{"id":20410,"date":"2025-01-20T14:35:43","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T19:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=20410"},"modified":"2025-05-22T15:13:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T19:13:24","slug":"vin42","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin42\/","title":{"rendered":"Intel SDK-85"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Intel SDK-85<\/h2>\n<p>[vin42]<\/p>\n<p>The Intel SDK-85, introduced in 1977, was a pioneering single-board computer designed to showcase and develop for the Intel 8085 microprocessor, featuring a 6-digit LED display, a 24-key hexadecimal keyboard, and expandable RAM and ROM. Its claim to fame was making microprocessor technology accessible to engineers, students, and hobbyists, serving as both a learning platform and a prototyping tool during the early microcomputer revolution<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-20993\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Intel SDK-85\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250508_132321448-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Intel<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Single-board computer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1977<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $250 (CAD ~$1,400 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.77 (770 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\">Hardware Specifications<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc pl-8\">\n<li><strong>Processor<\/strong>: Intel 8085A running at 3 MHz with a 1.3 \u03bcs instruction cycle<\/li>\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li>ROM: 2 KB expandable to 4 KB (using 8355 or 8755)<\/li>\n<li>RAM: 256 bytes expandable to 512 bytes (using 8155)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>I\/O<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li>38 programmable parallel I\/O lines (expandable to 76 lines)<\/li>\n<li>Serial interface through SID\/SOD pins of 8085<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: 6-digit 7-segment LED display<\/li>\n<li><strong>Input<\/strong>: 24-key hexadecimal keyboard<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interfaces<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li>TTL-compatible bus<\/li>\n<li>20 mA current loop for teletype (110 baud)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136206418 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\"><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: The Intel SDK-85 ran a built-in monitor program stored in ROM rather than a traditional operating system. This monitor provided basic system control, program entry, memory inspection, and I\/O functions directly through its hexadecimal keypad or via a teletype interface<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\"><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>: The primary programming language for the SDK-85 was 8085 assembly language, as users wrote and entered machine code or assembly programs directly. Additionally, higher-level languages such as Intel PL\/M could be used if cross-compiled on another system and then loaded onto the SDK-85<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\">Notables<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\">The Intel SDK-85 was nicknamed a &#8220;system design kit&#8221; and was notable for being a complete single-board computer aimed at education, prototyping, and development for the Intel 8085 microprocessor<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\">It featured a rare 24-key hexadecimal keyboard and a 6-digit LED display for direct program entry-unusual for its era<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\">The SDK-85 could interface directly with teletypes using a 20 mA current loop, rather than the more common RS-232, reflecting its roots in early computing labs and industrial environments<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\">Despite only 256 bytes of RAM (expandable to 512 bytes), it was used to build games like Simon and for hardware experiments, showcasing the versatility of minimal hardware<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\">The SDK-85 helped launch the era of hands-on microprocessor learning and rapid prototyping, influencing generations of engineers and hobbyists<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Intel SDK-85 [vin42] The Intel SDK-85, introduced in 1977, was a pioneering single-board computer designed to showcase and develop for the Intel 8085 microprocessor, featuring a 6-digit LED display, a 24-key hexadecimal keyboard, and expandable RAM and ROM. Its claim to fame was making microprocessor technology accessible to engineers, students, and hobbyists, serving as both [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Intel SDK-85 - 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