Zilog Z80 replacement on FPGA
We build FPGA replacements for the Zilog Z80 that run your existing software unchanged.
Where it's still running
- Industrial control
- Instrumentation
- Legacy embedded systems
Your options
Remanufactured stock
Buys time, but the supply runs out.
Rewrite and recertify
Porting the software to a new processor and qualifying it again can cost more than the system is worth.
Compatible FPGA replacement
Keeps the binaries, the board and the qualification you already have.
What makes it hard
Systems depend on the Z80 peripheral family (PIO, SIO, CTC), and some software relies on undocumented instructions.
How we approach it
We run the core and a reference model side by side and compare every state change, instruction by instruction, then test on the target system. We deliver it as a core for a new FPGA design, or as a drop-in module that fits the original socket.
Frequently asked questions
Will our software run unchanged?
Yes. The core implements the original instruction set, so existing binaries run as they are. Where software depends on exact timing, the core is made cycle-accurate.
Can you match the original timing?
Yes, with a cycle-accurate implementation where software depends on it.
Related
Discuss your project
Share the target, interfaces, and timeline. We’ll tell you what we’d take on first.