TX-0

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The TX-0 ( Transistorized Experimental Computer Zero ), also known as tixo, is considered the first transistor-based computer and was developed in 1955 at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and used from 1956. It was the successor to the Whirlwind , which did not yet have transistors, and the predecessor of the PDP-1 . Originally it was only intended to demonstrate the capabilities of transistors and to support the successor model TX-2.

The development was overseen by Ken Olsen , and computer engineer Wesley A. Clark , who developed the logic, was also involved.

construction

Like most electron tubes , they were housed in glass bulbs so that the surface boundary layer transistors used could be checked and replaced more easily .

The computer consists of transistors, the main memory is based on magnetic core memories . The top speed was 83 kOPS (OPS: operations per second). As with the PDP-1, the main memory consists of 18-bit words . In the basic version, the storage capacity was 65,536 words. In 1958 the memory was transferred to the successor computer TX-2 and the TX-0 was equipped with a memory of 4096 words. In 1959 the capacity was expanded to 8192 words. The address size was reduced from 16 to 13 bits.

From 1957 there was a 12 inch oscilloscope (512 × 512 pixels) as a monitor and from 1958 a light pen . The device also had a loudspeaker. As peripherals there were printers and tape drives ( magnetic tapes and punched tape ).

Applications

The TX-0 was used at MIT throughout the 1960s. Since the expensive magnetic core memories in particular were requisitioned for the follow-up project TX-2, the TX-0 was separated from the Lincoln Lab in 1958 and handed over to the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT, where the beginnings of artificial intelligence and hacker culture were laid in the 1960s .

Games

Between the first video game Tennis for Two and the computer game Spacewar! there have already been some demos and simple, mostly text-based games, as well as chess and tic-tac-toe .

meaning

The TX-0 is considered to be one of the first modern transistorized computers. With the possibility of direct programming (without punch cards) the first hacker clubs came into being.

predecessor

  • The TX-0 was a transistorized version of the Whirlwind (tubes instead of transistors), also developed at the Lincoln Lab and famous for its innovations . This took up an entire hall, while the TX-0 was a bit faster and fit into one room.

successor

  • TX-1
  • TX-2 (1958)
  • PDP-1 at DEC, founded shortly before by Ken Olsen (1959)

emulation

The M.ESS emulator emulates both the TX-0 and the PDP-1.

See also

  • TRADIC . This is also traded as the first transistor-based computer. The information on the development fluctuates between 1953 and 1955. It was used as early as 1955 but served military purposes. However, it was much bigger.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ John A. McKenzie: TX-0 Computer History (Oct 1974) PDF