Note: The WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card is supplied in Kitset form only (assembly required). The base price is for the double-sided silkscreened WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card PCB ONLY. The Optional Packs provide many key components. However, a few other components are also required to make a complete WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card Kitset. See BOM below (and BOM photo).

What is Minimalist Europe Card Bus

Europe Card Bus (ECB) is a Retro CPU Bus standard from the late 1970’s / early 1980’s.

The “Minimalist Europe Card Bus” (as I’ve called it), is a Retro 8-bit CPU Bus and PCB design standard that I decided to define & document. The purpose of which is to provide a modular platform for me to re-experience the fun of experimenting with the different 8-bit CPU’s, and the various video and peripheral devices that I grew up with in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

My goal is that of a robust and modular design platform which allows me to create interchangeable PCB cards, based on time proven reliable bus connectors and modern low-cost prototype PCB manufacturing.

i.e. A robust, flexible, and low cost way for me to re-create some of the early microprocessor circuits, that I’d originally built using Wire-Wrap methods back in the day.

As evident from the name, the Bus itself is based on a Minimalist implementation of the original Europe Card Bus (ECB) standard.

Standardised Mechanical Specification for a Minimalist ECB “MECB” Board

MECB Standardised Board Design Parameters:

• Satisfy the 100mm square maximum board size, for low-cost prototype PCB manufacturing.
• Utilise the lower cost 64-pin (Row A&C) DIN 41612 type C connectors, for cost saving.
• Ensure the DIN 41612 connector(s) can be easily centred across the board width, grid aligned.
• Provide two standardised corner holes, on the edge opposing the right-angle DIN connector, to allow for attachment of card handles (to ease board insertion & extraction), or for board mounting – refer next point.
• Provide an additional two standardised corner mounting holes on the edge with the right-angle DIN connector, to provide a full set of four corner holes (to allow for stand-alone board mounting).
• Standardise PCB corner rounding, for sharp corner removal consistency across all boards & visual tidiness.

MECB Standardised Board Design Notes:

• PCB layout is designed utilising 0.127mm (5.0 mils) grid setting.
• Board size is 99.822mm, which represents the greatest even multiple of 0.127mm (i.e. multiple of 0.254mm – 10.0 mils), that will fit within the desired maximum 100mm board dimension.
• Standard M3 sized mounting holes were chosen. An additional two mid-edge located mounting holes are specified for the Backplane boards only (to provide additional mechanical support).
• For reference, DIN 41612 connectors can utilise standard M2.5 mounting bolts (8mm length for the straight connectors, 10mm length for right angle connectors).
• Implemented as KiCAD Templates, to assist with simplifying the creation of each new MECB board design.

Please refer to the attached photo outlining all dimensions for the MECB Standardised Board Mechanical Specifications.

WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card

The "WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card" is a follow-up to the original 6502 CPU Card and the 1MB ROM Expansion Card (both are still available).

This new Card takes advantage of the smaller PLCC package size for the CPU and ROM, to enable combining the functionality of these two previous Cards into an attractive PLCC based design.

I like PLCC packages, as they're not only attractive to look at, they're also satisfying to insert into a PLCC socket! PLCC sockets are also available in the Retro friendly Through-Hole (TH) format, which I've used here.

Also note that if you wish to build my CreatiVision re-Creation, using this new card replaces the otherwise needed 2 cards in order to provide a 16 game system (due to the ROM expansion being built-in).

Due to all the above, this is my current favourite MECB 6502 based CPU Card!

What You Get

To satisfy everyone's differing needs, I've split the WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card Kitset into Optional add-on Packs.

Firstly, note that the base price is for the double-sided silkscreened WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card PCB Only.

Then, you can add the Optional Packs that might be helpful to you. Then, to complete the Kitset, you'll need to source the remaining parts to complete the BOM below.

I've tried to account for all of the more specialised parts (providing convenience) in the Optional Packs, with the thought that the remaining parts are likely already in your hobbyist parts drawers (or are quite easily obtainable).

In fact, I've even ensured that the Additional Components Required, can all be sourced from a single supplier, making it very easy to procure all of the parts!

As an example, I've provided the part numbers for Mouser. However, you can of course get them from your favourite supplier (if you don't already have them in your parts drawers).

Please view the second photo, for a visual representation of the available Optional Packs.

Optional Hardware Pack includes:

• 1x Right-Angle Male DIN41612 364 Keyed Bus Connector
• 2x M2.5 Stainless Steel Bolt 10mm (2 required for Right Angle Connector)
• 2x M2.5 Stainless Steel Hexagonal Nut (for above Bolts)
• 4x M3 Nylon PCB Spacer 12mm
• 8x M3 Nylon Bolt 6mm (for Spacer mounting)
• 2x 2-pin PCB Header
• 1x 3-pin PCB Header
• 1x 2-pin Jumper Cap

Optional Switches Pack includes:

• 1x Researched good quality 3:3 footprint 16-Position Rotary Coded Switch.
• 2x Tactile Switch 6mm
• 1x 8-way DIP Switch DIP16

Optional PLCC TH Sockets Pack includes:

• 1x PLCC44 Through-Hole IC Socket (for CPU)
• 2x PLCC32 Through-Hole IC Socket (for ROMs)

Optional Programmed ATF16V8 PLD Pack includes:

• 1x ATF16V8 PLD Chip - pre-Programmed and Tested for the default 48K RAM + 16K ROM memory map.

Optional Blank SST39SF040 PLCC32 FLASH ROM Pack includes:

• 1x (or 2x) pre-Tested SST39SF040 PLCC32 packaged 512KB FLASH ROM which is blank, ready for you to program with your desired content.

Optional W24512K 64KB SRAM Pack includes:

• 1x pre-Tested W24512K 32-pin SDIP 64K Static RAM

Optional Discrete Components Pack includes:

• 2x SIP9 (9-pin) Resistor Network 4K7
• 1x SIP5 (5-pin) Resistor Network 4K7
• 6x Bypass Capacitor 0.1µf 5mm

WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card BOM

The following is the full Bill Of Materials (BOM) to allow fully assembling your WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card Card.

Note that the PCB is supplied by default, and many components are available in the Optional Packs.

I've split the BOM listing into the Optional Packs parts, followed by the Additional Components Required parts, to be sourced by yourself (if not already in your parts drawers).

To make it easier, I've included the Mouser part numbers for the Additional Components Required, so that all these parts can be obtained from a single supplier!

Some components are, of course, optional. For example the DIL IC Sockets. Although, I do highly recommend IC Sockets are used throughout. Also, if you do not require debounced NMI then you can leave off 1x TC1232CPA.

Via the Documentation link (below) you'll also find more information on the MECB system and other available Cards, as well as videos presenting different components of the MECB retro 8-bit computing project.

Default (PCB Only)

Optional Packs

Additional Components Required

Your WDC W65C02S PLCC CPU Card Kitset order is shipped in a robust cardboard carton with packing, for safe delivery via New Zealand International Air Parcel (see example shipping photo). I'll also email to you, photos of both your order content and your shipped parcel, with my shipping notification.

Note: Please visit the Documentation link (below) for more information on MECB, and for details of the various MECB Cards that have been design so far.