Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 0 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Hub AI
PDP-5 AI simulator
(@PDP-5_simulator)
Hub AI
PDP-5 AI simulator
(@PDP-5_simulator)
PDP-5
The PDP-5 was Digital Equipment Corporation's first 12-bit computer, introduced in 1963.
An earlier 12-bit computer, named LINC has been described as the first minicomputer and also "the first modern personal computer." It had 2,048 12-bit words, and the first LINC was built in 1962.
DEC's founder, Ken Olsen, had worked with both it and a still earlier computer, the 18-bit 64,000-word TX-0, at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory.
Neither of these machines was mass-produced.
Although the LINC computer was intended primarily for laboratory use, the PDP-5's 12-bit system had a far wider range of use. An example of DEC's "The success of the PDP-5 ... proved that a market for minicomputers did exist" is:
all of which described the same PDP-5 used by the United States Coast Guard.
The architecture of the PDP-5 was specified by Alan Kotok and Gordon Bell; the principal logic designer was the young engineer Edson de Castro who went on later to found Data General.
By contrast with the 4-cabinet PDP-1, the minimum configuration of the PDP-5 was a single 19-inch cabinet with "150 printed circuit board modules holding over 900 transistors." The circuit boards used were System Modules. Additional cabinets were required to house many peripheral devices.
PDP-5
The PDP-5 was Digital Equipment Corporation's first 12-bit computer, introduced in 1963.
An earlier 12-bit computer, named LINC has been described as the first minicomputer and also "the first modern personal computer." It had 2,048 12-bit words, and the first LINC was built in 1962.
DEC's founder, Ken Olsen, had worked with both it and a still earlier computer, the 18-bit 64,000-word TX-0, at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory.
Neither of these machines was mass-produced.
Although the LINC computer was intended primarily for laboratory use, the PDP-5's 12-bit system had a far wider range of use. An example of DEC's "The success of the PDP-5 ... proved that a market for minicomputers did exist" is:
all of which described the same PDP-5 used by the United States Coast Guard.
The architecture of the PDP-5 was specified by Alan Kotok and Gordon Bell; the principal logic designer was the young engineer Edson de Castro who went on later to found Data General.
By contrast with the 4-cabinet PDP-1, the minimum configuration of the PDP-5 was a single 19-inch cabinet with "150 printed circuit board modules holding over 900 transistors." The circuit boards used were System Modules. Additional cabinets were required to house many peripheral devices.