CDC 6600 - Revision history

Jnc: Ref sibling 6400

2025-07-04T04:30:02Z

Ref sibling 6400

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:30, 4 July 2025
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	The 6600 was built using then-new silicon [[transistor]]s, and the physical arrangement was designed to minimize [[conductor]] lengths, to minimize 'speed of light' delays. All the longer [[conductor\|wires]] in the system were [[transmission line]]s, for more reliable operation.		The 6600 was built using then-new silicon [[transistor]]s, and the physical arrangement was designed to minimize [[conductor]] lengths, to minimize 'speed of light' delays. All the longer [[conductor\|wires]] in the system were [[transmission line]]s, for more reliable operation.

			A sibling machine, the [[CDC 6400]] shared its [[instruction set architecture]] with the 6600, and so was [[program compatible]] at the [[object code]] level, but it did not use a superscalar internal architecture, as the 6600 did. As a result, it was not as fast as the 6600, but was cheaper.

	==Superscalar details==		==Superscalar details==

Jnc: /* External links */ +Watson's famous memo on the CDC 6600

2025-07-04T04:24:20Z

External links: +Watson's famous memo on the CDC 6600

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:24, 4 July 2025
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	* [https://people.computing.clemson.edu/~mark/cdc6600.html CDC 6600 Links]		* [https://people.computing.clemson.edu/~mark/cdc6600.html CDC 6600 Links]
	* [http://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/Computer_Structures__Readings_and_Examples/00000509.htm Parallel operation in the Control Data 6600]		* [http://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/Computer_Structures__Readings_and_Examples/00000509.htm Parallel operation in the Control Data 6600]
			* [https://images.computerhistory.org/revonline/images/500004285-03-01.jpg?w=600 Memorandum] - Watson's famous memo on the CDC 6600, to which Cray reportedly laconically replied “It seems like Mr. Watson has answered his own question.”
	* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495043 CDC DD60A console] - front console for a CDC 6600, from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]]; includes several images		* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495043 CDC DD60A console] - front console for a CDC 6600, from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]]; includes several images

	[[Category: Supercomputers]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]
	[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]

Jnc: /* External links */ +CDC DD60A console

2025-04-22T15:04:30Z

External links: +CDC DD60A console

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:04, 22 April 2025
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	* [https://people.computing.clemson.edu/~mark/cdc6600.html CDC 6600 Links]		* [https://people.computing.clemson.edu/~mark/cdc6600.html CDC 6600 Links]
	* [http://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/Computer_Structures__Readings_and_Examples/00000509.htm Parallel operation in the Control Data 6600]		* [http://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/Computer_Structures__Readings_and_Examples/00000509.htm Parallel operation in the Control Data 6600]
			* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495043 CDC DD60A console] - front console for a CDC 6600, from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]]; includes several images

	[[Category: Supercomputers]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]
	[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]

Jnc: /* Further reading */ +Parallel Operation in the Control Data 6600

2024-01-22T15:26:24Z

Further reading: +Parallel Operation in the Control Data 6600

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:26, 22 January 2024
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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

	* Jim E. Thornton, [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/books/DesignOfAComputer_CDC6600.pdf ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600''], Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970		* Jim E. Thornton, [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/books/DesignOfAComputer_CDC6600.pdf ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600''], Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970 <!--
			alt - https://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/~vojin/CLASSES/EEC272/S2005/Papers/Thornton-DesignOfAComputer_CDC6600.pdf -->
			* Jim E. Thornton, [https://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/~vojin/CLASSES/EEC272/S2005/Papers/6600-Thornton_64.pdf ''Parallel Operation in the Control Data 6600''], AFIPS Proc. FJCC, Vol. 26, 1964

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: Add link for online copy of book

2024-01-11T14:14:54Z

Add link for online copy of book

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 11 January 2024
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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

	* Jim E. Thornton, ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600'', Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970		* Jim E. Thornton, [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/books/DesignOfAComputer_CDC6600.pdf ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600''], Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970

	==External links==		==External links==
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	* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/ Cyber] - CDC 6600 documentation at [[Bitsavers]]		* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/ Cyber] - CDC 6600 documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
	** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/thornton_6600_paper.pdf Considerations in Computer Design - Leading up to the Control Data 6600]		** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/thornton_6600_paper.pdf Considerations in Computer Design - Leading up to the Control Data 6600]
	* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/books/DesignOfAComputer_CDC6600.pdf X]
	** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/60100000AL_6000_Series_Computer_Systems_HW_Reference_Aug78.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Hardware Reference Manual]		** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/60100000AL_6000_Series_Computer_Systems_HW_Reference_Aug78.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Hardware Reference Manual]
	* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/ Scans] - additional 6000 Series documents		* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/ Scans] - additional 6000 Series documents

Jnc: /* External links */ Several more

2024-01-11T14:12:45Z

External links: Several more

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 11 January 2024
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	==External links==		==External links==

	* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber~~/cyber_70~~/ Cyber 70] - CDC 6600 documentation at [[Bitsavers]]		* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/ Cyber] - CDC 6600 documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
			** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/thornton_6600_paper.pdf Considerations in Computer Design - Leading up to the Control Data 6600]
			* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/books/DesignOfAComputer_CDC6600.pdf X]
	** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/60100000AL_6000_Series_Computer_Systems_HW_Reference_Aug78.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Hardware Reference Manual]		** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/60100000AL_6000_Series_Computer_Systems_HW_Reference_Aug78.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Hardware Reference Manual]
	* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/ Scans] - additional 6000 Series documents		* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/ Scans] - additional 6000 Series documents
	** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/6000_Series_Computer_Systems_RefMan_Jul65.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Reference Manual] - considerably earlier version		** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/6000_Series_Computer_Systems_RefMan_Jul65.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Reference Manual] - considerably earlier version
	* [http://ygdes.com/CDC/60100000D_6600refMan_Feb67.pdf Control Data 6400/6500/6600/ Computer Systems Reference Manual]		* [http://ygdes.com/CDC/60100000D_6600refMan_Feb67.pdf Control Data 6400/6500/6600/ Computer Systems Reference Manual]
			* [https://people.computing.clemson.edu/~mark/cdc6600.html CDC 6600 Links]
			* [http://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/Computer_Structures__Readings_and_Examples/00000509.htm Parallel operation in the Control Data 6600]

	[[Category: Supercomputers]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]
	[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]

Jnc: Link to docs; mention dual-CPU version

2024-01-11T13:53:19Z

Link to docs; mention dual-CPU version

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 11 January 2024
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	\|}}		\|}}

	The '''CDC 6600''' was an influential early (1964) [[mainframe]] computer. It is generally considered the first true [[supercomputer]], three times faster than the [[IBM 7030 Stretch]], the previous 'fastest computer' record-holder; the 6600 held the title from 1965 to 1969.		The '''CDC 6600''' was an influential early (1964) [[mainframe]] computer; the dual-[[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] version of the 6600 was denominated as a '''CDC 6700'''. It is generally considered the first true [[supercomputer]], three times faster than the [[IBM 7030 Stretch]], the previous 'fastest computer' record-holder; the 6600 held the title from 1965 to 1969.

	It was also the first computer to use a [[superscalar]] internal [[architecture]] (although the term 'superscalar' did not exist at that time). The functional units were not [[pipeline]]d internally, a refinement that was introduced with the 6600's successor, the [[CDC 7600]].		It was also the first computer to use a [[superscalar]] internal [[architecture]] (although the term 'superscalar' did not exist at that time). The functional units were not [[pipeline]]d internally, a refinement that was introduced with the 6600's successor, the [[CDC 7600]].
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	* Jim E. Thornton, ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600'', Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970		* Jim E. Thornton, ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600'', Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970

			==External links==

			* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/ Cyber 70] - CDC 6600 documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
			** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/cyber/cyber_70/60100000AL_6000_Series_Computer_Systems_HW_Reference_Aug78.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Hardware Reference Manual]
			* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/ Scans] - additional 6000 Series documents
			** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/6000_Series_Computer_Systems_RefMan_Jul65.pdf Control Data 6000 Series Computer Systems Reference Manual] - considerably earlier version
			* [http://ygdes.com/CDC/60100000D_6600refMan_Feb67.pdf Control Data 6400/6500/6600/ Computer Systems Reference Manual]

	[[Category: Supercomputers]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]
	[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]

Jnc: interleaving cleanup

2023-07-30T17:46:45Z

interleaving cleanup

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:46, 30 July 2023
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	It used a [[Reduced Instruction Set Computer\|RISC]]-like approach, in that [[instruction]]s were simple, doing only one thing; the [[instruction set]] was basically [[load-store architecture\|load-store]]. Instructions took a minimum of three clock ticks.		It used a [[Reduced Instruction Set Computer\|RISC]]-like approach, in that [[instruction]]s were simple, doing only one thing; the [[instruction set]] was basically [[load-store architecture\|load-store]]. Instructions took a minimum of three clock ticks.

	The [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] did not do any [[input/output\|I/O]]; that was left to a set of ten 'Peripheral Processing Units', which shared access to the [[main memory]] (which had a 32-way [[interleaving\|interleave]] to maximize throughput).		The [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] did not do any [[input/output\|I/O]]; that was left to a set of ten 'Peripheral Processing Units', which shared access to the [[main memory]] (which had a 32-way [[memory interleaving\|interleave]] to maximize throughput).

	In addition to the main memory, the 6600 was later upgraded with an 'Extended Core Storage' unit, with a [[cycle time]] of 3.2 µseconds, holding up to 2 megawords. This was intended to smooth out the large performance gap in the [[storage hierarchy]] between main memory and [[disk]].		In addition to the main memory, the 6600 was later upgraded with an 'Extended Core Storage' unit, with a [[cycle time]] of 3.2 µseconds, holding up to 2 megawords. This was intended to smooth out the large performance gap in the [[storage hierarchy]] between main memory and [[disk]].
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	* Second Order Conflict: a conflict where one operand of an instruction is the output of a previous instruction, which has not yet completed - these were dealt with by not letting the given functional unit start its processing until its input was available.		* Second Order Conflict: a conflict where one operand of an instruction is the output of a previous instruction, which has not yet completed - these were dealt with by not letting the given functional unit start its processing until its input was available.
	* Third Order Conflict: one where an instruction will use as an output register one which is an input to a previous, but as-yet un-started instruction - these are handled by holding the result in the functional unit until it can safely be stored.		* Third Order Conflict: one where an instruction will use as an output register one which is an input to a previous, but as-yet un-started instruction - these are handled by holding the result in the functional unit until it can safely be stored.

			{{semi-stub}}

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

	* Jim E. Thornton, ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600'', Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970		* Jim E. Thornton, ''Design of A Computer: The Control Data 6600'', Scott, Foresman, Glenview, 1970

	~~{{semi-stub}}~~

	[[Category: Supercomputers]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]
	[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]		[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]

Larsbrinkhoff: Never forget!

2023-07-11T11:51:18Z

Never forget!

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:51, 11 July 2023
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	[[Category: Supercomputers]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]
			[[Category: 60-bit Computers]]

Jnc: New cat

2023-01-29T13:38:52Z

New cat

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:38, 29 January 2023
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	\|}}		\|}}

	The '''CDC 6600''' was an influential early (1964) [[mainframe]] computer. It is generally considered the first [[supercomputer]], three times faster than the [[IBM 7030 Stretch]], the previous 'fastest computer' record-holder; the 6600 held the title from 1965 to 1969.		The '''CDC 6600''' was an influential early (1964) [[mainframe]] computer. It is generally considered the first true [[supercomputer]], three times faster than the [[IBM 7030 Stretch]], the previous 'fastest computer' record-holder; the 6600 held the title from 1965 to 1969.

	It was also the first computer to use a [[superscalar]] internal [[architecture]] (although the term 'superscalar' did not exist at that time). The functional units were not [[pipeline]]d internally, a refinement that was introduced with the 6600's successor, the [[CDC 7600]].		It was also the first computer to use a [[superscalar]] internal [[architecture]] (although the term 'superscalar' did not exist at that time). The functional units were not [[pipeline]]d internally, a refinement that was introduced with the 6600's successor, the [[CDC 7600]].
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

	[[Category: ~~Mainframes~~]]		[[Category: Supercomputers]]