newbie building a scratch-built computer

[Chuck Guzis]

On 9 Aug 2007 at 18:26, Dave McGuire wrote:

>    "Better" is debatable...the lack of standardization in the flash  
> world is one thing that keeps me going back to EPROMs for my  
> projects.  Something doesn't become obsolete just because something  
> newer is available.

When it's not being designed into new products, wouldn't it be fair 
to call it "obsolete"?  But my main point is that UV EPROM requires 
some specialized tools to erase and program.  If I were starting out 
from zero, I wouldn't waste my time.  Of course, if the OP is 
fascinated by the little quartz window in a DIP or intends to program 
a lot of UV EPROM, acquiring the equipment might be worth the 
trouble. 

If you don't like flash, there are alternatives.  FRAM, for example, 
is of a size that would adapt very nicely to a "vintage" project.  I 
believe that 5v DIP-based parts are still available.  That might also 
conveniently bypass the need for an emulator.

Or just get an EEPROM programmer and forget about the eraser.  
Pinouts are reasonably close to UV EPROM in many instances, so if you 
wanted to go "authentic", there wouldn't be a problem.

Please note that I've got a couple of programmers as well as an 
eraser--and a big pile of EPROMs.  I use them.  But I don't find it 
particularly convenient.

Cheers,
Chuck