Take a detailed look at a modern expansion board upgrade for the Tandy 1000 EX and HX computer systems designed by Rob Krenicki as part of an impressive open-source retro computing hardware project. This upgrade modernizes the classic Tandy 1000 platform while preserving the original character and compatibility of these iconic IBM PC compatible home computers from the late 1980s.
The expansion board adds several major hardware improvements including 640KB of base system memory, 96KB of upper memory for MS-DOS and driver support, a 16550-based DE9 RS-232 serial port, and XT-IDE CompactFlash storage support using the XT-IDE Universal BIOS. These upgrades significantly improve usability while maintaining compatibility with vintage DOS software, games, and hardware commonly associated with the Tandy 1000 EX and HX systems.
This video highlights how the retro computing community continues developing modern hardware solutions for classic computers decades after their original release, helping preserve and extend the usefulness of the Tandy 1000 product line for collectors, hobbyists, and vintage PC enthusiasts.