Choosing a Chip Programmer for Vintage Computer Repair in 2025

A huge thank you to the sponsor of this video https://www.pcbway.com TL866 vs T48 – Which Chip Programmer is Best for Retro Repairs? If you're into retro computer repair, a good chip programmer is essential—whether you’re burning replacement ROMs, testing dodgy logic chips, or programming the occasional GAL. In this video, I compare three popular options from XGecu: TL866 (original) – still surprisingly capable TL866II Plus – what I’ve been using for years T48 – my recent upgrade We’ll look at each model’s strengths, weaknesses, supported devices, software quirks, and what actually matters for 8-bit and 16-bit machines like the C64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, and more. I also briefly touch on the T56, the high-end option. Whether you’re considering your first programmer or wondering if it’s worth upgrading, this breakdown should help you decide what’s best for your retro toolkit. **NEW** Patreon patreon.com/morefunmakingit SECOND CHANNEL! https://www.youtube.com/@morefunfixingit K