NORD-12 - Revision history

Tor: Another typo (last -> least)

2016-06-07T12:06:47Z

Another typo (last -> least)

Tor: Ops, typo

2016-06-07T12:04:07Z

Ops, typo

Tor: Adding rudimentary NORD-12 page

2016-06-07T12:02:40Z

Adding rudimentary NORD-12 page

New page

{{Infobox Machine
| name = NORD-12
| architecture = NORD-10
| manufacturer = [[Norsk Data]]
| form factor = mini
| operating system = [[SINTRAN III]]/12
| word size = 16 bit
| ram = 4kw - 64kw
| year introduced = 1974 (TBC)
}}The '''NORD-12''' was a slightly slower and memory-limited variant of the [[NORD-10]]

==See Also==
[[NORD-10]]

== Comparision with NORD-10 ==
The '''NORD-12''' was mostly compatible with the NORD-10, but with some limitations.
* It was slightly slower (500ns microinstruction cycle time vs 300ns for the NORD-10)
* It did not support the paging option of the NORD-10 and thus the memory could not be extended above 64 kwords
* The only memory option was 4096 bits/chip MOS memory, while the NORD-10 could use various types (including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_core core]).
* It had a tiny difference in the floating point handling, missing an internal bit (TG) used to round the last significant bit of floating point operations. Thus rounding errors would always be truncated, i.e. the least significant bit would sometimes be 0 where the NORD-10 operation would be 1.
* There are some small differences in hardware interrupt handling, missing the IIE (Internal Interrupt Enable) and IIC (Internal Interrupt Code) registers. But it's possible to hardwire NORD-12 interrupts directly to level 14.
* Unlike the NORD-10 the NORD-12 could not be equipped with a [[NORD-1]] input/output channel option
* The parity mechanism is slightly different

Other than the above, the NORD-12 and NORD-10 are fully compatible. In particular, the I/O system is the same, and all peripheral and interface cards can be used in both systems.

As the NORD-10, the NORD-12 also included a battery which could retain the memory in case of power failure which could retain the memory. For the NORD-12 the memory standby time was up to 30 minutes.

== Sources ==
* NORD-12 reference manual
* NDWIKI.org
[[Category:Norsk Data Hardware]][[Category:Norwegian Computer History]]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 * It did not support the paging option of the NORD-10 and thus the memory could not be extended above 64 kwords
 * The only memory option was 4096 bits/chip MOS memory, while the NORD-10 could use various types (including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_core core]).
-* It had a tiny difference in the floating point handling, missing an internal bit (TG) used to round the last significant bit of floating point operations. Thus rounding errors would always be truncated, i.e. the least significant bit would sometimes be 0 where the NORD-10 operation would be 1.
+* It had a tiny difference in the floating point handling, missing an internal bit (TG) used to round the least significant bit of floating point operations. Thus rounding errors would always be truncated, i.e. the least significant bit would sometimes be 0 where the NORD-10 operation would be 1.
 * There are some small differences in hardware interrupt handling, missing the IIE (Internal Interrupt Enable) and IIC (Internal Interrupt Code) registers. But it's possible to hardwire NORD-12 interrupts directly to level 14.
 * Unlike the NORD-10 the NORD-12 could not be equipped with a [[NORD-1]] input/output channel option

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 Other than the above, the NORD-12 and NORD-10 are fully compatible. In particular, the I/O system is the same, and all peripheral and interface cards can be used in both systems.
-As the NORD-10, the NORD-12 also included a battery which could retain the memory in case of power failure which could retain the memory. For the NORD-12 the memory standby time was up to 30 minutes.
+As the NORD-10, the NORD-12 also included a battery which could retain the memory in case of power failure. For the NORD-12 the memory standby time was up to 30 minutes.
 == Sources ==