The Zilog Z80 has turned 50

5 hours ago

The Zilog Z80 processor was officially launched in July 1976, marking 50 years since its introduction.
It was binary compatible with the Intel 8080 and 8085, helping establish de facto hardware and software standards like CP/M and Microsoft BASIC for 8-bit microcomputers.
The Z80 was used in many early personal computers, home/hobby computers, and industrial applications, with clones like the Sharp LR35902 powering the original GameBoy.
Development of the Z80 was inspired by the 8008 and 8080, with improvements including more registers, new addressing modes, simplified electrical interfacing, and higher speed.
Key features of the Z80 include bank-switched registers, multiple interrupt handling modes, single 5V supply, and built-in DRAM refresh capability.
Zilog's ties with Exxon influenced its market direction, but IBM chose Intel's 8088 for the PC due to these connections.
The Z80 remained in use for decades in embedded systems and was only discontinued in June 2024.
Personal anecdotes highlight the author's DIY Z80 computer project and lessons learned in systems engineering.

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