Where does the Z80 processor start executing from?












22















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.










share|improve this question























  • 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
    Mar 28 at 13:37
















22















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.










share|improve this question























  • 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
    Mar 28 at 13:37














22












22








22








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.










share|improve this question














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






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Mar 27 at 17:48









Jacob GarbyJacob Garby

2356




2356













  • 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
    Mar 28 at 13:37



















  • 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
    Mar 28 at 13:37

















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
Mar 28 at 13:37





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
Mar 28 at 13:37










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















25














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.






share|improve this answer





















  • 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






  • 15





    @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
    Mar 27 at 20:57






  • 10





    Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

    – Raffzahn
    Mar 27 at 21:19






  • 4





    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
    Mar 27 at 23:39








  • 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
    Mar 28 at 3:23












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1 Answer
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oldest

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes









25














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.






share|improve this answer





















  • 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






  • 15





    @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
    Mar 27 at 20:57






  • 10





    Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

    – Raffzahn
    Mar 27 at 21:19






  • 4





    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
    Mar 27 at 23:39








  • 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
    Mar 28 at 3:23
















25














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.






share|improve this answer





















  • 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






  • 15





    @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
    Mar 27 at 20:57






  • 10





    Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

    – Raffzahn
    Mar 27 at 21:19






  • 4





    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
    Mar 27 at 23:39








  • 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
    Mar 28 at 3:23














25












25








25







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.






share|improve this answer















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.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Mar 28 at 7:50

























answered Mar 27 at 17:49









RaffzahnRaffzahn

55.4k6136224




55.4k6136224








  • 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






  • 15





    @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
    Mar 27 at 20:57






  • 10





    Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

    – Raffzahn
    Mar 27 at 21:19






  • 4





    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
    Mar 27 at 23:39








  • 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
    Mar 28 at 3:23














  • 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






  • 15





    @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
    Mar 27 at 20:57






  • 10





    Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

    – Raffzahn
    Mar 27 at 21:19






  • 4





    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
    Mar 27 at 23:39








  • 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
    Mar 28 at 3:23








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




15




15





@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
Mar 27 at 20:57





@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
Mar 27 at 20:57




10




10





Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

– Raffzahn
Mar 27 at 21:19





Intels 8086 employs an interesting combination by starting a offset zero, like 8080/Z80, but in segment FFFF, thus at absolute address FFFF0.

– Raffzahn
Mar 27 at 21:19




4




4





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
Mar 27 at 23:39







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
Mar 27 at 23:39






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
Mar 28 at 3:23





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
Mar 28 at 3:23


















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