Science Of Cambridge MK14 Replica build

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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 3:15 am Looks really good !

Well done.
Thanks :)

I'm pleased with the progress, but if anyone is thinking of building one, I'd suggest that unless you want to get as close to the original as possible, you go for something like Chris Oddy's MK14E found here: MK14 E

The reason for this is that things like the RAM used by the original is difficult to find, and the MK14E has replaced this with easier to find RAM and ROMs. I specifically wanted to have mine more original, though I may build a MK14E in the future.

Also, there is an add in card that allows you to replace the RAM/ROMs by plugging into the CPU socket, so there are options.

Fingers crossed the display will arrive today.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

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And the display is here:

IMG20240719133746.jpg
IMG20240719133746.jpg (351.13 KiB) Viewed 989 times

Small amount of assembly to do and then installation to the MK14.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

Post by rubber_jonnie »

And the display is assembled:

IMG20240719140952.jpg
IMG20240719140952.jpg (264.89 KiB) Viewed 984 times
IMG20240719140955.jpg
IMG20240719140955.jpg (244.96 KiB) Viewed 984 times

Built to plug in and be removable in the event I can find an original LED display.

IMG20240719141006.jpg
IMG20240719141006.jpg (300.31 KiB) Viewed 984 times

And there are signs of life:

IMG20240719141017.jpg
IMG20240719141017.jpg (282.76 KiB) Viewed 984 times

The display flickers when I hit reset, so just waiting on the RAM now.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

Post by HigashiJun »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 2:15 pm The display flickers when I hit reset, so just waiting on the RAM now.
So the end of this nice project is approaching...

:(
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

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HigashiJun wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 2:22 pm
rubber_jonnie wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 2:15 pm The display flickers when I hit reset, so just waiting on the RAM now.
So the end of this nice project is approaching...

:(
It is indeed, looking forward to trying some programming on it. Unless of course I have to troubleshoot it first :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

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Somebody over here: Vintage Radio Forum kindly sent me over a proper OG style display taken from a dead Texet calculator :)

IMG20240724130223.jpg
IMG20240724130223.jpg (513.28 KiB) Viewed 854 times

And since the newer type display I had I made plug in, it was easy enough to follow suit with that display:

IMG20240724132043.jpg
IMG20240724132043.jpg (244.68 KiB) Viewed 854 times

Though it is so tiny it's unbelieveable!! Yes, the display is on!!!

I guess we managed back in the day though.

Rubber feet will be here next, RAM will arrive, well, when it arrives!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

Post by stephen_usher »

Yeah, those displays weren't great. :-)
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

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stephen_usher wrote: Wed Jul 24, 2024 2:06 pm Yeah, those displays weren't great. :-)
It's funny, but I remember the one on the MK14 I had BITD being bigger, but memory sometimes plays tricks...
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

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The RAM has arrived :)

And it runs :)

IMG20240726105106.jpg
IMG20240726105106.jpg (366.69 KiB) Viewed 809 times

Admittedly it didn't run right away, but a CPU reseat was all I needed to get it going :)

Next I need to RTFM...
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: A future project - Science Of Cambridge MK14

Post by HigashiJun »

:cheer:
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