3 ms·
Kind of mind-blowing that this machine needed two big TO-3 package transistors to drive 4000 bits of memory. Nowadays you could probably power a few dozen Raspb
by blt 9y ago
Kind of mind-blowing that this machine needed two big TO-3 package transistors to drive 4000 bits of memory. Nowadays you could probably power a few dozen Raspberry Pi's with that amount of current.
- kens 9y agoRemember that the core memory is magnetizing metal rings in microseconds, so it takes substantial current pulses. But not as bad as vacuum tube computers - I've been working with an IBM 705 tube module from the 1950s and you can feel the heat coming off it.
- fuzzfactor 9y agoWith music amplifiers basically a couple TO-3's with nominal passive heatsink can output the equivalent 50 watts of a pair of 6L6 vacuum tubes. The tubes run hotter because of the always-on heated cathode which is not needed for solid state amplification. BTW still have a couple Diablos and a DEC drive, for parts, that could use a home. Also an HP1000 in a full rolling rack the size of a refigerator, plus a VAX 4000, it's a mini-fridge. These are in good shape.
- kens 9y agoFuzzfactor, can you contact me (ken.shirriff@gmail.com) about the HP 1000? I found someone who is interested in it.