Versions of the PiDP-8

[David Betz]

How many different hardware revisions were there for the PiDP-8? I have an old one that I have assembled and a newer one that remains unbuilt. The PCBs are marked as follows:

Rev 2.1 2015-12-00

Rev 3b 2019-05-13

Is there a newer revision? If so, what were the changes?

Thanks!

David

[Obsolescence]

David,

There were 3 versions.

1. 2015-2016: one with white switches that you had to paint themselves.
2. 2016-2018: uses replica switches with 3 pins. There's a switch bracket to align the switches as getting them in evenly was fiddly. There was no LED cover panel, and no little white LED spacers.
3. 2018-present: 3rd version. Switches have 7 pins (4 for stability). No need for a switch bracket. The LEDs sit farther from the PCB on LED spacers (as the new switch bodies were taller). A LED cover panel was added to ensure LEDs were all sitting straight. The wood blocks for mounting the PCB in the case have different dimensions from before.

Electronically, they're all the same. Same software, same schematics.

The location of the Raspberry Pi was shifted around, though, as the original version wanted you to cut out a slot in the side of the case. Which was not a popular idea.

Also, cases over the last year come with a slot in the back of the case, so the Pi is easily accessible. Previously, that was left to the builder. We've got Ivan and Jose to thank for this, they arranged for a router table to do this cleanly :-)

Lastly, up to 2018, I used glossy front panels, 4mm thick. After that, matte front panels, 2mm thick. But otherwise identical.

Kind regards,

Oscar.