| MANUFACTURER / MODEL NUMBER | Tempo Computers Inc. Tempo 1 |
Varian 620i |
Digital Equipment Corp. LINC-8 |
Digital Equipment Corp. PDP-8/1 |
Digital Equipment Corp. PDP-8/L |
General Automation SPC-12 |
Motorola MDP-1000 |
Sears Computers Inc. Micro Line |
Business Information Technology 480/482 |
Computer Automation PDC-808 |
Data Technology DT-1600 |
General Automation SPC-8 |
Varian 520i |
| MEMORY | |||||||||||||
| Memory cycle time (µs) | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.16 | 1 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Memory word length (bits) | 16 | 16/18 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Minimum memory size (words) | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Memory increment size (words) | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 1K,2K,4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Maximum memory size (words) | 65K | 32K | 32K | 32K | 8K | 16K | 16K | 32K | 65K | 16K | 16K | 8K | 32K |
| Parity check (std.,opt.,no) | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | no | opt. | opt. | no | no | opt. | opt. |
| Memory protect (std.,opt.,no) | opt. | opt. | no | std. | std. | no | no | no | no | no | opt. | no | std. |
| CPU FEATURES | |||||||||||||
| Instruction word length(s) | 16/32 | 16/32 | 12 | 12/24 | 12/24 | 8,12,16 | 12 | 12 | 8/16 | 8/16 | 8/16 | 8,12,16 | 8/16 |
| Number of accumulators (or general purpose registers that can be used as accumulators) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Number of hardware registers (not including index registers) | 7 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| Number of index registers (indicate whether they are hardware, memory or other techniques) | 1 hardware |
2 hardware |
8 memory |
8 memory |
8 memory |
3 hardware |
3 hardware |
16 memory |
none |
none |
none |
1 hardware |
1 hardware |
| How many bits for operation code | 4 | 4 | 2,3,7 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 8,12 | 3 |
| How many bits for address modes | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | none | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Number of addressing modes | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| How many bits for address | 9/16 | 9/11 | 12,10,8,4 | 8/15 | 8/13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8/16 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 15 |
| In this machine one can directly address ____ words | 512 | 2,048 | 1,024 | 256 | 256 | 4,096 | 4,096 | 1,024 | 256 | 512 | 512 | 4,096 | 4,096 |
| in ____ µs | 0.9 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 4.32 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 24.0 | 16.0 | 4.2 | 2.5 |
| and indirectly address ____ words | 65K | 32K | 4K | 32K | 8K | 4K | 4K | 1K | 65K | 16K | 16K | 4K | 32K |
| in ____ µs | 1.8 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 3.0 | 23.25 | 40.0 | 32.0 | 6.3 | 5.25 |
| Indirect addressing (multi-level, single-level, no) | Multi- level |
Multi- level |
Single- level |
Single- level |
Single- level |
Single- level |
Single- level |
Single- level |
Single- level |
Multi- level |
Multi- level |
Single- level |
Multi- level |
| ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||
| Store time for full word (µs) | 1.8 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.32 | 2.0 | 14.25 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Add time for full word (µs) | 1.8 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.32 | 2.0 | 14.25 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Fixed-point hardware mult/divide (std., opt., no) | opt. | opt. | mult.-std. div.-opt. |
opt. | no | no | no | mult.-std. div.-opt. |
opt. | no | no | no | no |
| Multiply time hardware (µs) | 7 | 10 | 34 | N/A | — | — | — | 14 | N/A | — | — | — | — |
| Divide time hardware (µs) | 9 | 10-14 | 37 | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A | — | — | — | — |
| Multiply time software (µs) | — | 200 | — | 360 | 360 | N/A | N/A | 300 | N/A | 1,100 | 1,200 | 400 | N/A |
| Divide time software (µs) | — | 200 | 460 | 460 | 460 | N/A | N/A | 1700 | N/A | 1,880 | 1,500 | 500 | N/A |
| I/O CAPABILITY | |||||||||||||
| Data path width (bits) | 8/16 | 16/18 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8/12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8/12 | 8/16 |
| Direct memory access (DMA) channel (std., opt., no) | opt. | opt. | std. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | std. | std. | no | no | opt. | opt. |
| Maximum DMA word transfer rate | 800 KHZ |
200 KHZ |
666 KHZ |
666 KHZ |
625 KHZ |
430 KHZ |
430 KHZ |
1.0 MHZ |
250 KHZ |
— | — | 430 KHZ |
660 KHZ |
| Number of external priority interrupt levels provided in basic system | 4 | none | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Maximum number of external interrupts | 256 | 64 | 1 | 64 | 64 | 256 | 64 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 32 | 256 | 11 |
| Response time (µs) including time to save registers of interrupted program and initiate new program execution | 3.6 | N/A | 14.0 | 14.0 | 18.6 | 20.0 | N/A | 8.0 | 50.0 | 88.0 | 32.0 | 20.0 | 1.5 |
| OTHER FEATURES | |||||||||||||
| Power failure protect (std., opt., no) | std. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | std. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. |
| Automatic restart after power failure (std., opt., no) | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. |
| Real-time clock or internal timer (std., opt., no) | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | std. | std. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | std. | opt. |
| SOFTWARE | |||||||||||||
| Assembler (1 pass, 2 pass, both) | both | 2 pass | both | both | both | 1 pass | 2 pass | 2 pass | 3 pass | 2 pass | 2 pass | 1 pass | 2 pass |
| Relocatable assembler (yes, no) | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Minimum core size necessary to use this relocatable assembler | 4K | — | 8K | 8K | 8K | 4K | 4K | — | — | — | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Macro assembler capability | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Compilers available (specify explicitly, e.g., Fortran II, IV, ASA Basic Fortran, etc.) | ASA Basic Fortran |
Fortran II | Fortran II Algol |
Fortran II Algol |
Fortran II Algol |
none | none | none | ASA Basic Fortran |
none | none | none | none |
| Conversational compilers (e.g., FOCAL, BASIC, CAL, etc.) | none | none | BASIC FOCAL |
BASIC FOCAL |
BASIC FOCAL LAP-6 |
no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Real-time executive monitor available (yes, no) | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | no |
| Disc operating system available (yes, no) | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no |
| BASIC MAINFRAME COSTS | |||||||||||||
| Basic system price with 4K words including power supplies | $15,000 | $12,100 | $38,000 | $12,800 | $8,500 | $6,400 | $8,500 | $46,500[E] | $9,310 | $6,600 | $6,600 | $6,400 | $7,500 |
| Price of ASR-33 Teletype (if not already included in Basic System Price) | Included | $1,800 | Included | Included | Included | $1,100 | $1,200 | Included | Included | $1,500 | $1,900 | $1,100 | $1,400 |
| Total system price, including ASR-33 Teletype and CPU | $15,000 | $13,900 | $38,500 | $12,800 | $8,500 | $7,500 | $9,700 | $46,500[E] | $9,310 | $8,100 | $8,500 | $7,500 | $8,900 |
| Basic system price with 8K words including adequate power supplies, enclosure, control panel | $19,000 | $18,500 | $47,500 | $16,300 | $13,200 | $9,600 | $11,500 | $56,500[E] | $11,250 | $8,800 | $8,800 | $9,600 | $10,000 |
| Price of ASR-33 Teletype (if not already included in Basic System Price) | Included | $1,800 | Included | Included | Included | $1,100 | $1,200 | Included | Included | $1,500 | $1,900 | $1,100 | $1,400 |
| Total system price, including ASR-33 Teletype and CPU | $19,000 | $20,300 | $47,500 | $16,300 | $13,200 | $10,700 | $12,700 | $56,500[E] | $11,250 | $10,300 | $10,700 | $10,700 | $11,400 |
| PERIPHERALS AVAILABLE | |||||||||||||
| Magnetic tape available (yes, no) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Approximate price for operational unit (including controller, computer options necessary, etc.) | $12,000 | N/A | $24,700 | $24,700 | $24,700 | $11,000 | N/A | N/A | $18,700 to $22,500 |
$5,700 to $10,000 |
$9,950 | $9,800 | $9,000 |
| Mass storage device available (yes, no) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Approximate price of operational unit (including controller, computer options necessary, etc.) | N/A | N/A | $6,000 | $8,700 to $15,700 |
$8,700 to $15,700 |
$6,000 to $15,000 |
N/A | N/A | $7,390 | $16,500 to $9,950 |
$10,000 | $6,000 to $15,000 |
N/A |
| High speed paper tape reader (yes, no) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Speed (char/sec) | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Approximate price of operational unit | N/A | N/A | $2,500 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | N/A | N/A | $2,300 | $2,200 | $3,300 | $3,000 | $2,900 |
| High speed paper tape punch (yes, no) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Speed (char/sec) | 60/120 | 60/120 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60/120 | 60 |
| Approximate price of operational unit | N/A | N/A | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 | N/A | N/A | $3,000 | $3,300 | $2,900 | $3,600- $4,000 |
$3,300 |
| NOTE: N/A = Not Announced—or Not Available | |||||||||||||
| [E] Price includes 2 mag tapes and crt with keyboard | |||||||||||||
At the November 1962 "Grossinger Conference on the Utilization of Multiparameter Analyzers in Nuclear Physics" a paper by W. F. Miller and H. W. Fulbright was presented in which data-analysis systems then in use in AEC-sponsored laboratories in the fields of high-and low-energy nuclear physics were reviewed. By that time many applications of computers had already been made in the high-energy field, while there were only a few examples of computer systems to be found in low-energy laboratories, and those were rather simple. Chapter 3 gives a similar review, but in this case the high-energy field is excluded; the emphasis is concentrated on the economic aspects of data-acquisition systems used in low-and medium-energy physics. In the earlier paper, only AEC-sponsored laboratories were covered, but in the present case some NSF-supported laboratories are also included. Chapter 3 is a condensed version of a paper presented by H. W. Fulbright at the Skytop "Conference on Computer Systems in Experimental Nuclear Physics" in March 1969.
The first part of Chapter 3 presents a review and a simple analysis of the expenditures for on-line computing in a total of 36 different laboratories supported by the AEC and NSF. The second part presents a discussion of trends visible in, or suggested by the analysis, along with some other remarks about the support of on-line computing facilities in nuclear-physics research laboratories.
Most of the information was supplied by the AEC. It was requested by Paul W. McDaniel in letters sent in December 1968. Information was received from about 90 percent of those from whom it was requested. It was then forwarded to the author C. V. Smith, arriving in the first two weeks of February 1969. The NSF found that certain administrative regulations made the sending out of a questionnaire a complicated procedure, so a different approach had to be adopted in their case. Letters requesting the information were sent by the reviewer himself directly to laboratory directors, the appropriate names and addresses having been kindly supplied by William Rodney of the NSF. Here the response was less complete. Most of the returns arrived by February 21, 1969.
A large amount of information was available for analysis. In many cases the laboratory involved had done a thorough job, and the numbers presented in those cases were especially valuable in providing a basis for estimating expenses for various items omitted in less complete reports from other laboratories, particularly in the case of manpower. In some ways, the information necessarily remained incomplete because no practical means of obtaining it occurred to the reviewer; the organization of the material in the analysis reflects this fact.
| Institutions Reporting Systems | |
| Place | Number of Systems |
| Brookhaven National Laboratory | 7 |
| University of California at Los Angeles | 1 |
| University of Kansas | 1 |
| Lawrence Radiation Laboratory | 8 |
| University of Maryland | 1 |
| University of Minnesota | 1 |
| Oak Ridge National Laboratory | 6 |
| University of Texas | 1 |
| Texas A & M | 1 |
| Yale | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin | 1 |
| University of Colorado | 1 |
| Argonne National Laboratory | 2 |
| Columbia University | 3 |
| University of Washington | 1 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1 |
| University of Iowa | 1 |
| Ohio State University | 1 |
| University of Rochester | 1 |
| Michigan State University | 1 |
| Stanford University | 1 |
| Rutgers-Bell Labs. | 2 |
Transcriber's Note:
On page 69, item 6. was written as 5. in the original.