Is this the FASTEST and CHEAPEST 8-Bit Computer Ever?
Noel's Retro Lab・29 minutes read
The Aen Light is a budget-friendly, open-source 8bit microcomputer designed by Bernardo Castrip, boasting impressive performance and customization options, including a unique video and audio architecture. Priced at around $30, it offers a cost-effective option for basic programming and educational purposes, lacking some modern features but excelling in its core functionalities.
Insights
- The Aen Light microcomputer, designed by Bernardo Castrip, is an open-source, high-performance device priced at around $30, providing users with extensive customization options for video display and audio functionality.
- Running on a Z80 CPU at 18.4 MHz, the Aen Light offers 512 kilobytes of system RAM, supports 640x480 resolution with 64 colors, and boasts dual mono audio. It starts up in BBC Basic, excelling in benchmark tests against both 80s 8bit computers and modern devices like the Zedex Spectrum Next, making it a cost-effective and powerful tool for educational purposes and low-level computer tinkering.
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Recent questions
What are the key features of the Aen Light microcomputer?
The Aen Light microcomputer, designed by Bernardo Castrip, is a modern 8bit microcomputer that boasts impressive features. It comes with a 3D printed case, glossy manual, and hardware booklets, reminiscent of early 80s computers' transparency to users. The computer is fully open-source, allowing users to download, examine, learn, and modify its components. It features standard connectors like USB, VGA, audio out, PS2 keyboard, and various expansion ports, lacking an integrated keyboard. Running on a Z80 CPU at 18.4 MHz, the Aen Light has 512 kilobytes of system RAM, supporting 640x480 resolution with 64 colors and dual mono audio. It starts up in BBC Basic, offering full support for procedures and functions, making it as useful as modern scripting languages like Python.
How does the Aen Light microcomputer handle video and audio processing?
The Aen Light microcomputer's architecture includes an EZ80 F92 microcontroller, offering 128 kilobytes of flash RAM, 8 kilobytes of static RAM, and 24-bit addressing for 16 megabytes of addressable space. The video memory is organized separately, with an ESP32 Pico D4 microcontroller handling graphics, sound, keyboard, and I/O independently from the CPU through a serial line. The Aen Light runs at high speed, faster than the original Z8, with a small chip of 8 MB RAM for video memory next to the ESP 32. Both microcontrollers are fully reprogrammable, allowing customization of code on the CPU side and graphics/audio subsystems.
What programming capabilities does the Aen Light microcomputer offer?
The Aen Light microcomputer offers three main ways to use it, including basic programming, bypassing basic to write custom programs, and coding for the VDP side. Users can write code for the VDP side to allow extensive customization, such as creating new graphics features or modifying existing ones. The community has developed tools and programs to aid development, including compilers, debuggers, and emulators for faster iteration. Firmware updates for the Moss, BBC Basic, and ESP32 microcontroller are straightforward, enhancing the device's capabilities.
How affordable is the Aen Light microcomputer compared to other options?
The Aen Light microcomputer is priced around $30, making it cheaper than the CB2 microcomputer, but it offers superior performance compared to more expensive options like the Commander X16 or ZX Spectrum Next. Acquiring an Aen Light can be done through various means, from DIY assembly using Gerber files to purchasing pre-made boards, catering to different preferences and budgets. While it lacks a USB keyboard connection, it excels in video and sound architecture customization, making it highly recommended for educational purposes.
What are the potential uses of the Aen Light microcomputer?
The Aen Light microcomputer aims to be an educational tool, offering a blank canvas for users to modify video display and audio functionality. While its audio capabilities remain underutilized, there is potential for projects like a mod player to explore digitized audio. The Aen Light is best suited for basic programming or low-level computer tinkering, lacking a fancy design but fulfilling its goals effectively. It may not have a USB keyboard connection, but it excels in video and sound architecture customization, making it highly recommended for educational purposes.
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Summary
00:00
"Aen Light: Fast, Cheap, Open-Source Microcomputer"
- The Aen Light is a modern 8bit microcomputer designed by Bernardo Castrip, aiming to be the fastest and cheapest of its kind.
- The computer comes with a 3D printed case, glossy manual, and hardware booklets, reminiscent of early 80s computers' transparency to users.
- The Aen Light is a fully open-source project, allowing users to download, examine, learn, and modify its components.
- The computer features standard connectors like USB, VGA, audio out, PS2 keyboard, and various expansion ports, lacking an integrated keyboard.
- Running on a Z80 CPU at 18.4 MHz, the Aen Light boasts 512 kilobytes of system RAM, supporting 640x480 resolution with 64 colors and dual mono audio.
- The computer starts up in BBC Basic, offering full support for procedures and functions, making it as useful as modern scripting languages like Python.
- The Aen Light performs impressively on a benchmark test, outpacing both 80s 8bit computers and even modern devices like the Zedex Spectrum Next.
- The computer allows the use of an SD card as a disk for saving and loading programs, eliminating the need for cassette tapes or clunky discs.
- The Aen Light's architecture includes an EZ80 F92 microcontroller, offering 128 kilobytes of flash RAM, 8 kilobytes of static RAM, and 24-bit addressing for 16 megabytes of addressable space.
- The computer's video memory is organized in a separate manner, with an ESP32 Pico D4 microcontroller handling graphics, sound, keyboard, and I/O independently from the CPU through a serial line.
13:51
"Aon Light: High-speed, customizable educational microcontroller"
- The Aon Light runs at high speed, faster than the original Z8, with a small chip of 8 MB RAM for video memory next to the ESP 32.
- The board mainly consists of a voltage regulator, connectors, and minimal components, lacking traditional hardware for generating video and audio signals.
- Both microcontrollers are fully reprogrammable, allowing customization of code on the CPU side and graphics/audio subsystems.
- The Aon Light aims to be an educational tool, offering a blank canvas for users to modify video display and audio functionality.
- Firmware updates for the Moss, BBC Basic, and ESP32 microcontroller are straightforward, enhancing the device's capabilities.
- Three main ways to use the Aon Light include basic programming, bypassing basic to write custom programs, and coding for the VDP side.
- The community has developed tools and programs to aid development, including compilers, debuggers, and emulators for faster iteration.
- Writing code for the VDP side allows extensive customization, such as creating new graphics features or modifying existing ones.
- The Aon Light's audio capabilities remain underutilized, offering potential for projects like a mod player to explore digitized audio.
- Acquiring an Aon Light can be done through various means, from DIY assembly using Gerber files to purchasing pre-made boards, catering to different preferences and budgets.
27:20
Affordable Aon Light microcomputer excels in performance
- The Aon Light microcomputer is priced around $30, making it cheaper than the CB2 microcomputer, but it offers superior performance compared to more expensive options like the Commander X16 or ZX Spectrum Next. It is best suited for basic programming or low-level computer tinkering, lacking a USB keyboard connection but excelling in video and sound architecture customization. Highly recommended for educational purposes, it may not have a fancy design but fulfills its goals effectively.
