70's computers

Josh Dersch derschjo at gmail.com
Thu Oct 25 14:02:46 CDT 2018



> On Oct 25, 2018, at 11:48 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>> On 10/25/18 11:40 AM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>> On Oct 25, 2018, at 1:45 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> On this subject, is there no interest in serial ALU designs?  At one
>>> time, if you wanted a low-cast implementation, that was the way to do
>>> it.  Also gives you a leg up on variable word-length designs.
>>> 
>>> Didn't at least one of the more popular MPU designs employ a serial ALU?
>>> TMS9900?
>> 
>> Serial ALU as a cost saver for low end makes sense in discrete transistor or early SSI machines, like the PDP-8/L.
> 
> PDP-8/S
> Saul Dinman's machine, who founded GRI
> 
> https://books.google.com/books?id=1jTUBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=gri+computer+saul&source=bl&ots=Qqd_woK8KO&sig=Ii8W_8Stxwuo2kHY4uJU6DJXYzc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiF0NeLoKLeAhWTCjQIHbIFB84Q6AEwAHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=gri%20computer%20saul&f=false
> 
> 
> Arrays of single-bit processors have been tried.
> CHM has one, I'm blanking on the company name.
> We had one in Apple ATG.
> 

You might be thinking of the AMT DAP, which used arrays of 1-bit processors.  (32x32 or 64x64).  10mhz each.  I have a 610, it is the most interesting SCSI peripheral I own...

- Josh


More information about the cctalk mailing list