Frequently asked questions

Can you please make a video on ___?

Maybe! There are lots of videos I want to make, but it's time-consuming (at least for me) to create high-quality videos. Alas, I have limited time!

But please put your suggestions in this Reddit thread. Also, comment on and vote up other suggestions you're interested in.

Requests I get through email/twitter/etc. are much more likely to be ignored, since the Reddit thread is what I look at when considering what people want and how others respond with upvotes and comments.

Can you add a keyboard, memory, or display to your 8-bit computer?

See the question above. If I did, I'd want to make videos about it.

I'm interested in building a computer. Which project do recommend starting with? The 8-bit CPU or the 6502 computer?

The two projects are very different. The 8-bit CPU from scratch will be a lot more work, though that makes it all the more rewarding. I strongly recommend watching all of the videos for it before deciding to commit. You'll have a very good sense after watching what's involved in the project to decide if it's something you want to do. It's also extremely helpful to have the big picture from watching the videos before you begin the project anyway.

The 6502 project is a much simpler project hardware-wise and leaves you with a much more capable computer that's easier to build on. But you start with the black box of a 6502 microprocessor. That might be a good thing, but if you really want to understand what goes on inside a CPU, the 8-bit CPU project goes much deeper.

Again, if you're unsure, I strongly recommend watching through the videos first. Hopefully watching the videos will tell you everything you need to know about what each project involves.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes! If you're not sure what kit to buy for someone, we sell gift cards.

Can you ship your kits to my country?

Quite likely. If you add the items you're interested in to the cart and begin the checkout process, you can enter your address to see the different shipping options. In addition to normal post, I can ship FedEx or UPS and FedEx is often the least expensive option internationally, though keep reading...

Currently, all all kits ship from California. I'm willing to ship a box anywhere you want, but the buyer—that's you—is responsible for any applicable import duties and local taxes. In some cases, the carrier (FedEx or UPS) may charge a fee to collect these taxes from you. Please verify with your customs and taxing authorities before making a purchase to understand what else you may be required to pay.

Do you have a podcast?

I do, but it's on indefinite hiatus. I host(ed?) the Ben Ben and Blue podcast along with Grant Sanderson and Ben Stenhaug. We mostly talk about education and content creation, but also tend to ramble onto other subjects.