Intel 4004 CPU Tester & MCS-4 System Tester
Intel 4004 CPU Tester & MCS-4 System Tester
What is it?
The Intel 4004 CPU Tester & MCS-4 System Tester is a dedicated test board for verifying the functionality of vintage Intel 4-bit microprocessor chips and their supporting components. It supports testing of:
- Intel 4004 — the world's first commercially available single-chip microprocessor (1971)
- Intel 4040 — the enhanced successor to the 4004
- Intel 4002 — RAM chip used in MCS-4 systems
- Full MCS-4 / MCS-40 system — test complete chipset configurations
Whether you're restoring vintage hardware, verifying salvaged chips, or building a working MCS-4 system from original parts, this tester gives you confidence that your ICs are functional before committing them to a project.
Why did you make it?
Original Intel 4004 and 4040 chips are increasingly rare and valuable. Without a reliable way to test them, collectors and restorers risk damaging working chips or wasting time debugging systems with faulty ICs. This tester provides a safe, systematic way to verify each chip in the MCS-4 family individually and as a complete system.
What makes it special?
- Tests CPU and RAM independently — isolate faults to specific chips in the MCS-4 chipset
- Full MCS-4 / MCS-40 system test mode — verify complete system operation with original Intel chips
- Supports both 4004 and 4040 — covers the original and enhanced 4-bit CPU variants
- Open-source design — full schematics and firmware available on GitHub
- Essential tool — for collectors, restorers, and vintage computing enthusiasts working with the world's first microprocessor family