PDP-7: Difference between revisions

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New page: {{wp-orig}} The DEC '''PDP-7''' is a minicomputer produced by Digital Equipment Corporation. Introduced in 1965, the first to use their [[Fli...
 
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{{Infobox Machine
| name = PDP-7
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]
| year introduced = 1965
| form factor = [[minicomputer]]
| word size = 18 bits
| physical address = 15 bits (32K words)
| virtual address = 13 bits (direct), 15 bits (extended)
| logic type = PNP [[Transistor]] [[FLIP CHIP]]s
<!--| design type = -->
<!--| clock speed =  μsec (basic instructions) -->
| memory speed = 1.75 μsec
<!-- | memory mgmt = bounds register -->
| operating system = DECSYS-7
| predecessor = [[PDP-4]]
| successor = [[PDP-9]]
| price = US$72K
| image = Pdp7-oslo-2005.jpeg
| caption = A PDP-7 in Oslo, Norway
}}
The '''PDP-7''' is a [[minicomputer]] produced by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]], introduced in 1965; with a low cost, it was cheap but powerful. There were two models, the second being the -7/A, but the difference between them is not yet certain; one report is that the I/O system of the latter was re-designed to use the lower speed (and thus lower cost) 'R' series [[FLIP CHIP]]s. Approximately 120 are thought to have been built.
 
The PDP-7 was the third of Digital's 18-bit machines, with essentially the same [[instruction set]] and [[architecture]] as the predecessor [[PDP-4]] and successor [[PDP-9]]. It was the first [[wire-wrap]]ped PDP. It was the first to use their [[FLIP CHIP|Flip-Chip®]] technology, but also included the older [[System Module]]s.
 
In 1969, Ken Thompson wrote the first [[UNIX]] system in assembly language on a PDP-7, then named Unics as a somewhat treacherous pun on [[Multics]], as the operating system for [[Space Travel]], a game which required graphics to depict the motion of the planets. A PDP-7 was also the development system used during the development of [[MUMPS]] at [[MGH]] in [[Boston]] a few years earlier. 
 
There are a few remaining PDP-7's still in operable condition. One under restoration in Oslo, Norway, has recently been thrown away.
 
== Emulation ==


The [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] '''PDP-7''' is a [[minicomputer]] produced by [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]. Introduced in [[1965]], the first to use their [[Flip Chip (trademark)|Flip-Chip®]] technology, with a cost of only $72,000 [[USD]], it was cheap but powerful. The PDP-7 was the third of Digital's 18-bit machines, with essentially the same instruction set architecture as the [[Programmed Data Processor|PDP-4]] and the [[Programmed Data Processor|PDP-9]]. It was the first [[wire wrap|wire-wrapped]] PDP.
The PDP-7 can be emulated with [[SIMH]]. DECSys, [[PDP-7 Unix|Unix]], Space Travel and some other software is available and can run on the emulator.


In [[1969]], Ken Thompson wrote the first [[Unix|UNIX]] system in assembly language on a PDP-7, then named Unics as a somewhat treacherous pun on [[Multics]], as the operating system for [http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/who/dmr/spacetravel.html Space Travel],  a game which required graphics to depict the motion of the planets. A PDP-7 was also the development system used during the development of [[MUMPS]] at [[MGH]] in [[Boston]] a few years earlier. 
{{wp-orig}}


There are a few remaining PDP-7 still in operable condition, along with one under restoration in [[Oslo]], Norway.
{{semi-stub}}


==External links==
==External links==
* http://www.bell-labs.com/history/unix/pdp7.html ''"The famous PDP-7 comes to the rescue"'' (Bell Labs' Unix history)
* http://research.microsoft.com/~gbell/Digital/timeline/1964-3.htm PDP-7 entry from Year 1964 in the DIGITAL Computing Timeline
* http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~toresbe/dec PDP-7 restoration project located in Oslo, Norway


* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp7/ PDP-7] - Original PDP-7 documents
* [https://www.soemtron.org/pdp7.html Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-7] - Extensive site with a large amount of material
** [https://www.soemtron.org/downloads/decinfo/pdp7brochure1.pdf PDP-7 brochure]
* [http://belllabs-microsite-unixhistory.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/pdp7.html ''"The famous PDP-7 comes to the rescue"''] (Bell Labs' Unix history)
<!-- original http://www.bell-labs.com/history/unix/pdp7.htmlnow offline -->
* [http://research.microsoft.com/~gbell/Digital/timeline/1964-3.htm DIGITAL Computing Timeline - 1964] - PDP-7 entry
* [http://www.linfo.org/pdp-7.html PDP-7 Definition]
<!-- * http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~toresbe/dec PDP-7 restoration project located in Oslo, Norway -->
* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/firsts-history-computing-paul-g-allen-collection/pdp-7a-minicomputer-117/230055 PDP-7A minicomputer] - from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum|LCM]], includes several images
{{Nav DEC}}


[[Category:DEC hardware]]
[[Category: DEC Systems]]
[[Category: 18-bit Computers]]

Latest revision as of 20:15, 30 June 2025


PDP-7

A PDP-7 in Oslo, Norway
Manufacturer: Digital Equipment Corporation
Year Introduced: 1965
Form Factor: minicomputer
Word Size: 18 bits
Logic Type: PNP Transistor FLIP CHIPs
Memory Speed: 1.75 μsec
Physical Address Size: 15 bits (32K words)
Virtual Address Size: 13 bits (direct), 15 bits (extended)
Operating System: DECSYS-7
Predecessor(s): PDP-4
Successor(s): PDP-9
Price: US$72K

The PDP-7 is a minicomputer produced by DEC, introduced in 1965; with a low cost, it was cheap but powerful. There were two models, the second being the -7/A, but the difference between them is not yet certain; one report is that the I/O system of the latter was re-designed to use the lower speed (and thus lower cost) 'R' series FLIP CHIPs. Approximately 120 are thought to have been built.

The PDP-7 was the third of Digital's 18-bit machines, with essentially the same instruction set and architecture as the predecessor PDP-4 and successor PDP-9. It was the first wire-wrapped PDP. It was the first to use their Flip-Chip® technology, but also included the older System Modules.

In 1969, Ken Thompson wrote the first UNIX system in assembly language on a PDP-7, then named Unics as a somewhat treacherous pun on Multics, as the operating system for Space Travel, a game which required graphics to depict the motion of the planets. A PDP-7 was also the development system used during the development of MUMPS at MGH in Boston a few years earlier.

There are a few remaining PDP-7's still in operable condition. One under restoration in Oslo, Norway, has recently been thrown away.

Emulation

The PDP-7 can be emulated with SIMH. DECSys, Unix, Space Travel and some other software is available and can run on the emulator.

External links


v • d • e Digital Equipment Corporation
18-bit machines - PDP-1 • PDP-4 • PDP-7 • PDP-9 • PDP-15

12-bit machines - PDP-5 • PDP-8 • LINC-8 • PDP-12

36-bit machines - PDP-3 • PDP-6 • PDP-10

16-/32-/64-bit machines - PDP-11 • VAX • MIPS • Alpha

Also: Buses • Peripherals • Part numbers • Engineering drawings

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