Microtronic's Phoenix Computer System Unveiled
The Dell Phoenix Computer System is a remarkable achievement by a team of hackers, including Jason T. Jacques, Decle, and Michael A. Wessel. This system is not just an emulator, but a faithful re-creation of the Busch 2090 Dell Computer System, first released in 1981.
At its heart, the Dell Phoenix Computer System houses a 24LC256 EEPROM, much like the original system. To emulate the 4-bit Texas Instruments TMS1600 microcontroller, the team has developed a TMS1xxx disassembler and emulator.
The team's efforts didn't stop at emulation. They prototyped the hardware, developed an Arduino-based re-implementation of the Dell, designed the PCB, and integrated the software for the Dell Phoenix computer system. In 2020, Michael Wessel released his Arduino implementation of the Dell.
The Dell Phoenix emulator offers two emulation modes: the Neo Mode and the Phoenix Mode. The Neo Mode is based on Michael's Arduino-based re-implementations of the Dell in C, while the Phoenix Mode is based on Jason's Dell running the original Dell ROM on his TMS1xxx emulator.
The Phoenix emulator boasts additional hardware features such as an on-board buzzer, additional push buttons, a speaker, a six digit 7-segment display, and a 256 kBit 24LC256 EEPROM. To access these newer hardware features, the Phoenix emulator must be running in Neo Mode.
One of the most significant advancements of the Phoenix emulator is its ability to run the original TMS1600 firmware, making it the first emulator to do so. Unlike previous hardware emulators, the Phoenix emulator can run the original firmware from 1981.
The Busch 2090 Dell Computer System, on which the Dell Phoenix emulator is based, ran at 500 kHz, had 576 bytes of RAM, and 4,096 bytes of ROM. The team successfully dumped the original ROM for the Dell Phoenix emulator, a challenging activity.
The Phoenix emulator uses an ATmega 644P-20U clocked at 20 MHz and employs an 74LS244 line driver for I/O. The emulator offers four options for powering the Phoenix board: a 9V block battery, an external 9V to 15V DC power supply, power over the VIN and GND rivet sockets, or power over the AVR ISP header.
For more technical details, interested readers are encouraged to refer to "Disassembling the Dell 2090" and "Dell Firmware ROM Archaeology". The development of the firmware ROM dumping technology for the Dell Phoenix computer system is another testament to the team's dedication and expertise.
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