Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I ditch my modern compactflash board for a period-accurate "Bubble Memory" board. Bubble memory, using the 7110AZ bubble memory device, is a 1 megabit nonvolatile storage medium that makes use of magnetic bubbles together with a garnet substrate. It was a remarkable and elegant technology for the time, but ultimately lost out to RAM and HDD technologies that offered higher bit density, higher speed, or cheaper cost. Nevertheless, it's fascinating to build one of these bubble storage devices. I demonstrate formatting a bubble storage device, copying files to it, and booting from it. For more vintage computer projects, see smbaker.com
I ditch my modern compactflash board for a period-accurate "Bubble Memory" board. Bubble memory, using the 7110AZ bubble memory device, is a 1 megabit nonvolatile storage medium that makes use of magnetic bubbles together with a garnet substrate. It was a remarkable and elegant technology for the time, but ultimately lost out to RAM and HDD technologies that offered higher bit density, higher speed, or cheaper cost. Nevertheless, it's fascinating to build one of these bubble storage devices. I demonstrate formatting a bubble storage device, copying files to it, and booting from it. For more vintage computer projects, see smbaker.com
