IBM 305 RAMAC
Jul 20, 2007 7:18:37 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 20, 2007 7:18:37 GMT -5
We've come a long way from this me thinks. From Wikipedia:
IBM 305 RAMAC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IBM 305 at U. S. Army Red River Arsenal
Foreground: Two 350 disk drives. Background:380 console and 305 processing unit.
The IBM 305 RAMAC was the first commercial computer that used a moving head hard disk drive (magnetic disk storage) for secondary storage. IBM introduced it on September 4, 1956. RAMAC stood for "Random Access Memory ACcounting System." Its design was motivated by the need to replace the punch card tub file used by most businesses at the time. The first RAMAC to be used in the US auto industry was installed at Chrysler's MOPAR Division in 1957. It replaced a huge tub file which was part of MOPAR's parts inventory control and order processing system. The 305 was one of the last vacuum tube computers that IBM built. The IBM 350 disk system stored 5 million 8-bit (7-bits plus 1 odd parity bit) characters (about 4.4 MB). It had fifty 24-inch diameter disks. Two independent access arms moved up and down to select a disk and in and out to select a recording track, all under servo control. Average time to locate a single record was 600 milliseconds. Several improved models were added in the 1950s. The IBM RAMAC 305 system with 350 disk storage leased for $3,200 per month in 1957 dollars, equivalent to a purchase price of about $160,000. More than 1000 systems were built. Production ended in 1961, the RAMAC computer became obsolete in 1962 when the IBM 1405 Disk Storage Unit for the IBM 1401 was introduced, and the 305 was withdrawn in 1969.
One storage disk.During the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley (USA)IBM provided the first electronic data processing systems for the Games. The system featured an IBM RAMAC 305 computer, punch card data collection, and a central printing facility.
Programming the 305 involved not only writing machine language instructions to be stored on the drum memory, but also almost every unit in the system (including the computer itself) was programmed by inserting wire jumpers into a plug-board.
The original 305 RAMAC computer system could be housed in a room of about 9m (30') by 15m (50'); the 350 disk storage unit measured around 1,5 m2 (5' square). The first hard disk unit was shipped Sept. 13, 1956[1]. The additional components of the computer were a card punch, a central processing unit, a power supply unit, an operator's console/card reader unit, and a printer.
The link
IBM 305 RAMAC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IBM 305 at U. S. Army Red River Arsenal
Foreground: Two 350 disk drives. Background:380 console and 305 processing unit.
The IBM 305 RAMAC was the first commercial computer that used a moving head hard disk drive (magnetic disk storage) for secondary storage. IBM introduced it on September 4, 1956. RAMAC stood for "Random Access Memory ACcounting System." Its design was motivated by the need to replace the punch card tub file used by most businesses at the time. The first RAMAC to be used in the US auto industry was installed at Chrysler's MOPAR Division in 1957. It replaced a huge tub file which was part of MOPAR's parts inventory control and order processing system. The 305 was one of the last vacuum tube computers that IBM built. The IBM 350 disk system stored 5 million 8-bit (7-bits plus 1 odd parity bit) characters (about 4.4 MB). It had fifty 24-inch diameter disks. Two independent access arms moved up and down to select a disk and in and out to select a recording track, all under servo control. Average time to locate a single record was 600 milliseconds. Several improved models were added in the 1950s. The IBM RAMAC 305 system with 350 disk storage leased for $3,200 per month in 1957 dollars, equivalent to a purchase price of about $160,000. More than 1000 systems were built. Production ended in 1961, the RAMAC computer became obsolete in 1962 when the IBM 1405 Disk Storage Unit for the IBM 1401 was introduced, and the 305 was withdrawn in 1969.
One storage disk.During the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley (USA)IBM provided the first electronic data processing systems for the Games. The system featured an IBM RAMAC 305 computer, punch card data collection, and a central printing facility.
Programming the 305 involved not only writing machine language instructions to be stored on the drum memory, but also almost every unit in the system (including the computer itself) was programmed by inserting wire jumpers into a plug-board.
The original 305 RAMAC computer system could be housed in a room of about 9m (30') by 15m (50'); the 350 disk storage unit measured around 1,5 m2 (5' square). The first hard disk unit was shipped Sept. 13, 1956[1]. The additional components of the computer were a card punch, a central processing unit, a power supply unit, an operator's console/card reader unit, and a printer.
The link
