Kc89c72 Datasheet ~upd~ — Recommended

Last updated: 2025. Information compiled from publicly available manufacturer datasheets and technical references.

If you are looking to source one for a project or repair, it is widely available from specialized electronics retailers and marketplaces: KC89C72 FILFACT/SAMSUNG DIP-40 Other Components

Example minimal C setup (SDCC-like pseudocode):

void main(void) // Configure ports and peripherals TMOD = 0x20; // Timer1 in mode 2 (example) TH1 = 0xFD; // Baud rate for UART (example) SCON = 0x50; // Configure UART TR1 = 1; // Start Timer1 while (1) // main loop kc89c72 datasheet

(Envelope Shape/Cycle) : 4-bit register controlling the attack, decay, sustain, and release attributes of the volume curve. R14cap R 14 R15cap R 15

Used on classic boards (e.g., Nintendo Popeye).

The Samsung KC89C72 is a 40-pin programmable sound generator featuring three tone generators, an internal noise generator, and 16-level volume control. It is functionally compatible with the AY-3-8910 and YM2149 chips, operating within an extended temperature range of for robust industrial and gaming applications. Last updated: 2025

For electronics technicians repairing vintage computers, a faulty KC89C72 is a common culprit for "Floppy Drive Failure (40)" errors.

At its core, the KC89C72 was designed to address the growing demand for resolution and color depth beyond the capabilities of earlier standards like CGA and EGA. As a single-chip implementation, it consolidated functions that previously required multiple discrete components, reducing the manufacturing cost and complexity of video cards.

: Includes a sophisticated envelope generator with multiple shapes (attack, decay, sustain, release) to modulate the amplitude of the sound channels. R14cap R 14 R15cap R 15 Used on classic boards (e

| Feature | KC89C72 | AY-3-8912 | Yamaha YM2149 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Technology | CMOS | NMOS | NMOS (but more common) | | Pin Count | 28 | 28 | 40 (or 28 in some variants) | | I/O Ports | None (pins N/A) | None (removed) | Two 8-bit ports | | Noise | Shared (w/ tone) | Same | Same (but different pol.) | | Supply Current | ~5 mA @ 2 MHz | ~30 mA | ~30 mA | | Availability | Scarce (vintage) | Rare | Widely available (eBay, etc.) | | Software Compatibility | 100% (AY-3-8910) | 100% | 99% (different mixer bit) |

Available in a DIP-40 (Dual In-line Package with 40 pins), which is ideal for through-hole mounting on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and prototyping.

Beyond being a drop-in replacement for vintage computers, the KC89C72 chip has found a life in modern projects:

Are you using this to (like an MSX, ZX Spectrum, or arcade cabinet)?