PDP-8/e

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PDP-8/e
PDP-8e wordmark.svg
PDP8E Full Front.jpg
PDP-8/e at the Living Computer Museum in Seattle, Washington
Manufacturer Digital Equipment Corporation
Product family PDP-8
Generation6th Generation
Release date1970
Introductory price$6,500
Operating system OS/8
Label panel with PDP-8/e name Close up PDP8e logo.jpg
Label panel with PDP-8/e name
CPU was built using DEC M-series Flip Chip modules PDP-8e, inside.jpg
CPU was built using DEC M-series Flip Chip modules
Front panel switches were grouped for octal notation Living Computers - DEC PDP-8 (31826785627).jpg
Front panel switches were grouped for octal notation
Core memory plane for PDP-8 PDP-8 core memory.jpg
Core memory plane for PDP-8
A PDP-8/E station used for monitoring patients during brain surgery DEC PDP-8-E brain surgery station, 1970, Computer History Museum.jpg
A PDP-8/E station used for monitoring patients during brain surgery

The PDP-8/e was a model of the PDP-8 line of minicomputers, designed by the Digital Equipment Corporation to be a general purpose computer that inexpensively met the needs of the average user while also being capable of modular expansion to meet the more specific needs of advanced user. [1]

Contents

Description

The first prototype was built in 1970, and was among the first minicomputers small enough to fit in the back seat of a Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. [2] It originally sold for $6,500 but after 18 months the price was dropped to $4995 to make it the only computer under $5000 available at that time. [3]

The standard -8/e included a processor, core memory, a data terminal, a tape control and drive, a programmers table, a line printer, software operating system and when purchased included installation, training and maintenance as part of the purchase agreement. [4]

The PDP-8/e featured a processor with single-address fixed word length, parallel transfer computer using 12-bit, two's complement arithmetic. The 1.2/1.4 microsecond cycle time provides a computation rate of 385,000 additions per second. It was built to be versatile and has a high capacity input/output that supports more than 60 types of peripherals. [1] It could be used for a variety of tasks, from keeping score at Fenway Park to monitoring stimuli to the brain during brain surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. [5]

Basic system

The basic PDP-8/E system was a 10.5 x 19 x 24 inch [3] (6 rack unit or "6U") rackmount or table top unit that contained the processor, core memory, front panel controls ("programmer's console"), console terminal interface for use with an external data terminal, and 115 or 230 volt AC power supply. [6]

Peripherals

Processor options

Mass storage devices

Display devices

Data communications devices

Laboratory devices

Terminals

References

  1. 1 2 Digital Equipment Corporation (1971). PDP-8/E : Small Computer Handbook. University of California: Digital Equipment Corporation. p. 2-1.
  2. ↑ "Exhibits - Living Computer Museum". www.livingcomputermuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  3. 1 2 "PDP-8/E and PDP-8/M Computer Information". Online PDP-8 Home Page. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  4. ↑ Newest Members of the Worlds most Popular Minicomputer Family. Maynard, Massachusetts: Digital Equipment Corporation. 1973.
  5. ↑ "DEC's Blockbuster: The PDP-8 - CHM Revolution". www.computerhistory.org.
  6. ↑ PDP-8/E PDP-8/M & PDP-8/F Small Computer Handbook. Digital Equipment Corporation. 1973. pp.  2-1, 2-3 . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  7. ↑ David Larson (September 18, 2015). "PDP-8 Minicomputer Interfacing - How to connect your PDP-8 to the outside world 1972".
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