ELF II
Encyclopedia
The Netronics ELF II was an early microcomputer trainer kit introduced about 1977 featuring an RCA 1802
microprocessor, 256 bytes of RAM, 0 bytes of ROM, DMA
-based bitmap graphics, hex keypad for user interaction and DMA based program loading, a two digit hexadecimal LED
display, an LED on the special processor Q line, and 5 expansion slots.
Available accessories included the giant board (ROM monitor + I/O), 4 KiB (static) RAM board, color board, power supply, and case. RS-232 terminals could be interfaced with the unit. Available software included Tiny BASIC
and a text editor.
The ELF part of the name came from an earlier machine called the "COSMAC ELF", published as a construction project in Popular Electronics
magazine. An important improvement on its predecessor was an etched PCB and a hexadecimal keypad instead of toggle switches for entering a program.
RCA 1802
The RCA CDP1802, also known as the COSMAC , is an 8-bit CMOS microprocessor introduced by RCA in early 1976. It is being by Intersil Corporation as a high-reliability microprocessor...
microprocessor, 256 bytes of RAM, 0 bytes of ROM, DMA
Direct memory access
Direct memory access is a feature of modern computers that allows certain hardware subsystems within the computer to access system memory independently of the central processing unit ....
-based bitmap graphics, hex keypad for user interaction and DMA based program loading, a two digit hexadecimal LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
display, an LED on the special processor Q line, and 5 expansion slots.
Available accessories included the giant board (ROM monitor + I/O), 4 KiB (static) RAM board, color board, power supply, and case. RS-232 terminals could be interfaced with the unit. Available software included Tiny BASIC
Tiny BASIC
Tiny BASIC is a dialect of the BASIC programming language that can fit into as little as 2 or 3 KB of memory. This small size made it invaluable in the early days of microcomputers , when typical memory size was only 4–8 KB.- History :...
and a text editor.
The ELF part of the name came from an earlier machine called the "COSMAC ELF", published as a construction project in Popular Electronics
Popular Electronics
Popular Electronics was an American magazine started by Ziff-Davis Publishing in October 1954 for electronics hobbyists and experimenters. It soon became the "World's Largest-Selling Electronics Magazine". The circulation was 240,151 in April 1957 and 400,000 by 1963. Ziff-Davis published Popular...
magazine. An important improvement on its predecessor was an etched PCB and a hexadecimal keypad instead of toggle switches for entering a program.
See also
- COSMAC ELFCOSMAC ELFThe COSMAC ELF was an RCA 1802 microprocessor-based computer based on a series of construction articles in Popular Electronics magazine in 1976 and 1977. Through the back pages of electronics magazines, both Netronics and Quest Electronics offered low-priced kits that were based on this design. ...
- RCA COSMAC VIPCOSMAC VIPThe COSMAC VIP was an early microcomputer that was aimed at video games. For a price of US$275, it could be purchased from RCA by mail order. It came in kit form, and had to be assembled. Its dimensions were 22 x 28 cm, and it had a RCA 1802 processor; along with a crystal clock operating at 1.76...
- Quest SuperELF
- RCA 1802RCA 1802The RCA CDP1802, also known as the COSMAC , is an 8-bit CMOS microprocessor introduced by RCA in early 1976. It is being by Intersil Corporation as a high-reliability microprocessor...
microprocessor - Early Microcomputers
- Competing 6502 microprocessor based trainers KIM-1KIM-1The KIM-1, short for Keyboard Input Monitor, was a small 6502-based single-board computer developed and produced by MOS Technology, Inc. and launched in 1976...
and Rockwell AIM-65AIM-65The Rockwell AIM-65 computer was a development computer based on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor introduced in 1976. The AIM-65 was essentially an expanded KIM-1 computer. Available software included a monitor with line at a time assembler/disassembler, BASIC interpreter, assembler, Pascal,... - 8080 Based machines: MITS Altair 8800Altair 8800The MITS Altair 8800 was a microcomputer design from 1975 based on the Intel 8080 CPU and sold by mail order through advertisements in Popular Electronics, Radio-Electronics and other hobbyist magazines. The designers hoped to sell only a few hundred build-it-yourself kits to hobbyists, and were...
and IMSAI 8080IMSAI 8080The IMSAI 8080 was an early microcomputer released in late 1975, based on the Intel 8080 and later 8085 and S-100 bus. It was a clone of its main competitor, the earlier MITS Altair 8800. The IMSAI is largely regarded as the first "clone" computer. The IMSAI machine ran a highly modified version of... - RCA Studio IIRCA Studio IIThe RCA Studio II is a videogame console made by RCA that debuted in January 1977. The graphics of Studio II games were black and white and resembled those of earlier Pong consoles and their clones. The Studio II also did not have joysticks or similar game controllers but instead used two ten...