SBC Boards

In 1974 and then 1975, the programmable calculators HP-65 and TI SR-52 were released, which were the first in the long saga of programmable calculators.

It was during this same period that 8-bit processors began to appear in succession :

1974: Intel 8080,

1975: Motorola 6800, Signetics 2650, MOS 6502, Fairchild F8,

1976: Zilog Z80, RCA CDP 1802, Intel 8085, Motorola 6802, National Semiconductor SC/MP

quickly followed by 16-bit processors :

1976: TI TMS990,

1977: Fairchild 9440,

1978: Intel 8086,

1979: Zilog z8000, Motorola 68000

Some of these processors will mark the history of microcomputers and remain famous.

At the same time, the first circuit boards based on these processors, programmable in assembly language, will appear.
These boards will be called either "University boards" or "training boards," and some will achieve considerable success and become legendary.

1976: KIM-1 (MOS 6502),

1977: MK-14 (SC/MP),

1978: SYM-1 (MOS 6502),

1978: AIM-65 (MOS 6502),

1978: TM990/189 (TMS990),

1979: TM990/U89 (TMS990),

1981: MPF-1 (Zilog Z80)

SYM-1

MK14

KIM-1

AIM-65

TM990_189

TM990_U89

MPF-1B

These boards would be replicated or cloned throughout the years up until the 2020s...

Retro Computing - About small SBC systems...

One of the best-known achievements is the PIC14 by Karen Orton, a replica of the MK-14 on a PIC microprocessor.

PIC14

Sadly deceased, Karen Orton, a British electronics and software engineer, designed numerous retro-technical projects around the National Semiconductor SC/MP microprocessor.

Karen's Corner PIC14...

the Karen Orton SC/MP Collection...

Better support with Firefox, SeaMonkey, Opera, Google Chrome
Use of JavaScript
Screen 1024x768 - colors 16 bit or more

Last update on 04 August 2026