Hi
I was just offered an IBM System/34. It's not my thing and I
thought there might be some international interest even.
Documentation and software included.
Contact me for details.
/P
We do have two 1401s, and on a good day, they both work. No working 360s. But even if we could have the two 1401's talk to each other, it would still take about the age of the universe to mine a block. This is about the worst machine for scientific calculation, as it does BCD, character by character arithmetic, in a serial fashion, one BCD digit at a time. Hardware multiplication is an optional add-on feature on these machines (which we have)!
So no, you can never mine a real block in time with a 1401, or even a million of them. But that you could implement and run the algorithm is just a testament that the fundamentals of computing haven't changed, doubled with a vivid demonstration of the mind-boggling effects of Moore's Law over one generation. And having old hardware tackle modern tasks is just plain fun. And, lest I forget, a credit to the skill, talent and humor of our vintage programmer extraordinaire Ken, who joined us recently.
Marc
Message: 13
Date: Thu, 28 May 2015 12:31:57 -0700
From: Brent Hilpert <hilpert at cs.ubc.ca>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: Bitcoining on a 1401
Message-ID: <4B9B7085-C29F-4987-893F-FB397DFFC903 at cs.ubc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
On 2015-May-28, at 11:12 AM, Fred Cisin wrote:
>>> Is the bitcoin output anywhere close to enough to pay for the costs of
>>> running a 1401?
>> On Thu, 28 May 2015, emanuel stiebler wrote:
>> Probably not. Quoting the web page:
>> " ... but so slowly it would take more than the lifetime of the universe to successfully mine a block "
>> ;-)
>
> Excellent!
> Does anybody have enough 1401s to run them in parallel to speed up the process?
I'd suggest to go for the king of the hill at the time, and get an HP 16xx (163x, 165x, 166x, 167x) for all-in-ones or the 16500 if you like to modularize yourself, although tis latter one is much harder to put together since you have to get the frame, the plug ins, the software, etc...
On the 16yx, the higher the y number, the better the machine (i.e faster, better screens, more memory). They are widely available, starting at below $100 for the earlier machines, and up to $300-$400 for the later ones. I'd recommend to have at least one that has a hard disk, so you don't have to find or make an old LIF floppy to boot from.
As always the rub is the pods/probes. I had to complete my set separately, but they are also widely available.
This is a relatively small amount to pay for what these machines actually are. The later ones have the inverse assembler for the 68000.
I got the luxury one, a 1670G with the pattern generator (which I haven't found an excuse to use yet). Here it is at work:
http://youtu.be/X_6limxLZ_k
Sent from my iPad
> On May 29, 2015, at 12:00 PM, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:
>
> Message: 20
> Date: Thu, 28 May 2015 22:53:07 -0400
> From: Ken Seefried <seefriek at gmail.com>
> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Subject: OT: Looking for the Tek 465 of Logic Analysers
> Message-ID:
> <CAOrcWjx8hKjDDgcLyvzSbrotk8QmgBSf2KVnzbmSjpQrzzFKwg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Maybe only semi-OT. I'm working on a couple of classiccmp-ish projects
> (6303, 6309 and 68030) and I find the trusty old Tek 465 o-scope is no
> longer compensating for my lack of design skill (or I'm getting better at
> hiding bugs in my designs, depending how you look at it). I'm looking for
> a recommendation for a logic analyzer. Considering my very modest design
> constraints, I'm thinking:
>
> - Suitable for 50MHz designs (really more like <16MHz, but you never know)
> - 32 channels would be nice, ~128 probably perfect, less...you know...do
> what you gotta do...
> - No weird technologies in the design (all TTL/CMOS logic)
> - I'm willing to spend a few $$ to get decent kit, but need to spend closer
> to 465 money than TLA7012 money
> - Decent analytics, hopefully more than "here's your traces...good luck"
> - Ease of finding complete kit; nothing worse than dropping a dime on what
> looks like a good deal only to find you're missing the unobtanium cable, or
> the software disk that the vendor will be more than happy to provide you
> only under a cripplingly expensive support contract.
> The article mentions the CHM has two 1401s functioning, but I guess halving the time won't help much.
Au contraire! Running two of them means it would take only more than
*half* the lifetime of the universe, which means you still have *less*
than half the lifetime of the universe left to enjoy it!
The following message was posted on the Large Format Photography Forum, to which I subscribe:
<quote>
A good friend's widow has computer junk. He was a computer tech.
A huge room stacked floor to ceiling with racks loaded with obsolete computers & stuff. Any idea what sort of reclycers she could contact which might be interested in offering her some $$ (which she could really use) for it?
</quote>
The poster of the note lives in the San Joaquin Valley, California, so I am guessing the widow lives nearby. I have urged the poster to get a list together and post it here, but is there anyone who could help them out? If so, send me an email directly to r(underscore)a(underscore)feldman(at)Hotmail.com and I will try to connect you with the poster (I do not have his email yet).
Bob Feldman
Not sure if this is old enough to count?
Warranty expiration date on the back is 5-20-1975 J
Comes with cassette tape.
No AC adapter to test it.
If interested, make offer.
Cindy Croxton
Electronics Plus
1613 Water Street
Kerrville, TX 78028
830-370-3239 cell
sales at elecplus.com
AOL IM elcpls
From: tony duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
>> - No weird technologies in the design (all TTL/CMOS logic)
>
>That is going to be a problem. AFAIK no 'serious' logic analyser was all
>TTL or (high speed) CMOS. If you are looking for one that is mostly/all
>standard logic, I think you have to consider ECL here.
I meant I'm not using any weird technology in *my* designs. Sorry if that
wasn't clear. I'm not particularly concerned about what the LA is built
from.
KJ
I have been on this list for a long time as a reader and wanted to give the
list a heads up on this system before
doing anything else in case somebody wants it and can pick it up.
--
Cabinet 1:
Quickware Engineering QED-95 CPU replacement
2- TU-58 tape drives
Cabinet 2:
BA11-KW
RX02 floppies
Cabinet 3:
2- RL02 disk drives
1-MDI 76-contains 1 Maxtor XT8760EM 760 Meg HD
Cabinet 4:
2-RL02 disk drives
1-MDI 276-contains two Maxtor XT8760EM 760 Meg HDs
I am asking US$3000.00 for the four cabinets. I can't guarantee anything but
it was turned off working fine.
The buyer would have the option of buying up to 18 RL02K-DC data carts for
US$25 each
Shipping is probably not an option they are about 300lbs + each
I am located in Kelowna BC Canada about 3hrs north of Spokane Washington..
Preference would have to go to someone that could come and get it.
Pictures are here
http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/32499942349-1432868285-94725/0
Rod
Rdooley at shaw dot ca
