Mansfeld MPC
Mansfield MPC ( M ansfeld P rocess C ontroller) designates a series of 8-bit - computers in the VEB Kombinat Wilhelm Pieck Mansfield Eisleben were produced 1985-1990.
history
The MPC emerged "out of necessity" because the Robotron combine could not or would not deliver computers in sufficient numbers. Due to free capacities, the decision was made to develop it in-house. In 1982 the combine wanted to produce a terminal without a drive called the Mansfeld-Prozess-Terminal (MPT). Only a few samples were produced. Another design with a K5200 Datasette drive and the MBOS operating system was discarded as the drives were not available in sufficient numbers. Then one went over to the design of a personal computer from which the MPC1 emerged. So it is not the result of the state-ordered consumer goods production in the GDR, where it was commonplace that various companies also manufactured products from outside the industry. Nevertheless, some devices were delivered to the Deutsche Reichsbahn because the railway took part in the development to replace the microcomputer-controlled ticket machines ("MFA"). Some computers were also delivered to a mining company in the People's Republic of Poland and to the Freiberg Mining Academy. Production ended as a result of the monetary, economic and social union in 1990, which presented many companies, including the Mansfeld Combine, with numerous unprecedented challenges. The reason given was “insufficient prospects of success”.
Possible uses
The purposes of use are listed below. Further technical data are listed below:
- everyday office work ( word processing , spreadsheet etc.)
- Control of the rollers
- Control of the drill
- Control of analysis devices and production lines
- seismic monitoring of the Eisleben / Sangerhausen area
- Project planning and construction
- Control computer for spectrometer
- Terminal for the P8000
- Training in in-house vocational schools , technical schools and the Bergakademie Freiberg
- Use as a measuring computer and terminal for ESER computers (not implemented)
Models
Four models of the Mansfeld MPC were produced over a period of six years:
MPC1
| MPC1 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Manufacturer | VEB Mansfeldkombinat Wilhelm Pieck Eisleben |
| Type | Personal computer |
| publication |
 1984/85
|
| End of production | 1985 |
| Factory price | 14,583.00 marks |
| processor | U880D @ 2.2 MHz |
| random access memory | 64 KB |
| graphic |
Text mode : 64 × 16 characters. Graphic mode : 192 × 64 pixels |
| Sound | none |
| Disk | diskette |
| operating system | SCP / M 2.2x |
| predecessor | none |
| successor | MPC2 |
The MPC1 marked the start of the product line. It was presented at the Masters of Tomorrow (MMM) fair in July 1984 and received a special prize. Market readiness was achieved in September of the same year .
A K5600.10 from Robotron served as the floppy disk drive . 200 KB could be saved per diskette. Two K 1520 slots were installed, one of which was already occupied by the K5126 floppy disk controller . The second remained free for expansion. The power supply was analog. The housing was made of PUR foam . The keyboard was a K7659 . A connection for an external floppy disk drive for 8 " or 5¼" was available as an interface . There was also a parallel Centronics interface and 2 × 2 serial interfaces ( IFSS , V.24 ) which could be switched and a maximum of two could be used at the same time. As monitor one served Junost - TV . An Erika S6005 served as the printer .
Nowadays, according to robotrontechnik.de, it only seems like one copy. to give. Few computers were built.
MPC2
| MPC2 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Manufacturer | VEB Mansfeldkombinat Wilhelm Pieck Eisleben |
| Type | Personal computer |
| publication |
1985
|
| End of production | 1988 |
| Factory price | 15,000.00 M |
| processor | U880D @ 2.2 MHz |
| random access memory | 64 KB |
| graphic | Text mode: 64 × 16 characters. Graphic mode: 192 × 64 pixels |
| Sound | none |
| Disk | diskette |
| operating system | SCP / M 2.4 |
| predecessor | MPC1 |
| successor | MPC3 |
Just one year later, the successor, MPC2, was added. It was introduced in July 1985 at the District Fair of Tomorrow's Masters.
Its main task was to test the AKS energy control computer . An EPROM programming card was also offered, which was initially attached to the front of the device - still without a housing. Later models were connected to the rear with a cable. This time two K5601s (capacity 780 KB) were used as drives . A stronger power supply and a cooler were used. The case had to be raised slightly. The K7222 was used as the monitor . External drives could no longer be connected.
About 500 of the MPC2 were produced. Production ended in 1988.
MPC3
| MPC3 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Manufacturer | VEB Mansfeldkombinat Wilhelm Pieck Eisleben |
| Type | Personal computer |
| publication |
January 1988 (only a few samples)
|
| End of production | 1988 |
| Factory price | not applicable as there is no series production |
| processor | U880D @ 4.0 MHz |
| random access memory | 128 KB |
| graphic | Text mode: 80 × 24 characters. Graphic mode: 768 × 264 pixels |
| Sound | none |
| Disk | diskette |
| operating system | nb |
| predecessor | MPC2 |
| successor | MPC4 |
The successor MPC3 was developed in 1987 .
The keyboard was new; a built-in model of the keyboard of the PC 1715 was used. In addition, a new mainboard was installed and the CPU was faster. From now on, double the RAM was also available to the user. A proprietary development was used as the floppy controller. The GDC1 graphics card was separated from the mainboard and its performance increased. Mostly printers from the Japanese company Epson , model LX80, were connected.
The planned series production from January 1988 could not start because the delivery contract with Robotron for the PC 1715 built-in keyboards could not be fulfilled. Immediately thereafter, development of the successor model began.
MPC4
| MPC4 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Manufacturer | VEB Mansfeldkombinat Wilhelm Pieck Eisleben |
| Type | Personal computer |
| publication |
March 1988
|
| End of production | 1990 |
| Factory price | 25,365.00 M 1000.00 D-Mark (1990) |
| processor | U880D @ 4.0 MHz |
| random access memory | 256 KB |
| graphic | Text mode: 80 × 24 characters. Graphic mode: 768 × 264 pixels |
| Sound | none |
| Disk | Floppy disk, partly with hard disk |
| operating system | SCP / M 2.8x |
| predecessor | MPC3 |
| successor | none |
In March 1988 the MPC4 was ready for series production.
This time the keyboard ( K7672.03 ) was separate and superior to that of the PC 1715. In terms of performance, it was roughly equivalent to this Robotron computer. There was also a variant as a rack . It had 256 KB of RAM, 192 KB of which was a RAM disk . Mansfeld also made tests with 512 KB of memory, whether these were ever produced is unclear. The graphics card was also revised again and was given the designation GDC2 . A second model with color representation was probably planned. A free slot (K1520) could be used for extensions by third-party providers or for Mansfeld's own developments such as the DFW modem . The signals of the Centronics connection could be switched with DIP switches . As monitors came u. a. the K7222 but also western products from Epson or the model ALPHA1 ( possibly from Reikotronic ) are used. The printers were again from Epson, this time the FX1000 .
With just 900 units manufactured, the MPC4 is still the most popular model. The planned annual production of 5,000 pieces was never reached.
Remarks
From MPC4 1990, some were with MFM - hard drives (20 MB Equipped). The ST225 and ST251 models were from Seagate . Around 15 of these were built. One of them is still in productive use today.
As a result of developments in the country, there was no longer any production of a PC with the 16-bit U8001 processor .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ "Billions were wasted" - DER SPIEGEL 6/1990. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ www.robotrontechnik.de - The history of computer technology in the GDR. Computer series Mansfeld MPC. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ www.robotrontechnik.de - The history of computer technology in the GDR. VEB Mansfeld Kombinat. Retrieved June 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Technology: Legendary computers from the GDR - Pictures & Photos - WELT. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ^ Mansfeld MPC. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
- ↑ VEB Microelectronics - 8Bit-Museum.de. Retrieved June 17, 2020 .