{"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":"2026-06-19T15:40:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:40:41","slug":"vin42","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin42\/","title":{"rendered":"Intel SDK-85"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Intel SDK-85\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"intel-sdk-85\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intel SDK-85<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[vin42]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Intel SDK-85\" class=\"wp-image-20993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20250508_132321448-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\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<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Intel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Single-board computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1977<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $250 (CAD ~$1,400 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.77 (770 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\">Hardware Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list 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\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ROM: 2 KB expandable to 4 KB (using 8355 or 8755)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RAM: 256 bytes expandable to 512 bytes (using 8155)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>I\/O<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>38 programmable parallel I\/O lines (expandable to 76 lines)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serial interface through SID\/SOD pins of 8085<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: 6-digit 7-segment LED display<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Input<\/strong>: 24-key hexadecimal keyboard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Interfaces<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>TTL-compatible bus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>20 mA current loop for teletype (110 baud)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><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}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li><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><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><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><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li><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><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><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><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><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><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><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><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><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><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\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":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[90,123],"class_list":["post-20410","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20410"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24987,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20410\/revisions\/24987"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=20410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}