The MCL65-Fast is a drop-in replacement for the 6502 CPU however it does not emulate the processor. Instead it allows you to run C code compiled on the Arduino GUI to run directly on the Teensy 4.1’s 32-bit ARM A9 which is an 800Mhz+ superscalar CPU. This provides the ability to write C code to run on this fast CPU in the place of the vintage computer’s 6502!
I uploaded a YouTube demonstration which uses it in an Apple II+ seen here:
The MCL65-Fast has control over the 6502 bus so it has access to all of the motherboard’s peripherals and slots which include the keyboard, video, sound, and anything plugged into an expansion slot. To access the Apple II video and keyboard, I have included a printf, and scanf, and other functions to display characters to the Apple II’s video as well as access its keyboard. With these functions you can write programs using regular C code and use printf and scanf to accept input and display the results!
The source is available on GitHub here: https://github.com/MicroCoreLabs/Projects/tree/master/MCL65%2B/SourceCode
The YouTube demo video shows how fast the MCL65-Fast runs inside of an Apple II+. I first show the board running the MCL65+ 6502 in cycle-accurate emulation mode and then download the MCL65-Fast code which demonstrates a few small functions which show the incredible speed!
The MCL65-Fast would be fun for people who would like to develop programs for the Apple II or other 6502 computers while using the modern and easy to use Arduino tools. It is also fun to see these vintage machines running at ridiculously fast speeds!
MicroCore Labs 
[…] in often unpredictable ways. [Ted Fried] decided that he would turn this idea on its head, though, by essentially building a TURBO button into the hardware of old computers which would greatly increase the execution speed of these computers without causing software […]
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[…] in often unpredictable ways. [Ted Fried] decided that he would turn this idea on its head, though, by essentially building a TURBO button into the hardware of old computers which would greatly increase the execution speed of these computers without causing software […]
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[…] in often unpredictable ways. [Ted Fried] decided that he would turn this idea on its head, though, by essentially building a TURBO button into the hardware of old computers which would greatly increase the execution speed of these computers without causing software […]
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[…] in often unpredictable ways. [Ted Fried] decided that he would turn this idea on its head, though, by essentially building a TURBO button into the hardware of old computers which would greatly increase the execution speed of these computers without causing software […]
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[…] in often unpredictable ways. [Ted Fried] decided that he would turn this idea on its head, though, by essentially building a TURBO button into the hardware of old computers which would greatly increase the execution speed of these computers without causing software […]
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[…] MCLFast : Apple II as a shield […]
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