Article 93 of comp.sys.cdc: Path: matra.meer.net!news1.best.com!su-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!newsxfer3.itd.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!news.mtu.edu!msunews!ribbit From: laurens@pa.msu.edu (Philippe Laurens) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cdc Subject: Re: Reminiscing About the Cyber 6600 Followup-To: comp.sys.cdc Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 20:21:50 GMT Organization: Michigan State University Lines: 60 Distribution: inet Message-ID: <5laigk$hc$1@msunews.cl.msu.edu> References: <5l8995$da4@mustang.sdc.com.au> Reply-To: laurens@pa.msu.edu NNTP-Posting-Host: ribbit.pa.msu.edu Keywords: core memory X-Newsreader: News Xpress 2.01 Xref: matra.meer.net comp.sys.cdc:93 Talking about CDC core memory... A few months ago, we had the great opportunity to get our hands on a few old core memory modules. They were found at the Michigan State University Salvage Yard and sold for scrap metal. At one time, and probably until the late 80's, MSU was renting out some space to CDC for a service and maintenance field office [is Jeff Sheltron (sp?) out there]. I imagine someone at MSU got excited recently about cleaning out some old cabinets with these leftover spare parts. We are guessing that the brick in the pictures (see the pictures http://www.pa.msu.edu/~laurens/cdc_memory) is a CDC core memory module from one of the 6x00 computers. This module is approximately 6 3/4" x 6 3/4" x 3 3/4", and hides 12 planes of core memory. The module is 12 bit wide by 4096 memory locations. The electronics surrounding the matrix of cores seems to include the x and y current drivers and the inhibit line drivers, but not the sense amplifiers. This was clearly a very labor intensive assembly process that produced a very compact module where speed and performance might have been the issue... not cost. I am just a bit too young to have done much with computers of that era. Furthermore fate had it that I spent most of my time with DEC hardware. There are 3 of us electronics engineers here in the Physics department sharing this enhousiasm for old computers. We sure feel lucky to have been able to save a few of these modules from being melted down to make more PC enclosures.... What a great piece of engineering and what a great window to the past! Can anybody tell us more? [Maybe our former MSU colleague, Mark Riordan, who posted here recently will recognize them?] In article <5l8995$da4@mustang.sdc.com.au>, "Stephen Davies" wrote: >Actually, I have an old core memory card from a 6600 to help me >remember:-) > >Stephen. > >>Most of us have to rely on memory. (Our own.) >> >>The day of the CYBER is, unfortunately, over. And it's sad. With other >>management, Control Data could easily have been the "other" computer >>company that DEC is today. >> >>Paul C. Smith wrote: >> >>> )What's all this reminiscing? We are still running our Cyber180! >> > >======================================================================== >Stephen Davies Consulting P/L scldad@sdc.com.au >Adelaide, South Australia. Voice: 61-8-2728863 >Computing & Network solutions. Fax : 61-8-2741015 Philippe Laurens Design Engineer Michigan State University EMail: laurens@pa.msu.edu