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1<?php
2        $seiten_id = 'gamma10';
3        $version = '$Id: gamma10.php 460 2013-09-07 10:43:23Z heribert $';
4        $title = 'A second generation calculator: The BULL GAMMA 10';
5       
6        require "../../lib/technikum29.php";
7?>
8    <h2>A second generation calculator:  BULL GAMMA&nbsp;10</h2>
9
10    <div class="box center auto-bildbreite">
11        <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/bull-gamma-10.jpg"
12             alt="BULL GAMMA 10" width="640" height="390" />
13                <p class="bildtext"><b>BULL Gamma 10 electronic data processing system</b></p>
14        </div>
15       
16        <p>
17        In 1963 BULL (General Electric) presented the BULL GAMMA 10 (G10)
18        which was intended for commercial purpose and puchcard
19        computing. It was the direct successor of the <a
20        href="tabulating-machine.php">Tabulating Machine</a>.
21        Compared to the really big mainframes, the G10 was intended to
22        be set up in a 20 square meter room, without air conditioning.
23        The maximum power input was 2.5 kW.
24        <br/>The standard equipment contains a CPU with
25        panel, a punchcard reader/puncher unit and a barrel printer.
26        The RAM consists of a 1kb core memory which could be
27        extended up to 4kb capacity. There are 59 different
28        opcodes to program the CPU.
29        <br/>The cycle time from the core memory is 7 micro
30        seconds. The calculator is capable of reading and
31        punching 300 cards per minute. Five punchcards per
32        second, that is an amazing speed &ndash;
33        therefore the punching unit is generously built. The
34        printer can only print up to 300 lines per minute. Compared
35        to our <a href="univac9400.php">Univac 9400</a> this
36        is quite slow &ndash; the Univac 9400 is capable of
37        printing more than 1000 lines per minute.
38    </p>
39<div class="box center manuelle-bildbreite" style="width: 650px;">
40            <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/gamma10,offen.jpg" alt="BULL GAMMA 10 without panels" width="650" height="564" /></div>
41        <div class="box center manuelle-bildbreite" style="width: 650px;">
42            <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/gamma10,rueckseite.jpg" alt="BULL GAMMA 10 from the back" width="650" height="633" />
43               
44               
45                <p class="bildtext"><b>Gamma 10 uncovered</b></p>
46        </div>
47       
48        <p>
49          The chassis is metallic bright and glossy. It is clearly arranged
50          and therefore the machine is quite easy to maintain.
51                  <!--
52          <br/>We want to repair this computer, too (see our page
53          <a href="/en/search.php">We are looking for...</a>). By now the
54          complete mechanics works again. After tuning the temperature
55          of the heated core memory and switching some defect
56          transistors, we can already execte a program for duplicating
57          punch cards, as well as the first mathematical programs.
58          That's really sensational for such an old computer.
59                  -->
60                  <br>By now the whole mechanics are working again, which is the core
61                  part of the computer. After adjusting the temperature of the
62                  heated core memory and replacing some broken transistors, the
63                  program for duplication punch cards runs again, as well as some
64                  mathematical programs.
65    </p>
66
67        <!-- Idiotisch - den selben Absatz unten nochmal uebersetzt, sogar mit Bild -->
68        <!--
69    <div class="box left">
70         <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/modul-gamma10.jpg"
71            alt="Typical GAMMA 10 module" height="345" width="485">
72         <p class="bildtext">
73            This is one of 570 modules from the GAMMA 10 computer.
74            On the base plate the conductor tracks are aligned
75            horizontally while they are aligned vertically on the
76            small boards (flip flops, amplifier, etc.). Almost all
77            transistors are still Germanium transistors.
78         </p>
79         <div class="clear"></div>
80    </div>
81        -->
82
83    <div class="box left clear-after">
84        <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/steuerpult.jpg"
85            alt="A part from the control panel" width="485" height="379" />
86        <p class="bildtext">
87           The control panel could be used for monitoring running
88           programs, as well as for early "test driven development"
89           for programmers. <!-- hehe -->
90           <br/>The picture shows details of the programmer's part of
91           the control panel. These buttons and switches are intended
92           for debugging a program step-by-step and for reading out
93           the contents of registers, the ALU and RAM, and, finally,
94           for assembling and executing new computer instructions.
95           <br/>All output is driven by lime-green "DM 160" miniature
96           tubes.
97        </p>
98    </div>
99
100    <div class="box left clear-after">
101        <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/modul-gamma10.jpg"
102           alt="Picture of a typical BULL GAMMA 10 module (board)"
103           width="485" height="345" />
104        <p class="bildtext">
105           This is a picture of a typical GAMMA 10 board. On the mainboard,
106           all conductor paths are aligned horizontally while on the small
107           plug-in boards (flip-flops, amplifiers, etc.) they are mostly
108           vertically oriented. Almost all transistors are made of germanium.
109           <br/>The slow non-time-critical logic (like card controlling)
110           is performed by 573 relays. Building up such an amount of
111           wear parts is quiete brave. <!-- stupid mode... -->
112           <br/>Summing up, there were about 570 boards like this one in
113           the GAMMA 10 (without counting the printer interface). The
114           GAMMA 10 was sold as a quite cheap electronic data processing
115           system. We have gotten an original list of prices for this device
116           from 1968/69, when this model was already out-of-date and
117           hence very cheap:
118           <br/>CPU with 4kB core memory: 267.000,- DM (about 133.000,- Euro or Dollar)
119           <br/>Printer: 105.000,- DM (about 50.000,- Euro, Dollar)
120        </p>
121     </div>
122
123     <p>While our GAMMA 10 is in a very good shape, we cannot use the
124        printer any more, since all electronics are missing.<br>
125        But we were very lucky: An original printer has been donated to the museum by
126the F.E.B. (Federation des Equipes Bull) in France. Although the enclosure is
127missing completely as well as some other parts, we were able to rebuild a
128fully functional printer basied on this devices together with the parts
129already in the collection. The result is remarkable (see below).</p>
130
131<div class="box center auto-bildbreite">
132                <img src="/shared/photos/rechnertechnik/bull-i50,vor-nachher.jpg" alt="Drucker-I 50" width="851" height="316" />
133                <div class="bildtext">
134                <p><b>BULL I 50: Before a printer fragment and afterwards fully functional </b></p>
135                </div></div>
136
137<p class="small">
138Some interesting technical data: The computer contains more than 4,000
139discrete transistors, about 10,000 diodes and more then 2,500 test points
140which aide the service technician.
141Tracking down errors by swapping boards was not possible since the logical
142functions are spread over the whole chassis and are not concentrated on
143single cards. A typical errorneous function had to be traced from card 17,
144which is connected to card 95, which is, in turn, connected to card 43 and
145card 293 which contains a flipflop which is necessary to implement this
146particular basic function. Without detailed schematics and cycle diagrams it
147would be impossible to repair this machine.</p>
148
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