Difference between revisions of "TX-0"
From Computer History Wiki
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The '''TX-0''' was a [[transistor]] computer (reportedly the first ever built), at the MIT Lincoln laboratory. Predecessor to the [[TX-2]] and an influence on the [[PDP-1]] design. It was in some sense a successor to the [[Memory Test Computer]], itself a spin-off of the pioneering [[Whirlwind]]. | The '''TX-0''' was a [[transistor]] computer (reportedly the first ever built), at the MIT Lincoln laboratory. Predecessor to the [[TX-2]] and an influence on the [[PDP-1]] design. It was in some sense a successor to the [[Memory Test Computer]], itself a spin-off of the pioneering [[Whirlwind]]. | ||
| − | {{stub}} | + | {{semi-stub}} |
| + | |||
| + | ==Registers== | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | ! Name || Size (bits) || Meaning | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | MBR || 18 || Memory buffer register | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | AC || 18 || Accumulator | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | MAR || 16 || Memory address register | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | PC || 16 || Program counter | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | IR || 2 || Instruction register | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | LR || 18 || Live register | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | TBR || 18 || Toggle switch buffer register | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | TAC || 18 || Toggle switch accumulator | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Test mode== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The console has a switch to set '''test mode''' in which operations are taken from the TBR. The operations are similar to regular instructions, but with a different interpretation: | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | ! TBR 0-1 || Instruction || Meaning | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | 00 || STO ''x'' || Store TAC in memory location ''x''. | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | 01 || ADD ''x'' || Add memory location ''x'' to AC. (Clear AC first to examine.) | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | 10 || TRN ''x'' || Change to '''normal mode''' and start running at location ''x''. | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | 11 || OPR ''x'' || Execute the instruction. | ||
| + | |} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 20:00, 17 July 2023
The TX-0 was a transistor computer (reportedly the first ever built), at the MIT Lincoln laboratory. Predecessor to the TX-2 and an influence on the PDP-1 design. It was in some sense a successor to the Memory Test Computer, itself a spin-off of the pioneering Whirlwind.
Registers
| Name | Size (bits) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| MBR | 18 | Memory buffer register |
| AC | 18 | Accumulator |
| MAR | 16 | Memory address register |
| PC | 16 | Program counter |
| IR | 2 | Instruction register |
| LR | 18 | Live register |
| TBR | 18 | Toggle switch buffer register |
| TAC | 18 | Toggle switch accumulator |
Test mode
The console has a switch to set test mode in which operations are taken from the TBR. The operations are similar to regular instructions, but with a different interpretation:
| TBR 0-1 | Instruction | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | STO x | Store TAC in memory location x. |
| 01 | ADD x | Add memory location x to AC. (Clear AC first to examine.) |
| 10 | TRN x | Change to normal mode and start running at location x. |
| 11 | OPR x | Execute the instruction. |
External links
- TX-0 - documents at Bitsavers
- RLE-TR-627 TX-0 Computer History
- MIT TX-0 Computer
- C. Gordon Bell, Gerald Butler, Robert Gray, John E. Mcnamara, Donald Vonada, and Ronald Wilson, The PDP-1 and Other 18-Bit Computers, in C. Gordon Bell, J. Craig Mudge, John. E. McNamara, Computer Engineering: A DEC View of Hardware Systems Design, Digital Press, Bedford, 1978 - Some material on the TX-0, and also covers its descendants (including the PDP-1)
- The LINC Was Early and Small - lengthy personal memoir by Wesley Clark; it also covers the TX-0
