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The PDP-8 Family
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Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-5
This was the first machine with the 12-bit architecture and instruction set
later found in all PDP-8 computers.
It was contemporary with (but later than) the Packard Bell PB-250.
Built with 6 microsecond core memory,
discrete metal-can transistors and a hand-soldered backplane,
it was too slow and expensive to be very successful.
The PDP-5 in the collection was originally purchased by Westinghouse
for the NIRVA atomic rocket project in the 60's.
I don't have a picture of it yet.
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PDP-8
Built with discrete plastic "Flip Chip" transistors,
this was the first computer for less than $25,000.
It was cheap enough to be purchased for individual projects.
Its 1.5 microsecond core memory made it fast enough to be useful on a wide
range of applications from scientific research to typesetting.
Here is a closeup of the
front panel lights and switches.
The PDP-8 in the collection is a basic model,
with 4K words of core and a teletype.
more...
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PDP-8/I
The successor to the Classic 8 was the first to use TTL integrated circuits.
It was less expensive and somewhat smaller, but the same speed.
more...
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PDP-12
This was a combination PDP-8 and MIT LINC built out of TTL like the PDP-8/I.
It has a single processor with two instructions sets and can switch back
and forth between them. The LINC was designed to be a laboratory
computer and the PDP-12 came with builtin A/D and D/A converters, relays,
timers, and an X-Y display.
more...
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PDP-8/e
The most popular PDP-8,
it was smaller, faster and less expensive than the PDP-8/I.
The PDP-8/e in the collection is the most complete
with many different peripherals.
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PDP-8a
The PDP-11, which came out about the same time as the PDP-8/e,
soon eclipsed the PDP-8 family.
Still new models were made for applications such as the new "word processing".
The picture shows a DECSystem 310, which has a PDP-8a in the back of the desk.
There is normally a DEC VT-52 video terminal in the well in front.
Files were stored on 8 inch floppy disks using the two drives on the left.
more...
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WT78
Based on the Intersil 6100 microprocessor, this was built to run
the same word processing software as the PDP-8a but it fits entirely inside
the case of the video terminal.
more...
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More on the PDP-8 family in the library...
More pictures of these computers.
Back to the Collection
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