Re: A Computer Question...
In reply to #5060 A computer question by Derek Wildstar
I think that giving the IBM 704 as a Model 1 is overstating its power. Firstly I think that the technology scale would be: TL 5 = Vacuum Tubes (note the x100 volume mod for TL 5 on the computer table), TL 6 = Transistors, TL 7+ = Silicon Chips. (Could someone with the Ref's Companion check this?) This means that the 704 is using TL 5 technology and should get the x 100 volume mod. The total volume given for the 704 in the article was 220 cu ft which is approximately 8 cubic metres (= 8 kilolitres). A model 0 would take up 0.5 x 100 = 50 kilolitres, so I think that the 704 is considerably less powerful than even a model 0... Even if you consider vacuum tubes to be TL 6, then a model 1 takes up 20 kilolitres, and a model 0 takes up 5 kilolitres, so it would be closer to a model 0 (perhaps a model 0/bis?) OK, so if that's the power of a 704, what would a model 0 be in today's terms (assuming the first case for volume)... Mutliplying the memory capacity by 5, we get 160, 36 bit words = 5760 bits = 720 K. IUm not sure how CPU complexity would be affected, but I think that a model 0 on these lines would be approximately equivalent to a 640K IBM PC, say based on an 8088? Or maybe an old 512K or 1 MB Mac. Does this seem reasonable? See ya 'round. Corran Webster PS. Happy New Year!