Skip to content
HHackerTube.videoSurprise me

8-bit computer update

8-bit computer update on HackerTube: recommended by 14 Hacker News commenters across 12 separate months, 2017–2023.

Ben Eater

other · intro · evergreen

Open on YouTube

Ben Eater's short update announcing his plan to build another 8-bit computer from scratch on camera. It kicks off the breadboard computer series that became widely known.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN repeatedly recommends the series it launched as the best way to understand how a CPU works, praised for Eater's clear teaching.

people recommended it
14
separate months
12
strong recommendations
6
discussed on HN
2017–2023
“I think I learned more from Ben Eater’s “Building an 8-bit breadboard computer” series [0] than my intro to computer architecture course at university.”
— teeray, Jan 2022, in “Ask HN: How to begin learning assembler for university course?”

What HN commenters said

15 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

teerayJan 2022Strongly recommends

I think I learned more from Ben Eater’s “Building an 8-bit breadboard computer” series [0] than my intro to computer architecture course at university. Highly recommended. [0] ▶ this video

in “Ask HN: How to begin learning assembler for university course?” · View on HN

IanWard1Nov 2021Strongly recommends

Love this kind of build, so I'm working on a little breadboard one myself [link] similar to the Ben Eater 8-bit CPU videos ▶ this video (which are amazing and everyone should watch)

in “Megaprocessor – A micro-processor built large (2016)” · View on HN

rtrunckJul 2021Strongly recommends

Ben Eater (Author of this Video) is fantastic. Learned so much on electronics and computers through this series ▶ this video

in “How does USB device discovery work? [video]” · View on HN

dnauticsSep 2020Strongly recommends

1) the video series on building an computer from scratch is fantastic. It's valuable information no matter where in the tech stack you wind up in (or even if you don't wind up in tech) but also having a deep knowledge of these systems will be of considerable value down the line, because we aren't training kids in hardware as much anymore. ▶ this video 2) If their interest is a bit higher in the stack (like robotics e.g.), and they don't mind getting in the weeds and asking for help in the community, I would target learning with a raspberry pi system. My preferred target is Nerves; it's a bit more bare-bones, and there aren't drivers for everything, but the community is fantastic (the elixir slack / nerves is the place to be), and it's easy to get to a point where you are dropped into an IDE and you can just code .

in “Ask HN: Resources to encourage teen on becoming computer engineer?” · View on HN

gtsteveApr 2020Strongly recommends

I love this guy's videos, I've been watching them for a year or so now. He also made a series [0] where he built the CPU, microcode and all using logic gates and components. As a pure software guy I found it very enlightening. [0] ▶ this video

in ““Hello world” from scratch on a 6502 (2019) [video]” · View on HN

broxSep 2018Strongly recommends

I find Ben Eater's 8-bit computer from scratch series really wonderful, mainly because of his skills as an educator and the effort he puts into the material: ▶ this video Check out his latest videos on low-level data transmission techniques as well.

in “Ask HN: Favorite teachers on YouTube?” · View on HN

Show 9 more comments
santadakotaJan 2023Recommends

Ben Eater's fantastic video series on building a breadboard 6502 based computer and an 8-bit breadboard computer from scratch might be appreciated in this thread. 6502 playlist: [link] 8-bit build playlist: ▶ this video He also sells kits if one is interested in playing along.

in “What Happens When a CPU Starts” · View on HN

ruslanJan 2023Recommends

Starting procedure on MOS6502 is not that simple as it is told in the article. It spends some 7 clocks on doing internal initialization and only then fetches address of first jump from reset vector (0xFFFC/0xFFFD). I find Ben's Eater series on building simple 8-bit breadboard computer using 6502 CPU very educating and entertaining. ▶ this video

in “What Happens When a CPU Starts” · View on HN

mrspeakerSep 2021Recommends

I recently had the feeling of those early home-computing days from the Ben Eater's "8-bit computer from scratch" videos/kits. Really fun project: ▶ this video

in “Sir Clive Sinclair has died” · View on HN

bishopdynamicsOct 2020Recommends

If you're looking to get a much better understanding of /why/ things work, you should check out Ben Eater's videos on YT ▶ this video

in “Can You Build a CPU?” · View on HN

klelattiSep 2020Recommends

Not 100% sure this is precisely what you're looking for but Ben Eater's YouTube series on building an 8 bit computer is great to help build understanding how a microprocessor works. [1] ▶ this video

in “Z80, the 8-bit Number Cruncher (2011)” · View on HN

bloodorangeJun 2020Recommends

I have a feeling you might like this: [link] It's a popular course about building a computer from nand gates and eventually building a Tetris like game on it. All of this is done on a hardware simulator of course. If you are keen on real hardware, you might find this interesting: ▶ this video It's a series of videos where Ben Eater explains how to build an 8-bit computer using breadboards and basic elements of circuits. I find that his explanations are quite good as well.

in “An Intro to Compilers (2017)” · View on HN

djmipsJan 2019Recommends

If this interests you, you'll probably really like or already have seen Ben Eater's great YouTube series on building an 8 bit computer. (2016 as well) ▶ this video

in “MegaProcessor (2017) [video]” · View on HN

BiltersMay 2018Recommends

Don't really know. But if you decide to do so, please make a video series about it. I really enjoyed the series Ben Eater has produced making his 8 bit computer. [1] [1] ▶ this video

in “How long would it take to create a Windows 1.0 capable machine from scratch?” · View on HN

zurkogAug 2017Cites it

This was so cool as a book. Ben Eater did a fantastic job of making these videos, explaining each concept, but the computer he builds (the SAP, or Simple As Possible) is directly from "Digital Computer Electronics" (c) 1977 by Albert Paul Malvino. He even goes so far as to mention it and shows a copy of the book in his first video: ▶ this video I stumbled across the book 4 years ago when I followed this instructable: [link] The instructable is nowhere near as detailed as Ben's videos, but it was all I had at the time, and it recommended that book. Note: when I purchased the book 4 years ago, it was only $5, now I'm seeing it for upwards of $99: [link] The paperback is only $22, but it lists an additional author not present on the 1977 version, so I don't know if it's the exact same book.

in “Build an 8-bit computer from scratch” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Electronics & circuit designComputer architecture & CPUsEmbedded systems & DIY electronicsben eaterbreadboard computercpu designdigital logicelectronics