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8-Bit Transistor ALU

8-Bit ALU

3,488 transistors (624 discrete MOSFETs + 2,864 inside 74HC logic). Built to answer a 3am question: Could I rebuild a computer as a personal project within a medieval timeline?

View in 3DExplore the Journey

Build Timeline

From MOSFET simulations to full system assembly. Click each milestone to explore the journey.

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Verified

MOSFET Design

Custom logic gates designed from transistor level using Electric VLSI

Designed fundamental logic gates (NAND, NOR, XOR, Inverter) from MOSFET level using Electric VLSI. I began designing schematics of inverter, nand, nor, xnor, and notting them, getting all 7 gates from scratch.

Technologies Used

Electric VLSIKiCadNGSpice
Completion Time: 2 weeks

Schematics Video Full

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By The Numbers

Project Metrics

A comprehensive 8-bit ALU built from scratch with meticulous attention to detail

0
Transistors
Total (Discrete + ICs)
0
Operations
Arithmetic & logic
1.24M
Tests Passed
100% success rate
10
Weeks
Design & verification span (~10 weeks)
8 Boards
Custom designed
100%
Open Source
6 Tools
Electric, NGSpice, KiCad, Logisim, Python, SymbiYosys
8-bit
Data path width

The Build Journey section breaks the work into MOSFET design, schematics, PCB layout, and fabrication stages that together span about 10 weeks.