It's not as hard as it seems. Most CS majors learn to do this in their computer architecture classes, and usually implement it via an fpga. However, this guy had the patience to use the most basic building blocks, chips and wires, to do it. Definitely a nice accomplishment.

really? I agree, it's not a theoretical/conceptual feat. It's an engineering/fabrication feat. But, I can't ever use the word "easy" to describe what this teenager did. >> ^Sylvester_Ink:

Most CS majors learn to do this in their computer architecture classes, and usually implement it via an fpga.

Oh, I never meant to imply that it was easy. I've had to build a cpu twice, once for Computer Architecture and once for Digital Electronics. One was entirely simulated and one was loaded onto an FPGA (a programmable chip). Using software like Xilinx ISE or Altera, you can simulate the necessary logic gates to build and test the electronics, then "install" it to an FPGA. It took us about 2-3 weeks to do it, but it was definitely a hectic and stressful few weeks. What he probably did was simulate the setup and then build it to a couple of breadboards (which I can see there in the videos) using some component chips. (Here's a list of some on wikipedia.)

Now he also did a graphics module, which is not necessarily harder, but is built quite differently, so I estimate that took another month or so to figure out. Once those two major components are done, the rest of it is pretty easy to hook together, and all that's left is putting together the software.

So yeah, assuming he was doing this in his spare time, a year sounds about right. It just takes dedication and the willingness to learn the process. Nice to see a teenager willing to take the time to do it, and the results are testament to that.
>> ^marinara:

really? I agree, it's not a theoretical/conceptual feat. It's an engineering/fabrication feat. But, I can't ever use the word "easy" to describe what this teenager did.

That boy put a lot of thought into his project. Kudos

sylvester

*music *videogames

Adding video to channels (Music, Videogames) - requested by ant.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Scratch' to 'Scratch, duo adept' - edited by spoco2

*promote someone who has a bright future in the industry... just because he's willing to actually go from start to finish with a project like this.

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Monday, June 20th, 2011 1:20am PDT - promote requested by spoco2.

Yea?!? But can it play Crysis?

This reminds me of a ZX-81 (also cheap PC CGA cards) with the screen snow/flicker in order to save on cost and complexity. Cool stuff that I wish I could really do

Really good chiptune music to go with it as well

This sort of architecture was also not unusual in the commercial world as well. There were several computers with TTL CPUs as well as a few arcade (Cinematronics) games.