The Zilog Z80 has turned 50
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The Zilog Z80 processor, launched 50 years ago in July 1976, remains influential through clones and embedded use.
The post traces the Z80's lineage from the Datapoint 2200 and Intel 8008/8080, detailing architectural decisions and electrical interfacing. The Z80 added index registers, register banking, simplified power/clock requirements, and binary compatibility with the 8080. It was developed by Federico Faggin and Masatoshi Shima after they left Intel, costing ~$400k to develop. The processor saw use in home computers (ZX Spectrum, TRS-80), the Game Boy (via Sharp LR35902 clone), and industrial applications. Zilog discontinued the original Z80 in 2024 but continues producing the eZ80 variant.
What commenters are saying
Commenters fondly remember the Z80 from machines like the ZX81, TI-84 calculators, and TRS-80. Many learned assembly on it, calling it a gateway to understanding computing from the metal up. Several note the Z80's continued presence in TI calculators and industrial systems. A technical correction clarifies the Game Boy Advance uses a Sharp SM83 core, not a Z80. The thread is nostalgic but grounded in technical detail.