Dazzler II with 8080/8085?

[Peter Sterrantino]

Hi All, 

There is a built and tested Dazzler II up on eBay that's rapidly getting out of hand ($170 with 3 hours to go - in case anyone is interested). 

I've ordered a blank board as my backup plan, but I keep seeing Z80 in the S-100 boards page documentation (although the S-100 "new boards" page on the Dazzler II says "This RAM can reside anywhere in the Z80/8080's 64K address space...". 

I can't see why it wouldn't work, but are there issues with using it in an 8080/8085 system, or advantages with a Z80?

Thanks in advance. 

Pete

[Walt Perko]

Hi,  

Most of the DAZZLER software requires a Z80 CPU.  Only a couple of the very first programs were written with 8080 instructions, then Cromemco contracted a programmer to write more and so he wrote all the DAZZLER utilities in Z80 code.  

Today with A.I. getting smarter, it might be possible to feed all those files in and have them translated to 8080 code making the DAZZLERs even more popular.  

Did you get the big square chips from Todd?  The board is an easy build, but last I heard, the chips are very nearly impossible to get.  

.

[Peter Sterrantino]

Hi Walt,

Thanks for that info. I’m interested in writing my own stuff, so the lack of 8080 software should not be an issue. 

I’ll check with Todd on the CPLDs. 

Pete 

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[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

The board on eBay is missing the U6 chip ... 

Does anybody know if the DAZZLER II can actually work missing the U6 chip?   

.

On Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 6:51:02 AM UTC-7 sterra...@gmail.com wrote:

[Peter Sterrantino]

Good call Walt on the CPLDs and Dual Port RAM chips (ATF1508AS-10JU84 and CYC13515JXC). They are hard to find. Microchip shows some availability on the CPLDs in September... we'll see. I can't find any source for the CYC13515JXC. 

Maybe I should increase my bid 🙂

Pete

I see 

On Sat, Jun 27, 2026 at 10:13 AM Walt Perko <r4r...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I'm looking into the bin labeled DAZZLER II and I have six of the CY7C433-15JXC ... one U3 chip ... a TMS320E25FZL?  two LM311 chips and three sizes of the sockets ... 

I thought I'd be building more DAZZLER II boards, but I don't plan on that anymore ... I did two and two of the original DAZZLER board sets ... Now I just want something as easy to program for with higher graphics.  

.

[Peter Higgins]

You can also use the ATF 1508AS-7JX84 which it is still in stock at Mouser - same PLCC package, with a slighly higher speed rating. It seems production of the ATF 1508 in a PLCC package is being phased out so I should also order a few of these, since they are used on several other boards on the S100Computers site.

The CY7C135-15JXC went out of production and already became hard to find several years ago. A reliable source for a (used) chip is UTSource.com.

The Epson 28.6363MHz oscillator in the DIP8 package specified in the BOM went out of production even further back, including equivalents from other manufacturers. An equivalent oscillator in a DIP-8 package needs to be sourced on the secondary market (like eBay).

On Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 7:57:46 AM UTC-7 sterra...@gmail.com wrote:

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

Looks like the trickiest part is the  Epson 28.6363MHz oscillator ... but it's not impossible to convert a SMD chip to a 2-PIN or 4-PIN chip to solder to the board.  

IF anybody is thinking of building a DAZZLER II board, they should probably jump on the other chips asap and Todd would be happy to program them for you.  

.

[Peter Sterrantino]

Thanks Peter. I did see the faster chip on the Microchip page, but didn’t cross reference it back to Mouser. Good to know and I will order a few. 

Pete 

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