Difference between revisions of "PDP-7"

From Computer History Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (External links: replace dead link)
(Clarify construction, add good link)
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
| name = PDP-7
 
| name = PDP-7
 
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]
 
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]
| word size = 18
 
 
| year introduced = 1965
 
| 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
 
| image = Pdp7-oslo-2005.jpeg
 
| caption = A PDP-7 in Oslo, Norway
 
| caption = A PDP-7 in Oslo, Norway
 
}}
 
}}
  
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 [[PDP-4]] and the [[PDP-9]]. It was the first [[wire wrap|wire-wrapped]] PDP.
+
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 is not yet clarified.
  
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.
+
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.
  
There are a few remaining PDP-7 still in operable condition, along with one under restoration in Oslo, Norway.
+
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 [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. 
 +
 
 +
There are a few remaining PDP-7's still in operable condition, along with one under restoration in Oslo, Norway.
  
 
== Emulation ==
 
== Emulation ==
  
The PDP-7 can be emulated with [[SIMH]]. DECSys and some other software is available and can run on the emulator.
+
The PDP-7 can be emulated with [[SIMH]]. DECSys and some other software is available and can run on the emulator.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 +
 +
* [https://www.soemtron.org/pdp7.html Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-7] - Extensive site with a large amount of material
 
* [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)
 
* [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 -->
 
<!-- original http://www.bell-labs.com/history/unix/pdp7.htmlnow offline -->
Line 26: Line 42:
 
* http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~toresbe/dec PDP-7 restoration project located in Oslo, Norway
 
* http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~toresbe/dec PDP-7 restoration project located in Oslo, Norway
  
 +
{{semi-stub}}
  
[[Category:DEC Computer Systems]][[Category:Computers]]
+
[[Category:DEC Systems]]

Revision as of 15:07, 21 December 2018


PDP-7
Pdp7-oslo-2005.jpeg
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 is not yet clarified.

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, along with one under restoration in Oslo, Norway.

Emulation

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

External links