Z23 (computer)

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Z23
Zuse Z23 (2102310445).jpg
The Zuse Z23
Developer Konrad Zuse
Manufacturer Zuse KG
Release date1961;64 years ago (1961)
Lifespan6 years
Introductory price DM 200,000(equivalent to DM 480,582 in 2021)
Units sold98
CPU 2700 transistors and 7700 diodes @ 150 kHz
Memory8192 word drum memory as main storage, with 256 words of rapid-access ferrite memory
Power4000  watts
Weight1,000 kilograms (1.0 t; 1.1 short tons)
Predecessor Z22
Related Z25, Z26

The Zuse Z23 was a transistorized computer first delivered in 1961, designed by the Zuse KG company. A total of 98 units were sold to commercial and academic customers up until 1967. It had a 40-bit word length and used an 8192-word drum memory as main storage, with 256 words of rapid-access ferrite core memory. It operated on fixed and floating-point binary numbers.

Fixed-point addition took 0.3 milliseconds, a fixed-point multiplication took 10.3 milliseconds. It was similar in internal design to the earlier vacuum tube Z22. Related variants were the Z25 and Z26 models. [1]

The Z23 used about 2700 transistors and 7700 diodes. Memory was magnetic-core memory. [2] The Z23 had an Algol 60 compiler. It had a basic clock speed of 150 kHz and consumed about 4000  watts of electric power. An improved version Z23V was released in 1965, with expanded memory and a higher processing speed.

The Z23 weighed about 1,000 kilograms (1.0 t; 1.1 short tons). [3]

References

  1. Stephen H. Kaisler, Birthing the Computer: From Relays to Vacuum Tubes, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016 ISBN   1443896314, page 21
  2. Hans Dieter Hellige, ed. (2004). Geschichten der Informatik. Visionen, Paradigmen, Leitmotive (in German). Berlin: Springer. p. 128. ISBN   3-540-00217-0.
  3. "Z23". www.horst-zuse.homepage.t-online.de.