21 Aug
2010
21 Aug
'10
4:13 a.m.
Allison wrote:
After the 8080 microprocessor tended to mean a cpu on
one chip
or very few for example CDP1800/1801 a two chip predecessor
of the COSMAC CDP1802.
The CDP1801 was the two-chip processor. There wasn't a CDP1800, though
that designation was used to refer to the entire series of chips.
The PDP8 was a instruction and mostly compatible but
improved
follow on to the all transistor PDP-5 (1963) but much larger than
the first version of the PDP-8 by a factor of three racks. Note the
PDP-5 was almost as large as the PDP1 but was aimed at lower
cost to buy and use.
I don't think one can reasonably claim that the PDP-5 was "almost as
large as the PDP-1", nor that it was "larger than the first version of
the PDP-8 by a factor of three racks".
The PDP-1 CPU, 4K of core memory, high-speed reader and punch, occupied
four racks. Reference: DEC Technical Bulletin F-17, "Programmed Data
Processor-1 Maintenance Manual", 1962, page 2-8:
"Dimensions, Standard PDP-1, Heighth 69 1/2 inches, Length 99 inches,
including 17-inc console desk, width 27 inches". Although the manual
also describes one of the four racks as containing "all controls and
standard input-output equipment" (p 2-2), that included the console and
logic necessary to the operation of the CPU, and was not separable.
The PDP-5 CPU and 1K or 4K of core memory occupied a single rack.
Reference: DEC document number F-57, "Programmed Data Processor-5
Maintenance Manual", October 1964, page 1-11: "The standard PDP-5 is
contained in a single DEC computer cabinet 60-1/8 inches high, 47 inches
wide, and 27-1/16 inches deep. A table 30 inches wide and 18 inches deep
is attached to the front of the cabinet." The 47 inch dimension is
actually the dimension perpendicular to the front panel. See figure 1-4
"component locations" and the section "Specifications", both on page
1-12.
The PDP-8 CPU and 4K of core memory occupied a single rack. Reference:
DEC document number F-87, "Programmed Data Processor-8 Maintenance
Manual", February 1966, "Physical Description" (page 1-11): "The
standard PDP-8 is designed for either table-top or cabinet mounting, as
specified by the customer. In the table-top configuration the computer
is a single unit 34-1/16 inches high, 21-1/2 inches wide, and 21-3/4
inches deep."
An expanded PDP-5 or PDP-8 might have two or more cabinets, but then an
expanded PDP-1 will have more than four cabinets.
In conclusion, the PDP-8 was about half the size of the PDP-5, and the
PDP-5 was about a quarter of the size of the PDP-1.
Eric