For those interested in details, here are some current technical specifications of the MEGA65. These details are subject to change as we progress through the project.
Production of the first batch of developer machines. These are dedicated to key stakeholders: Software developers, former C65 engineers, community influencers and journalists of retro-magazines.
MEGA identifies further strategic partners, ideally suited for producing MEGA65 hardware components: GMK electronic design as expert for keyboard design and production; Hintsteiner Group being specialized in case tooling and production, and Trenz Electronic as creator of mainboards, for assembly and distribution.
Trenz produces MEGA65 rev.1 mainboard. The prototypes are presented over Easter at the world-renowned demoscene-party Revision in Saarbrücken.
MEGA65 presents the 2nd prototype, an exact replica of the original C65. More experts join the MEGA65 team: Software engineer Ralph Egas, technical writer Andrew Owen and FPGA guru Antti Lukats from Trenz Electronic GmbH, first strategic delivery partner of the MEGA65 project.
Hardware engineer Dieter Penner joins the project which delivers the first alpha-series prototype. It leverages Digilent's Nexys 4 Artix-7 FPGA development board and a case closely resembling the original, produced in a selective laser sintering (SLS) prototyping process.
Thinking about creating a C65 demo, MEGA board member Detlef Hastik immediately realizes the potential of Paul's concept. With MEGA's thrive for preserving mankind's digital heritage, the idea is born to re-build C65 computers, Paul joins MEGA. MEGA member Andre Kudra gets hold of a working C65 as study object.
Paul Gardner-Stephen once had one of the legendary C65 prototype machines. Remembering how much he loved programming it at some point in time he starts recreating it in VHDL. With this courageous and ambitious step, he kicks off what later becomes the MEGA65 project.
GMK Electronic Design design and manufacture high-end electronic modules and software applications for the professional use. GMK Electronic Design construct and manufacture the Cherry-MX-based MEGA65 keyboards.
Hintsteiner group produce industrial models, molds, carbon technology, prototypes and small series since 1981. Hintsteiner group build the MEGA65 cases for the developer versions as well as the final production line cases.
Trenz Electronic develop, manufacture, integrate and sell FPGA and SoC modules for business and science. Trenz Electronic design and build the MEGA65 mainboards and also assemble and sell the final machines.
We are giving away the designs for free which take considerable time, effort and money to create.
While it is possible for anyone to download the sources for the FPGA, we are offering a service to keep you updated with the latest core files and infos. We ask for a donation of at least EUR 5 to help us provide this service and contribute to ongoing development. A project like this involves much greater costs than this, so larger donations are appreciated. Talk to us about special recognition for substantial donations.
Donate and get registeredThank you very much! It's people like you that keep us going.
IMPORTANT: We are always looking for people willing to help in creating the best 8-bit computer ever!
You can send us a message via this form. Please note that unless you are press, you want to participate big time or have anything else of significance to tell us, we might not be able to answer. Our available time is being consumed on realising the MEGA65.
