Where does the Z80 processor start executing from?
Strangely I can't find this information anywhere online -- I've thoroughly looked at the datasheet, and I've searched things like "Z80 program counter initial value" -- but I can't find anything!
My question is simply: when the Z80 just turns on, what value does the program counter take? (i.e., what instruction does it start executing from?)
Logically, I'd assume it initialises to 0, but I want to be sure of this.
z80
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Strangely I can't find this information anywhere online -- I've thoroughly looked at the datasheet, and I've searched things like "Z80 program counter initial value" -- but I can't find anything!
My question is simply: when the Z80 just turns on, what value does the program counter take? (i.e., what instruction does it start executing from?)
Logically, I'd assume it initialises to 0, but I want to be sure of this.
z80
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
IIRC when we ran CP/M on a TRS-80 Model I, it required a hardware mod because there was a 4 k ROM starting at address 0, so the OS couldn't gain control of the hardware.
– Ben Crowell
2 days ago
add a comment |
Strangely I can't find this information anywhere online -- I've thoroughly looked at the datasheet, and I've searched things like "Z80 program counter initial value" -- but I can't find anything!
My question is simply: when the Z80 just turns on, what value does the program counter take? (i.e., what instruction does it start executing from?)
Logically, I'd assume it initialises to 0, but I want to be sure of this.
z80
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Strangely I can't find this information anywhere online -- I've thoroughly looked at the datasheet, and I've searched things like "Z80 program counter initial value" -- but I can't find anything!
My question is simply: when the Z80 just turns on, what value does the program counter take? (i.e., what instruction does it start executing from?)
Logically, I'd assume it initialises to 0, but I want to be sure of this.
z80
z80
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 27 at 17:48
Jacob GarbyJacob Garby
2256
2256
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jacob Garby is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
IIRC when we ran CP/M on a TRS-80 Model I, it required a hardware mod because there was a 4 k ROM starting at address 0, so the OS couldn't gain control of the hardware.
– Ben Crowell
2 days ago
add a comment |
IIRC when we ran CP/M on a TRS-80 Model I, it required a hardware mod because there was a 4 k ROM starting at address 0, so the OS couldn't gain control of the hardware.
– Ben Crowell
2 days ago
IIRC when we ran CP/M on a TRS-80 Model I, it required a hardware mod because there was a 4 k ROM starting at address 0, so the OS couldn't gain control of the hardware.
– Ben Crowell
2 days ago
IIRC when we ran CP/M on a TRS-80 Model I, it required a hardware mod because there was a 4 k ROM starting at address 0, so the OS couldn't gain control of the hardware.
– Ben Crowell
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Yes, it starts from Zero - like the Intel 8080, the Z80 descends from.
Excerpt from Zilog's March 1978 Product Specification (datasheet), page 2, Pin Description, here the /RESET signal (emphasis mine):
Input, active low. RESET initializes the CPU as follows:
reset interrupt enable flip-flop, clear PC and registers
I and R and set interrupt to 8080A mode.
Similar the description in the 1977 Z80 Technical Manual (03-0029-01) on page 9.
2
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
14
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
9
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
3
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 doJMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.
– Harper
2 days ago
2
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "648"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Jacob Garby is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fretrocomputing.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f9448%2fwhere-does-the-z80-processor-start-executing-from%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Yes, it starts from Zero - like the Intel 8080, the Z80 descends from.
Excerpt from Zilog's March 1978 Product Specification (datasheet), page 2, Pin Description, here the /RESET signal (emphasis mine):
Input, active low. RESET initializes the CPU as follows:
reset interrupt enable flip-flop, clear PC and registers
I and R and set interrupt to 8080A mode.
Similar the description in the 1977 Z80 Technical Manual (03-0029-01) on page 9.
2
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
14
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
9
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
3
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 doJMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.
– Harper
2 days ago
2
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
Yes, it starts from Zero - like the Intel 8080, the Z80 descends from.
Excerpt from Zilog's March 1978 Product Specification (datasheet), page 2, Pin Description, here the /RESET signal (emphasis mine):
Input, active low. RESET initializes the CPU as follows:
reset interrupt enable flip-flop, clear PC and registers
I and R and set interrupt to 8080A mode.
Similar the description in the 1977 Z80 Technical Manual (03-0029-01) on page 9.
2
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
14
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
9
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
3
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 doJMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.
– Harper
2 days ago
2
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
Yes, it starts from Zero - like the Intel 8080, the Z80 descends from.
Excerpt from Zilog's March 1978 Product Specification (datasheet), page 2, Pin Description, here the /RESET signal (emphasis mine):
Input, active low. RESET initializes the CPU as follows:
reset interrupt enable flip-flop, clear PC and registers
I and R and set interrupt to 8080A mode.
Similar the description in the 1977 Z80 Technical Manual (03-0029-01) on page 9.
Yes, it starts from Zero - like the Intel 8080, the Z80 descends from.
Excerpt from Zilog's March 1978 Product Specification (datasheet), page 2, Pin Description, here the /RESET signal (emphasis mine):
Input, active low. RESET initializes the CPU as follows:
reset interrupt enable flip-flop, clear PC and registers
I and R and set interrupt to 8080A mode.
Similar the description in the 1977 Z80 Technical Manual (03-0029-01) on page 9.
edited 2 days ago
answered Mar 27 at 17:49
RaffzahnRaffzahn
54.4k6133219
54.4k6133219
2
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
14
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
9
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
3
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 doJMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.
– Harper
2 days ago
2
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
2
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
14
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
9
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
3
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 doJMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.
– Harper
2 days ago
2
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
2
2
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
Thanks! I actually didn't know that the 8080 started at zero either, but it makes complete sense.
– Jacob Garby
Mar 27 at 17:50
14
14
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
@dashnick Many don't just start, but take a vector form a predefined location like 6500 and 6800 start at the vector residing at FFFE/FF, 68k takes the initial PC from Vector 1 (address 4..7). Other do start form some address where the IOC locates a loader record, and so on. Starting from Zero is only one of many ways.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
9
9
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.
– Raffzahn
2 days ago
3
3
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 do
JMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.– Harper
2 days ago
6502 chip reset starts at a vector found at FFFC. FFFA and FFFE are for interrupts. In other words, reset makes a 6502 do
JMP(FFFC). But the 6502 requires 0000-01FF be RAM since those are zero page (basically registers) and the stack.– Harper
2 days ago
2
2
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
PDP-11 starts from a location stored at location 50 (octal), if my memory from 40 years ago is to be trusted, or else a bootstrap program starting at that location. We called it the '50-sequence', and often had to enter it from the console toggle switches.
– user207421
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
Jacob Garby is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jacob Garby is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jacob Garby is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jacob Garby is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Retrocomputing Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fretrocomputing.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f9448%2fwhere-does-the-z80-processor-start-executing-from%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
IIRC when we ran CP/M on a TRS-80 Model I, it required a hardware mod because there was a 4 k ROM starting at address 0, so the OS couldn't gain control of the hardware.
– Ben Crowell
2 days ago