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Talos ES™ is a modern mini-computer built only with 74-series logic and featuring a custom RISC CPU. It is meant for education (both hobbyists and undergraduate students of computer engineering) and entertainment. Check out the project's main page and Github repository.
Although designed to be an (educational) toy, Talos ES™ is meant to be a truly usable toy, in the sense of being robust, reliable and capable of running significant applications. It opts for a RISC CPU because old-fashioned CISC microarchitectures are no longer relevant today. Nonetheless, it aims at being easily programmable at assembly level, despite its pipelined structure. Only currently-manufactured, standard parts are used to facilitate procurement. LED bars are used throughout to provide real-time indications of the computer's data, address and control lines. Each card in Talos ES™ is also built to be used in two different modes: as a standalone device, whose lines can be driven from integrated DIP switches, or as part of the whole system running at maximum speed. This enhances both the educational and entertainment possibilities of the mini-computer.