$2 for 10 PCBs & 24 Hour Production: https://jlcpcb.com
Clickbait title - the 6809 microprocessor has an instruction named SEX (Sign EXtend B into A). So I thought I'd get a lovely old 6809 to execute the SEX instruction repeatedly 🙂
Data sheets:
http://www.flexusergroup.com/flexusergroup/pdfs/6809ist.pdf
http://www.gbgmv.se/dl/doc/md09/MC6809_DataSheet.pdf

By Julian

Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado

12 thoughts on “Chip on breadboard – 6809 microprocessor doing sex”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars BeForth says:

    So sexy… going to try that whith a HD63C09E.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Keni Etienne says:

    I thought SEX was an acronym for something

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ned says:

    I haven't read the other comments and it's very likely already been said but you more or less answered your own (paraphrased: "Why won't it work?") question when you pointed out from the datasheet that you are operating the device way out of spec. Certain internal registers of the 6809 are DRAM-based, hence the minimum operating frequency. They're discharging thus forgetting values by not being refreshed quickly enough. That's why the datasheet stated "unexpected results". If you still want to try it, source an Hitachi 63×09 (63A09, 63B09 or 63C09) which were made later under licence using CMOS technology and are fully static (they can be halted via the clk and continue upon restart).

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars lemon glataitor says:

    Ah yes my favorite computer my sex computer!

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joseph M says:

    Gosh, reading these comments I think we have a lot of old timers here like me that learned to program using this chip !! Must of been around the mid 80's if I remember correctly. Way before arduino came along when things were learned from books.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Roy Tellason says:

    That bit where you're talking about using 10K resistors for the LEDs– is the spec that you are looking at the one where you're limited in terms of source and sink current while still being able to maintain valid logic levels? If so, then you don't need to worry about that. The one you need to worry about is the spec under "Absolute Maximum Ratings", which you shouldn't go near. I'll bet lower value resistors would work just fine.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard Allsebrook says:

    I think you were running it too slow for mul (where sex takes no effort – I think it's just copying the sign bit (1 op to read, one op to write)). MUL is a pretty heavy operation in 8 bit. I think it took more than 11 clock cycles of time and the clocks ticked again before it's finished. Up the clock speed to the minimum and see if that fixes it.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Melkior Wiseman says:

    Best part about the 6809 instruction set? The PCR (Program Counter Relative) data pointer instructions. It meant that if you coded your program correctly, it could be loaded along with its data anywhere in the memory space and still run.

    I remember doing that for a machine code routine on the TRS-80 "Color" computer so I could put text onto the high-res graphics screen by simply calling the machine code subroutine from a BASIC program and feeding in a string to be printed. It had all the bells and whistles, including a full IBM-style extended 256 character set and escape commands for screen clearing and cursor controls.

    Ahh, "them was the days". 🙂

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mr NI says:

    Julian what kind of old 8 bit CPUs do you recommend to play around with? I'm 14 and I'm interested in playing around with old chips

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ted Cuff says:

    6809's were used in Williams arcade consoles too. Ahh the days of Sinistar and Joust. Lol

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Athanasios Pirpiris says:

    when i connect VSS (pin one to ground the whole thing turns off

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars nico swart says:

    I used to programm the M6800 for hand held barcode scanners…

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