Difference between revisions of "PDP-3"
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| − | Supposedly, one was built. | + | The '''PDP-3''' was an early computer from [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]], described as roughly a 36-bit version of the [[PDP-1]]. Supposedly, only one was ever built (and not by DEC). |
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| + | From [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/_Books/Bell-ComputerEngineering.pdf Gordon Bell's book ''Computer Engineering - A DEC View of Hardware Systems Design'']: "DEC also never built a PDP-3, although one was designed on paper as a 36-bit machine. [...] In 1960 a customer (Scientific Engineering Institute, Waltham, Massachusetts) built a PDP-3. It was later dismantled and given to M.I.T.: as of 1974, it was up and running in Oregon." This was almost certainly the machine called [[CASINO]]. | ||
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| + | According to [http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/Bell_Gordon_1/102702036.05.01.pdf Gordon Bell's oral history], after the PDP-3 was designed on paper, one was 'sold' to the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab, U.S. Hanscom field. Since DEC at the time didn't have the resources to build a new 36-bit machine (particularly all the software for it), he and Harlan Anderson persuaded the customer to take two PDP-1's instead! | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| − | http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp3/ | + | * [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp3/PDP-3_PrelimSpec.pdf Preliminary Specifications] October, 1960 |
| + | * [https://www.computerhistory.org/pdp-1/_media/pdf/DEC.pdp_1.102664938.pdf PDP-1 and PDP-3 brochure] | ||
| + | * [http://www.inwap.com/pdp10/usenet/pdp3 Usenet messages about the PDP-3] | ||
| − | + | [[Category: DEC Systems]] | |
| + | [[Category: 36-bit Computers]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:48, 10 January 2024
The PDP-3 was an early computer from DEC, described as roughly a 36-bit version of the PDP-1. Supposedly, only one was ever built (and not by DEC).
From Gordon Bell's book Computer Engineering - A DEC View of Hardware Systems Design: "DEC also never built a PDP-3, although one was designed on paper as a 36-bit machine. [...] In 1960 a customer (Scientific Engineering Institute, Waltham, Massachusetts) built a PDP-3. It was later dismantled and given to M.I.T.: as of 1974, it was up and running in Oregon." This was almost certainly the machine called CASINO.
According to Gordon Bell's oral history, after the PDP-3 was designed on paper, one was 'sold' to the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab, U.S. Hanscom field. Since DEC at the time didn't have the resources to build a new 36-bit machine (particularly all the software for it), he and Harlan Anderson persuaded the customer to take two PDP-1's instead!
