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Librem 5 April Update
Purism makes premium phones, laptops, mini PCs and servers running free software on PureOS. Purism products respect people's privacy and freedom while protecting their security.
Topics /
Hardware & Electronics
The most popular blog posts about hardware & electronics on Hacker News. 298 posts.
272
Most long-standing XHCI (USB 3.0+) issues resolved
Last month, I sat down and decided to at the very least attempt to fix our XHCI (USB 3 host controller) bus driver. Issues with it have been the most significant problem users have been facing, as most hardware made post-2012 has an XHCI chip as the …
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A look at IBM S/360 core memory: In the 1960s, 128 kilobytes weighed 610 pounds
I recently received a vintage core memory array, part of an IBM System/360 mainframe computer. These arrays were used in a 128-kilobyte core...
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Instructions per cycle: AMD Zen 2 versus Intel
The performance of a processor is determined by several factors. For example, processors with a higher frequency tend to do more work per unit of time. Physics makes it difficult to produce processors that have higher frequency. Modern processors can execute many instructions per cycle. Thus a 3.4GHz processor has 3.4…
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Building a vacuum tube computer
Having 32 (31) registers, this means that a refresh will be issued each 256us. To be on the safe side, the capacitor should keep its charge much longer than that. Testing with both EAA91 (ideal diode) and some semiconductors: Diode charge hold time Comment EAA91 >500us ideal diode 1N4148 >500us for reference, leakage…
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Artificial “muscles” achieve powerful pulling force
MIT researchers have created a fiber-based, lightweight, fast-acting artificial muscle that could be useful for robotics and for prosthetics.
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Raspberry Pi Model Railway Automation
This note introduces my experiences of using the Raspberry Pi to automate a model railway.
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Real-Time Touch Controller for the Yamaha DX7 Synthesizer
George Barlow initially set out to develop a controller to be able to call up a voice preset, and then tweak from there. What he's done is essentially transformed the DX7 synth into an interactive sound designer's dream machine.
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Purism Librem 5 Hardware Schematics
Purism makes premium phones, laptops, mini PCs and servers running free software on PureOS. Purism products respect people's privacy and freedom while protecting their security.
283
Lidar mapping techniques using multiple sensors
How Ouster OS1 sensors create 3D HD maps, demonstrated by scanning San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building.
284
Reviewing Bad Schematics as EE Interview Tactic
help your EE candidates strut their stuff
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USB-C Easy Bake Oven (2017)
I modified an Easy Bake Oven to run off USB-C. The obvious question is "Why?", but I prefer to ask, "Why Not?". The USB-C spec allows for 100 Watts of power to be transferred through the connector, and that is the power rating for the oven, so it should work.
286
Rethinking the Commodore 64 Memory Map (2018)
I've had my head down, programming away on C64 OS, and been making some great progress. I've tweeted a few things out, some of which are revealing of things I've either never talked about here or even seem to contradict what I've said here. So I'd like to take a breather and talk about some of these developments.
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Pixelbook and “Nami” Chromebooks the First to Get Linux GPU Acceleration
The Pixelbook and four other fairly new Chromebooks have the special flag to enable GPU acceleration, making these the first to get the new feature for Linux. This should bring the Android emulator and improved gaming capabilities to Project Crostini.
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Commodore 900
Click the Commodore icon to return. Intending to use pictures or text from this page? Please read this notice . Last modify 11 August 2020.
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Ray tracing with uLisp
This is a simple ray tracer written in uLisp, using the uLisp graphics extensions to plot on a colour TFT display. The scene contains five spheres and a plane and can be run on any of the following boards that include an integral TFT display:
291
Hidden Cam Above Bluetooth Pump Skimmer
Tiny hidden spy cameras are a common sight at ATMs that have been tampered with by crooks who specialize in retrofitting the machines with card skimmers. But until this past week I’d never heard of hidden cameras being used at gas pumps in tandem with Bluetooth-based card skimming devices.
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Study identifies main culprit behind lithium metal battery failure
UC San Diego researchers have discovered the root cause of why lithium metal batteries fail, challenging a long-held belief in the field. The study presents new ways to boost battery performance and brings research a step closer to incorporating lithium anodes into rechargeable batteries.
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Software woven into wire: Core rope and the Apollo Guidance Computer
Onboard the Apollo spacecraft, the revolutionary Apollo Guidance Computer helped navigate to the Moon and land on its surface. One of the f...
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Modchips of the State
Collection of my projects and hacks.
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AMD products are not susceptible to SPOILER exploit
Download drivers and software for AMD products — includes Windows and Linux support, auto-detect tools & detailed guides for installation.
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How to design a proper USB-C™ power sink (hint, not the way Raspberry Pi 4 did it)
This issue came up recently for a high profile new gadget that has made the transition from Micro-USB to USB-C in its latest version, the…