1 Mar
1999
1 Mar
'99
5:23 p.m.
On Mon, 1 Mar 1999, Jay West wrote:
Had to rescue the Nicolet computer. Still not sure if
I'm going to keep
it...but at least it won't go to the scrap heap.
Well if you decide to pass it on please consider me first :)
I've never seen core quite like this. Each core
plane is 4 cards, about 4"
by 4", with 1K on each card (4k per core module) - plus the standard
xydriver and sense/inhibit. The four cards of the core assembly are joined
by small pins/solder brides between the cards. Really large doughnuts :-)
This machine is actually very clean inside, despite it's 1974 vintage.
Yes, I call it a core "sandwich". I've got photos of each card on my
Nicolet web site (still unfinished so no URL yet). The Nicolet computer
could have up to 12K of core, and I have the Expansion Chassis which
allows up to 24K more of memory (mine has 12K in the main CPU and 8K
installed in the expansion chassis).
The back panel is unique, with most peripheral devices
connecting via coax.
There appears to be a home-brew mod to switch select tty (current loop) or
RS232 and if RS232 either 300 or 2400 baud.
Actually, the peripherals connect into the two very wide bus slots on the
back; one is used to connect to the expansion chassis and ton mine the
other goes off to a Diablo 30 removable hard disk system. The coax
connectors go off to various subsystems that could be connected to the
CPU. For instance, my Nicolet computer is contained within a larger
desk-sized unit that includes an X-Y display (basically an oscilloscope),
flat bed plotter and fast fourier transform unit.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
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Always hasslin' the man.
Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0
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[Last web site update: 02/15/99]