Ken Shirriff's Blog
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Inside the 8086 processor's instruction prefetch circuitry
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} The groundbreaking 8086 microprocessor was introduced by Intel in 1978 and led to the x86 architecture that still...
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How the 8086 processor's microcode engine works
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} The 8086 microprocessor was a groundbreaking processor introduced by Intel in 1978. It led to the x86 architecture...
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A bug fix in the 8086 microprocessor, revealed in the die's silicon
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} The 8086 microprocessor was a groundbreaking processor introduced by Intel in 1978. It led to the x86 architecture...
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The unusual bootstrap drivers inside the 8086 microprocessor chip
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} The 8086 microprocessor is one of the most important chips ever created; it started the x86 architecture that...
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Reverse-engineering a 1960s hybrid flip flop module with X-ray CT scans
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} How can you find out what's inside a sealed electronics...
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Reverse-engineering the Apollo spacecraft's FM radio
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} How did NASA communicate with the Apollo astronauts,...
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X-ray reverse-engineering a hybrid module from 1960s Apollo test equipment
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} In this blog post, I reverse-engineer a hybrid module...
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Talking with the Moon: Inside Apollo's premodulation processor
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} The Apollo missions to the Moon required complex...
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The digital ranging system that measured the distance to the Apollo spacecraft
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} During the Apollo missions to the Moon, a critical task...
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Inside the Apple-1's shift-register memory
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} Apple's first product was the Apple-1 computer,...
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Reverse-engineering the LM185 voltage reference chip and its bandgap reference
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} Many circuits, such as a computer power supply or a phone...
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Reverse-engineering a mysterious Univac computer board
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} The IBM 1401 team at the Computer History Museum...
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Inside the Apple-1's unusual MOS clock driver chip
.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} Apple's first product was the Apple-1 computer,...