Difference between revisions of "List of Programmed Data Processors"

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'''Programmed Data Processor''' was the name adopted by [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] for all its early computers. (Reportedly, it was adopted to avoid worrying its early venture capital backers; at the time, almost all computers were large [[mainframe]]s, and DEC's founders were concerned that if it appeared that they intended to compete in that market, they wouldn't be able to get funding.)
 
'''Programmed Data Processor''' was the name adopted by [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] for all its early computers. (Reportedly, it was adopted to avoid worrying its early venture capital backers; at the time, almost all computers were large [[mainframe]]s, and DEC's founders were concerned that if it appeared that they intended to compete in that market, they wouldn't be able to get funding.)
  
−
The name was dropped starting with the [[VAX]]. The other PDP families (most included more than one model) were:
+
The name was dropped starting with the [[VAX]]. The other PDP families which became actual products for DEC (most included more than one model) were:
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
| [[PDP-1]] || 18
 
| [[PDP-1]] || 18
−
|-
 
−
| PDP-2 || 24 || Never designed
 
−
|-
 
−
| PDP-2 ½ || || "Casino" by Ed Rawson of the American Science Institute.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[PDP-3]] || 36 || Only one built, not by DEC
 
| [[PDP-3]] || 36 || Only one built, not by DEC
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|-
 
|-
 
| [[PDP-9]] || 18
 
| [[PDP-9]] || 18
−
|-
 
−
| PDP-24 || || Unconfirmed, mentioned in [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp-x/03.pdf PDP-X memo 3].
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[PDP-10]] || 36 || DEC's mainframe
 
| [[PDP-10]] || 36 || DEC's mainframe
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| [[PDP-16]] ||   || Not an actual computer; custom industrial controllers built out of [[Register Transfer Modules]]   
 
| [[PDP-16]] ||   || Not an actual computer; custom industrial controllers built out of [[Register Transfer Modules]]   
 
|-
 
|-
−
| PDP-20 || || ''Not a real name!''  Sometimes used for DEC-20 computers.   
+
| PDP-20 || 36 || ''Not a real name!''  Sometimes used for DEC-20 computers.   
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
A number of other designs never existed as real machines, only on paper:
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Family/Machine !! Word Size !! Comment
 +
|-
 +
| PDP-2 || 24 || Never designed
 +
|-
 +
| PDP-2 ½ || || "Casino" by Ed Rawson of the American Science Institute.
 +
|-
 +
| PDP-24 || 24? || Unconfirmed, mentioned in [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp-x/03.pdf PDP-X memo 3].
 +
|-
 +
| [[PDP-K]] || 18 || Intended as a bridge between the PDP-15 and the PDP-10 family
 +
|-
 +
| [[PDP-X]] || 16 || An alternative to the PDP-11
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 13:22, 3 May 2022

Programmed Data Processor was the name adopted by Digital Equipment Corporation for all its early computers. (Reportedly, it was adopted to avoid worrying its early venture capital backers; at the time, almost all computers were large mainframes, and DEC's founders were concerned that if it appeared that they intended to compete in that market, they wouldn't be able to get funding.)

The name was dropped starting with the VAX. The other PDP families which became actual products for DEC (most included more than one model) were:

Family/Machine Word Size Comment
PDP-1 18
PDP-3 36 Only one built, not by DEC
PDP-4 18
PDP-5 12 First minicomputer
PDP-6 36
PDP-7 18 Original UNIX machine
PDP-8 12 First commercially successful minicomputer
PDP-9 18
PDP-10 36 DEC's mainframe
PDP-11 16
PDP-12 12 Laboratory computer, replacement for the LINC-8
PDP-14 12 Industrial controller
PDP-15 18
PDP-16   Not an actual computer; custom industrial controllers built out of Register Transfer Modules
PDP-20 36 Not a real name! Sometimes used for DEC-20 computers.

A number of other designs never existed as real machines, only on paper:

Family/Machine Word Size Comment
PDP-2 24 Never designed
PDP-2 ½ "Casino" by Ed Rawson of the American Science Institute.
PDP-24 24? Unconfirmed, mentioned in PDP-X memo 3.
PDP-K 18 Intended as a bridge between the PDP-15 and the PDP-10 family
PDP-X 16 An alternative to the PDP-11

External links

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