Re: Is it possible to build a modern Apple][?

[adric22@yahoo.com]

This has been done with the C64 and the Vic20.  The Commodore DTV sells
for under $20 and has 2 MB of RAM, 2 MB of Flash, and the main ASIC
(total of 3 chips).  However, it still runs at 1 Mhz (out of need for
compatibility) but can be set to burst mode (where it takes advantage
of the SDRAM and other timing enhancements) to get approx. 4 times
faster speed, while still running at 1 Mhz.

I have a website on it:

http://galaxy22.dyndns.org/misc/hummerdtv/index.html

One other note.. it isn't neccessary for the device to run at 5 ghz
just to be 5000 times faster.  Old 8-bit systems are very inefficient
use of bus cycles, amongst other things.  I would imagine you could
easily be 5000 times faster just using 200 to 300 Mhz.

But back to the original question.. I too am interested to know the
answer (not using an FPGA)  I investigated this question for the
Commodore systems about a year ago.  I had a quest to build one from
off-the-shelf parts.  Unfortunatly there are no substitutes  for  the
sound and graphics chips in the commodore systems.  (without going to a
custom ASIC or FPGA) I think I determined that one could, in fact,
build a Commodore PET from off-the-shelf parts.  (but who would want
one?) But I do not know enough about the Apple II systems to know if
there are chips that can't be substituted.