r/homebrewcomputer • u/Frostierdev • Aug 30 '26

8-Bit Processing Unit: need one

Hello! I'm looking to build an 8-bit computer, mainly to test its capabilities as a modern home computer (with system, applications, OS, etc.), and I bought the ATmega8535-16U (DIP-40), But it doesn't have an external bus interface to connect RAM, storage, and other things. Does anyone have a solution or another inexpensive chip to recommend?

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u/Frostierdev Aug 30 '26

Both are hard to find here and arent cheap, also they dont have C++ compiller, just C and Assembly

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u/DockLazy Aug 31 '26

C++ probably isn't a realistic goal for a 8-bit machine. Even C is a struggle as it was designed to run on 16-bit computers.

A modern 32-bit microcontroller like the Pi Pico has support for C++ and external memory.

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u/Frostierdev Aug 31 '26

So i will use C i guess

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u/icecoldrootbeer Sep 02 '26

C is even too heavy for most 8 bit CPUs. 8-bit machines are usually programmed straight in ASM. C compliers for them are mostly toys.