This page covers computers from US based Integrated Computer Systems Inc. (ICS) and my experiences of using them.
The Microcomputer Training System (MTS) is an 8080 based computer kit from Integrated computer systems Inc. that was intended for self study, and appears to be from 1978 - there is currently little information online about its availability although the documentation archived online provides lots of technical information. It would appear that the kit and the add-on boards originated in the US since Integrated computer systems Inc. was based there and recently I have seen them selling on eBay from the US for around $500 - $900 (~£370 - ~£666). Since I have what appears to be the UK or European version it was likely also sold in Europe (I bought the kit from a UK eBay seller), there is a German video on YouTube showing the kit so that further suggests availability in the Europe. Here is the video:
Notice that they have the MTS and power supply (supporting the MTS underneath) only, as discussed shortly there were various add-on boards.
As mentioned, the MTS uses an 8080, in particular an AMD version based on the Intel 8080 8-bit microprocessor originally released in 1974, a processor which helped sparked the computer revolution. AMD initially made unauthorised clones of the Intel 8080 for sale in 1975 using the part number 9080A, but from 1976 AMD became an official second source for Intel.
The main PCB is the MTS, which is home to the CPU, RAM, and support circuitry, which could be expanded with the Interface Training System (ITS) PCB, adding I/O ports, analog-to-digital converter (ADC), timers, priority interrupt control system, and optionally additional RAM. The Experiment Board was another add-on PCB, which connected to the ITS, equipped with a loudspeaker, thermistor, motor, switches and pots (variable resistors).
The MTS I bought for £241.95 ($324.67) shipped, the PCBs are in very good condition with no signs of leaking around the battery holders on the Experiment Board, the case, however, has obvious scratches and rusting on the metal, which I had seen from the seller’s photos. They can possibly be dealt with, to me the case is a very handy bonus but it's the PCBs that I was most concerned about. Even though the computer came in the case the seller still packed the shipping box well, which was must appreciated.
Unfortunately I got no documentation with the kit but as mentioned a lot of docs have been uploaded online.
On the bottom of the case near the hinge is a label (not applied straight), which says:
MICROPROCESSOR TRAINING LAB
6548
INTEGRATED COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
The number is possibly a serial but may also give an indication how many were made in the UK at least.
'MICROPROCESSOR TRAINING LAB' suggests that's what the MTS and add-on boards collectively are called - the whole kit.
The front of the case has a label which reads:
THE PORTABLE MICROPROCESSOR TRAINING LAB
INTEGRATED COMPUTER SYSTEMS
EDUCATION IS OUR BUSINESS
It also lists a USA Office address in California and European Office in England - the fact that there was an office located in England strongly suggests that the kit was indeed sold in the UK.
Of the few chips I've checked so far on the MTS PCB they have a date of ‘84, suggesting that the kit was sold for at least 6 years if it was indeed originally released in ‘78 but you also have to consider that it may not have made its way to the UK until the '80s. The power supply, located under and supporting the MTS PCB is rated for 230V and has a UK mains lead plugged in so indeed my version is a UK or at least EU version of the kit.
A nice touch is that different parts of the MTS PCB are labelled as the kit was educational, teaching the basics of computing.
There are four RAM chips installed, each MN2114-4, which are 450.0 ns 1K x 4 SRAM, with four empty RAM sockets. This equates to 2KB but installing four more RAM chips would give 4KB total. Since the CPU is 8-bit you'd need to install RAM in pairs. Images online of the kit also show four RAM chips installed so 2KB RAM seems to be the standard.
I'm still checking over everything but so far it seems nothing is missing, and although the plastic cover above the MTS PCB helps protect the components, a few of them are bent over. I did notice a few tantalum capacitors so they’ll need checking as they often fail and the power supply will also need servicing and testing independently of the PCBs before powering the boards.
More will be added to this section soon as I continue to work through the documentation.
All content of this and related pages is copyright (c) James S. 2025