Varian Data Machineswas a division ofVarian Associateswhich soldminicomputers.It entered the market in 1967 through acquisition of Decision Control Inc. (DCI) inNewport Beach, California.[1]It met stiff competition and was bought bySperry Corporationin June 1977 who merged it into their SperryUNIVACdivision as the Sperry UNIVAC Minicomputer Operation.[2][3][4]
 | |
| Formerly | Decision Control Inc. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Newport Beach, California,United States |
| Products | Minicomputers |
| Parent | Varian Associates(1967–1977) Sperry Corporation(1977–?) |
Products
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The DCI 1966 DATA/620 was a parallel, binary16-bitgeneral-purpose digital computer withmagnetic-core memoryexpandable to 32,768words.An 18-bit word length (for data, not addresses) was optionally available. A basicmachine cycletook 1.8microseconds,and the core memory read time was 700nanoseconds.The computers usetwo's complementarithmetic and had four mainregisters-accumulatorA, accumulator extension B, anindex registerX and aprogram counterregister. Addressing modes were direct, immediate and indexed. The instruction set had more than one hundred arithmetic, logic and control instructions and some variants supportedmicroprogramming.These models used a hardwarefront panelconsole that allowed starting and stopping the machine, examining memory and registers and changing memory or registers with front-panel switches. It used "Versalogic" (discrete transistorized) circuits with abit-slicedarchitecture.[5]: 21
The 620/i[5]: 1 shipped in June 1967;[6]it and subsequent series were made withintegrated circuittransistor–transistor logicfrom the7400 series.The system was packaged in a19-inch rackand consumed 340 watts at 120 V AC. The 620/F was a variation with a faster machine cycle time of 750 nanoseconds.
The ruggedized R-620/i was announced in 1968.[7]
A lower cost 520/i shipped in October 1968[6]
The 620/L-100 was released in 1973. It had a cycle time of 950 nanoseconds and a more compact system chassis than the 620/F.[8]The Sperry V70 series hadsemiconductor memory,but could also supportmagnetic core.Various models were released between 1972 and 1977.[9]
Varian V72 computer systems were installed atBruce Nuclear Generating Stationon the eastern shore ofLake HuroninOntario,Canada,as the digital control computer system that monitors and controls the major reactor and power plant functions. As of February 2017[update]these were still in operation and scheduled to be replaced by more modern systems in 2018 and 2019.[10]
References
edit- ^"Varian Acquires Computer Firm".May 16, 1967.RetrievedMarch 23,2019.
- ^Computer History Museum,Selling the Computer Revolution - Marketing Brochures in the Collection: Varian Data Machines
- ^"Sperry Univac V77 Family Communications Capabilities"(PDF).BitSavers.org.DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION.Retrieved28 May2024.
- ^"Sperry Plans to Buy Varian Data Machines".The New York Times.24 May 1977.Retrieved28 May2024.
- ^ab"The Data Machine - DATA 620i, DATA 620".Bitsavers.Data Machines Division of DECISION Control Inc. c. 1967.RetrievedMarch 23,2019.
- ^ab"Digital Computer Census"(PDF).Bitsavers.Multiple publishers. September 1974.RetrievedMarch 23,2019.
- ^Datamation, January 1968, p.i
- ^"Varian 620 Training Manual"(PDF).bitsavers.org.Varian Data Machines. January 1973.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: others (link) - ^"The Minicomputer Orphanage".www.dimka.com.Retrieved2020-08-18.
- ^"Bruce Power awards more Candu extension contracts - World Nuclear News".www.world-nuclear-news.org.22 February 2017.Retrieved2020-08-18.
External links
edit- "Documents for Varian computers"(pdfs).www.bitsavers.org.
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