Zilog has announced it is halting production of its standalone DIP-packaged Z80 CPU models — a move that could spell trouble for vintage computing e

Zilog Calls Time on the Venerable Z80, Discontinues the Standalone Z84C00 CPU Family

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2024-04-19 17:30:08

Zilog has announced it is halting production of its standalone DIP-packaged Z80 CPU models — a move that could spell trouble for vintage computing enthusiasts looking to build Z80-based systems or repair existing machines with new parts.

Zilog launched the original eight-bit Z80 CPU in 1976 as its first product, designed by former Intel engineer and company co-founder Federico Faggin and early employee Masatoshi Shima. Designed to offer improvements over Intel's 8080 and built with embedded computing in mind, the Z80 quickly rose to become one of the most popular CPU choices for microcomputers — going head-to-head with MOS Technology's rival 6502, launched a year earlier, and appearing in devices including the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Tandy TRS-80, and Namco's Pac-Man arcade cabinets.

Although a design of its era, the Z80 CPU is still a popular choice for both modern embedded systems and enthusiast gadgets longing for a nostalgic return to simpler times — but it appears Zilog is finally calling time on the line, despite its status at one time as one of the mostly highly second-sourced CPU designs.