DIY IC Tester

A logic-and-memory IC tester designed from scratch for vintage parts: per-pin electronics that can drive, pull up, load and measure every socket pin; a programmable, current-limited supply including the odd rails old MOS parts need (−5/+12 V for the 4116, the −12 V clock swing of the Intel 1404A); a

Test Equipment

DIY IC Tester

Aspirational · Rev A board designed (schematic + placed PCB), not yet routed or built Component testers — DIY logic and memory IC tester Modern DIY (2026 design, for 1970s–80s parts)

Overview

A logic-and-memory IC tester designed from scratch for vintage parts: per-pin electronics that can drive, pull up, load and measure every socket pin; a programmable, current-limited supply including the odd rails old MOS parts need (−5/+12 V for the 4116, the −12 V clock swing of the Intel 1404A); at-speed tests from an RP2350's PIO; and a plain-text, user-editable test library. Grew out of the 2026-11-08 TSH-06F session: the TSH-06F cannot test the ET-3400's 2112 RAMs, is unsure about open-collector and standard-TTL parts, and nothing affordable tests a 1404A. The T48 stopgap (Phase 0) was dropped on 2026-11-09 in favour of going straight to a custom board; Rev A is designed (schematic and placed PCB) but not yet routed or built.

Deep dive

  1. Vol 1 DIY IC Tester — Vol 1: Why Build One
  2. Vol 2 DIY IC Tester — Vol 2: The Design Sketch