3 ms·
The whole aspect of each chips voltage being so variable that they had to test them and hand wrote the operating voltage, making any use of the chip down to mat
by Zenst 6y ago
The whole aspect of each chips voltage being so variable that they had to test them and hand wrote the operating voltage, making any use of the chip down to matching that voltage - certainly making drop in replacements interesting for repairs.
Then the last number on the chip to indicate speed.
All that hands on for each chip and selling for $15 at that time - makes you wonder how much they made upon them with all that manual binning needed.
Any idea on the margins back then for this chip?
- kens 6y agoSince the chip was used in HP products, there wasn't a margin as such. Much of the benefit was that they weren't paying margin to another company. As for repairs, each product's service manual has a table specifying the correct resistor value for each Nanocomputer bias voltage. So you'd need to change the resistor if you replaced the processor.
- kencausey 6y agoKeep in mind that $15 USD in 1974 is more similar to $80 USD today. So budget appropriately.