# An Interview with Chuck Peddle (Repeat, in memoriam)

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-12-30
- Length: 3h 00m
- Episode: 241
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/241-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-re-air/

## Summary

Chuck Peddle, the inventor of the 6502 microprocessor, recounts how he left Motorola to found MOS Technology, where he designed the low-cost 6502 to undercut competitors. He details the chip's pivotal role in enabling the Commodore PET, the Apple II, and the early personal computer industry, while correcting the historical record regarding Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's contributions. Peddle also discusses his later ventures, including Sirius Systems Technology's PC clones and his current work on high-performance SSDs using DRAM and bad flash memory repair.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=0) Introduction: Chuck Peddle and the 6502
- [7:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=452) Motorola, the 6800, and the decision to leave
- [28:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=1683) Founding MOS Technology and the $25 6502
- [33:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=2003) The 6502's role in Apple and Commodore PET
- [50:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=3014) Commodore's acquisition and the VIC-20/C64
- [1:23:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=5023) Sirius Systems Technology and PC clones
- [1:50:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=6615) The DRAM crash and the rise of Flash
- [2:02:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam#t=7367) Current SSD technology using DRAM and bad flash

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- 6502 (chip)
- Motorola (company)
- MOS Technology (company)
- Commodore (company)
- Apple (company)
- Steve Jobs (other)
- Steve Wozniak (other)
- Commodore PET (product)
- Apple II (product)
- VIC-20 (product)
- Commodore 64 (product)
- Sirius Systems Technology (company)
- IBM (company)
- MS-DOS (product)
- Flash memory (other)
- DRAM (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [468: Designed to Kill All Humans](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-01-12-468-designed-to-kill-all-humans) (Embedded.fm)
- [Federico Faggin designed the first microprocessor and the capacitive touchscreen. He joins Go/No-Go to argue that AI cannot be conscious, however capable it becomes.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-06-26-federico-faggin-designed-the-first-microprocessor-and-the-capacitive-touchscreen) (Go/No-Go)
- [164: Heatsink in a Shoebox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-08-09-164-heatsink-in-a-shoebox) (Embedded.fm)
- [424: Between Midnight and 6am](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am) (Embedded.fm)
- [Atari & Chuck E. Cheese's: Nolan Bushnell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-02-27-atari-chuck-e-cheeses-nolan-bushnell) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.