Z80 CP/M Card for Apple II SoftCard-CPLD

Description

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What is it?

This is a newly built Z80 expansion card for the Apple II family, inspired by the classic Microsoft SoftCard. It lets a compatible Apple II boot CP/M and run CP/M software when used with the required CP/M boot disk or compatible disk image.

The original SoftCard was one of the most important Apple II expansion cards of the early 1980s. It added a Z80-compatible processor so Apple II users could access the large CP/M software ecosystem. This card follows that same practical idea with a modern hardware implementation.

Why did you make it?

We wanted to build a reliable, cleanly made tribute to a historically important Apple II card, while keeping the experience useful for today's retrocomputing users, collectors, and CP/M enthusiasts.

What makes it special?

• SoftCard-style Z80 CP/M expansion card for Apple II systems

• Uses a Z80-compatible CPU together with a Xilinx XC9572 CPLD

• CPLD implements the original-style glue logic, reducing the board to only two main ICs

• Four-layer PCB designed in Cadence 17.0

• Address and data bus traces are length-matched for improved signal integrity

• Intended for Apple II, Apple II Plus, Apple IIe, and CEC-I / Chinese Educational Computer systems according to project testing notes

• Sold as an assembled expansion card

Important notes

This card does not run by itself. You need a compatible Apple II computer and CP/M boot software on floppy disk or a compatible disk emulator.

CP/M software, floppy disks, Apple II computer, disk drive, and display are not included unless explicitly stated in the product options.

This is a modern compatible/reimplementation card, not an original Microsoft SoftCard. Apple, Apple II, Microsoft, SoftCard, Z80, Xilinx, and CP/M names are used only for compatibility and historical description.

Vintage computers vary in condition. Please make sure your Apple II system, power supply, expansion slots, disk controller, and boot media are working before troubleshooting the card.