may also be used, but they tend to overcomplicate the task and often require highly trained personnel to develop and maintain the system. A simpler device, designed to operate on inputs and outputs one-at-a-time and configured to resemble a relay system, was introduced. These devices became known to the controls industry as programmable logic controllers (PLC).
See also the playlist linked in the other comment with more explanations:
1-Bit Breadboard Computer - Usagi Electric (YouTube)
Actual PLCs in the wild are industrial cabinets with a lot more capacity. Price-wise if you have a DIY project in mind you're better off buying a RISC-V microcontroller, under 10 bucks including board, with vastly more IO and processing power. Still not enough to replace one of those industrial cabinets, though, especially when it comes to IO capacity, do you have any idea how many sensors and actuators rollercoasters have.
This thing is so limited you have to engineer your problem to fit. Maybe something like switching your doorbell from normal to quiet to silent to flash lights. On the upside it's dead-simple.
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
1-Bit Breadboard Computer - Usagi Electric (YouTube)
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
mee seek and destroy…what’s is my purpose again?
Sorry, one bit isn't even going to pass butter...
Perfect school project thing. Imagine you have an electronics/computer course and present your students with this circuit (without the print mask!). "See? Power supply, power LED, three other LEDs, four DIP switches. Here is the circuit diagram, if you cannot figure it out. Your task: Find out what this thing is and how it works. Bonus: give a meaningful description for the settings of the switches."
It will run doom before boxing day.
I'm glad we all had this thought together. "Can we make this run doom...?" It's rare that the answer is truly no, but this is probably a case.
Am I the only one super unimpressed by most “it can run doom” things? It’s either some beefy arm CPU or a total hack where it isn’t really running doom and they shoved a raspberry pi in it or something.
With scalpers being especially prevelant in the tech scene (hello pi), being sold out just doesn't have the same ring to it anymore you know?
Eh, for the company making them it still has that same old Ca-ching sound
Just the one time though.
Is this what they use to power those cheap android tablets you get from wish?
This is gonna be on a “rate my setup” post any minute now.
Sometimes you just want a nibble
Just a lil bit
What is this a computer for ants? It should be at least ... four times bigger.
This seems like a great computer to use in schools to teach how a computer works
Can't wait for the Skyrim release
Why do these articles always go on about stuff being sold out like it means something? Even if it's true, that almost certainly means they've simply been bought up by resellers.
I recently needed a plumbing part. Obviously no one's getting excited about plumbing parts. That was also 'sold out' on the manufacturers website.
In reality there are a thousand resellers selling the thing. Manufacturer doesn't need to have large warehouse or deal with a large number of customers. Resellers get to make a profit by selling for more than the large order unit price they paid. Customers like me get to buy the product at less than the original small order price the manufacturer was asking.
Sorry. That was me. I can't get enough of 'plumbing part', and am bathed in as I type this. Hahaha good point.
Funny it could sell out when it looks like 4 7400 logic chips that could be wired up on a breadboard.
Yeap, that's all it is plus the PCB and accessories. Looking at it, looks like a 74HC00 - quad NAND gates, 74HC14 - Schmitt trigger inverters, 74HC74 - A dual D flip-flop, and a 74HC153 - dual 4 input mux.
The clock isn't even a 555, just an RC circuit passed through the Schmitt trigger and the provided hardware XOR is where our NANDs come in.
It's a neat little project but I think good CPU lessons need to have a MAR/MDR/CIR and show the fetch, decode, and execute cycle. Because a lot of modern concepts derive from asking the question of "how do I optimize that?"
For those curious about 1-bit computers, see Usagi Electric's playlist:
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
1-Bit Breadboard Computer - Usagi Electric (YouTube)
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
Oh man, I just discovered this guy recently. I'm way into his bendix project. I really hope he gets the thing running and shows us what he can do with it.
That's cute. Fun.
🐻❄️
To anyone interested in SBCs look for Orange Pi at AliExpress.
