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VERY RARE Altair 8800 with Z80 Processor upgrade

R

rgreenosb

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
5
This is a unique opportunity to own a functional piece of computer history! Collectors, don’t miss out on having what must be one of the most complete and extended units that exists today!

I will be taking offers this week before we decide whether or not to sell through ebay. The last unit sold, far less complete and extended, for $4000 so offers should be expected to beat it. Shipping anywhere in North America, costs borne by the buyer (insurance required). Total weight is 120 lbs + weight of documentation.

This particular unit is an Original Altair 8800 Mainframe, from the initial batch of orders that were the result of the Popular Electronics article on the Altair 8800. The original owner used it extensively and extended the unit accordingly, well beyond the initial specs. I have assurances from said builder that it was, and should still be, in working order. If repairs are required this unit comes with COMPLETE assembly and operation instructions.




This Altair 8800 was functional and complete but has not been started for 20 years.

This auction is for the following list of items:


Altair 8800 Mainframe Computer, complete with following boards:
  • Z80 Upgraded CPU
  • 2 x 16 MCS - 16K Static RAM Memory*
  • 1 x 88-S4K - 4K Synchronous RAM Memory*
  • 1 x Cromemco 8K Bytesaver - Eprom Writer
  • 1 x Tarbell Cassette Interface
  • 1 x 88-VI(RTC) - Altair Vector Interrupt/Real Time Clock*
  • 1 x Unknown Eprom Board
  • 1 x 8800 Disk BD1*
  • 1 x MITS Disk #2*
  • 1 x Franklin Electric S100 Bus Compatible IO Serial & Parallel Controller*
  • + BONUS: Unassembled 88-S4K Board*


Peripherals:
MITS 3202 - Dual Disk Drive Cabinet
Pertec 88-DCDD - Altair Floppy Disk*
TVT II - CT-1024 Terminal Teletyper (Missing Monitor)*


Documentation:
  • Altair 8800 Documentation (Compete) - BOTH Assembly and Operations Manual
  • DZ80-80R CPU Manual
  • Most or all of the individual board instructions (with *)
  • Scelbi's Galaxy Game for the "8008/8080"

SCELBAL-II + Supplementals
Sig-Forth Language Install Manual
OPUS/Two Language Manual
EPROM Custom Program Printouts
MITS 3200 Operation Manual

Computer items are vintage. Minimal testing has been done. They are not offered as perfect, as they are up to 35 years old. Early microcomputers were known to have faults and require technical knowledge to repair or operate properly. These items are sold to collectors and technical experts in AS-IS condition. Please do not buy this item if you do not accept these condition details. Please contact me for further questions/information.
 
IMO $4000 is on the high side but best of luck. Absolutely a great system and highly collectible yes. Price varies depending on condition and known functionality quite a bit.
 
Nice but not a very rare Altair 8800 Kit. Its typical example and a later serial number. The z80 processor upgrade reduces the value of the system. If you can't at least power it on and check a few memoy locations you can't claim it works.

That said you have an original altair disk drive controller set and maybe two original mits ram controller cards in there which adds value. A known working set of disk controllers could earn you $800 on their own. Does it include any diskettes that appear to be boot disks or all of those pictured blanks? Do you have disks that match the program manuals?

If you can't prove it can boot from a diskette you might get between $2200-3000 because you've got those drives incuded. If it does boot a disk then you will have a shot at $4000, as I know very few people with altairs who also have a working Altair disk drive. Most altair owners have partially working systems.

Good salesmanship though, nice presentation!
 
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I am going to fire it up when I can make arrangements for the builder to come over ( at his request, he just wanted to see it running again). Because it was a heavily used machine many of the Altair issues have been resolved and it looks like the internals for the Altair Disk was replaced or repaired, I will add that to the list of questions I have for the builder (who has a VERY precise memory, lol). Definitely 2 16k ram boards and Disk 1 and 2 controllers.

The disks are all full. One of them is boot disks for the OS called CDOS (custom Chris & Don's Operating System) which is also burned to the custom eprom S-100 card.
 
Thanks billdeg. In that article they use "minicomputer". Has anyone else seen the 8800 being called a mainframe?
 
Well it's going to sell for more than $5600K on Ebay...note the late serial number photo was blanked out, it's not known to really work (worked 20 years ago does not count as working) and it still sells for that much? No original CPU card? Good for the seller, but kind of dumb for the customer. Next week we'll see posts from someone "I just got this Altair...."

Where do people get the money to just spend without thinking.

bd
 
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Wow.. just while verifying your claim it jumped another $1000. Auction is here if anyone wants to make a last minute bid ;-)
 
I have been working by coincidence on my Altair lately, got BASIC running (download tape through serial port). I have documented the process fully on my web site. My process is the same that found on solivant.com, with a few extra things.

I am in the process of putting Extended BASIC on a set of 2716 eProms.
 
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