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innoelement Maker Store

Apple II VGA Adapter

Apple II VGA Adapter

$23.90 USD
$23.90 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

What is it?

This compact Apple II floppy disk emulator lets an Apple II, Apple II Plus, or Apple IIe load disk images from an SD card instead of relying on aging 5.25-inch floppy disks. It includes the STM32F411 BlackPill controller board and SD card interface needed for the emulator itself.

What's in the box?

Package includes: 1x Apple II floppy disk emulator board assembly, 1x installed STM32F411 / BlackPill controller board, 1x OLED display and four-button interface, 1x prepared SD card / microSD card, and 1x ribbon cable for the Apple II floppy interface. Apple II computer, Disk II controller/interface card, and copyrighted disk images are not included.

Installation

Connect the emulator to the Apple II floppy interface using the included ribbon cable, insert the prepared SD card, then power on and use the OLED screen and four buttons to choose a disk image. Basic Apple II hardware knowledge is recommended.

Warranty

Hardware is tested before shipping whenever stock is available. The product includes a 1-year non-transferable warranty covering manufacturing defects. If compatibility or setup issues occur, contact support before requesting a return.

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Technical details

Description, documents, and source code.

Plug-in card that gives your Apple II crisp 16-color VGA output, high-res modes and Wi-Fi connectivity via Raspberry Pi Pico

Designed by innoelement in China

What is it?

The Apple II VGA Adapter is an open-source add-on card for Apple II/II+/IIe computers that uses a Raspberry Pi Pico W microcontroller to capture video memory and output a high-quality VGA signal hackster.io . It supports multiple graphics modes including 16-Color 140×192, Monochrome 560×192 Double-HiRes, 80×48 Double-LoRes, and 80-column text modes. The hardware design files and firmware source code are available on GitHub under an MIT license, ensuring transparency and community-driven improvements. Hobbyists have verified compatibility across all Apple II models, with plug-and-play installation requiring no modifications to the motherboard.

Why did you make it?

Originally inspired by Mark Aikens’ AppleII-VGA project, ∀2 Retro Computing aimed to modernize the Apple II video experience and simplify connectivity to contemporary displays and networks. By integrating the Raspberry Pi Pico W, the adapter not only enhances display clarity but also unlocks firmware-definable “alternate function modes” like Wi-Fi modem and CP/M Z80 emulation. Many retrocomputing enthusiasts praise its ability to convert Apple II composite video bitstream into modern VGA formats, avoiding the low-quality composite displays of yesteryear。

What makes it special?

Unlike composite or RF outputs, this adapter delivers crystal-clear VGA video optimized for both 16-color and high-resolution monochrome modes. Its gold-plated PCB ensures reliable signal integrity and durable slot contacts. Firmware updates are as easy as dragging a file to the Pico’s bootloader, so new display modes, Apple IIgs color support, and network protocols can be added without new hardware. The inclusion of the Pico W’s Wi-Fi radio opens the door to retro networking, remote file transfer, and even turning your Apple II into a vintage-style web terminal.