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Super Nova, 1970

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Super Nova, 1970 Additional core memory is available in 2K and 4K blocks. Core can be ex~andedwithin the basic Nova cabinet to 20K and to 32K using added in one 300 nanosecond an optional expansion chassis. memory cycle. This technique has Nova read-only memory is been used before in large-scale interchangeable with core and computer systems, but no other can be added in 1K blocks. small-scale computer uses it. Nova comes in a desk-top model or in a rack-mountable version. The rack-mountable version is 5W high and slides into standard 19" computer rack. Nova is one of the most popular of all small computers. Nova number 100 was delivered a little more than 6 months after Nova number 1, and the second hundred Nova is a 16-bit word, small-scale, took half as long. There are now general-purpose, digital computer. hundreds of Novas delivered and It has four accumulators, two of working, and the number will be which may be used as index well over 1,000 before the first registers. In its basic configuration, machine is 18 months old. the Nova includes 4,096 16-bit The most liberal quantity and words of core memory, Teletype OEM discounts available are SUPERNOVA, RACK MOUNTABLE interface, and inputloutput offered with the Nova. Minimum Supernova, which is completely facilities including a high-speed configurations with less than 4K of compatible with Nova, is aimed at data channel and automatic core memory or read-only memory applications in which nanosecond speed interrupt source identification. alone are available for controller is advantageous. applications. Because Supernova is considerably faster than other small computers, it is used in many Supernova has the same basic applications in which other small organization as Nova: 16-bit word, computers have proved only 4 accumulators, flexible I10 facility, marginally effective. A faster interchangeable core and read-only computer can monitor a high-speed memories, the same packaging phenomenon in a physics laboratory design. Supernova is a very fast much more accurately than a slower small computer -considerably computer, maintain closer control faster than any other computer at over a precision manufacturing comparable cost. A full memory process, or serve more terminals cycle using core memory takes 800 better in a retail billing system. nanoseconds for the Supernova. The basic Supernova Using read-only memory, cycle time configuration includes 4K of core is 300 nanoseconds. memory, Teletype interface, and NOVA, RACK MOUNTABLE Supernova overlaps the fetch and automatic program load. Memory Nova is one of the most popular of the small-scale, general-purpose computers. execute portions of arithmetic and allocation and protection, and mul- Today there are hundreds of Novas logical instructions from read-only tiply I divide are Supernova hard- installed. memory, so two numbers can be ware options. be used as index registers. Data can be moved in either direction between any memory location and any accumulator. Arithmetic and logical operations are performed on operands in the accumulators, with the result appearing in an accumulator. magnitude of the result is too large Since an arithmetic or logical to be accommodated in a single instruction does not contain a accumulator. The carry flag is The Nova and Supernova, like memory address, there are many also useful in double precision most medium- and large-scale bits that can be used for functions arithmetic. third-generation computer systems, other than specifying the basic This multi-accumulator have central processors organized operation and the operands. organization cuts down on the around multiple general-purpose Arithmetic and logical instructions number of instructions necessary registers or accumulators. The are frequently preceded by to execute a program, and reduces logical and arithmetic instructions instructions which modify an the amount of data movement in of these machines are performed operand and followed by a the machine. by manipulating the contents of modification of the result and these accumulators. There is less sometimes by a test. In the Nova need to address or access memory. and the Supernova, these operations And the availability of these multiple are combined in a single instruction registers improves the efficiency of class. The result is a much simpler- accumulator-to-memory operations to-use and more powerful and data flow between the computer instruction structure. and peripheral devices. Arithmetic and logical instructions are arranged so that each bit has its own function. Thus it is unnecessary to decode most portions of the instruction word. The same instruction that adds or subtracts can also rotate right or left the 17-bit word (16-bit accumulator combined with the carry bit), or swap its right and SUPERNOVA CPU left halves, test the result and/or The Supernova uses the24-pin dual-in-line integrated circuits shown on this central carry for a skip, and specify whether processor board. or not the result shall actually be retained. The Supernova can The Nova and the Supernova execute any of these arithmetic are much easier to program than and logical instructions in 300 single accumulator machines. The nanoseconds. results of address calculations are NOVA CPU An instruction that references immediately available for index Multi-accumulator central processors memory can address two of the purposes to the memory reference enable Nova and Supernova to have a accumulators as index registers. instructions. One accumulator can powerful class of arithmetic and logical Asingle input/output instruction be used for in-out data transmission instructions. These instructions combine operations for which other computers can transfer a word between any without disturbing others being require several separate instructions. accumulator and a device and at used continually for computation. the same time control the operation Complex software routines such as The Nova and Supernova have of thedevice. Associated with the multiplication, division, and floating four full sixteen-bit word accumulators is a single carry flag, point can be performed without accumulators, two of which may which indicates when the constantly referencing memory. - operator error or external electrical noise. Programs that are used in very rugged environments or by untrained operators can be written and debugged in core, and then TWO KINDS transferred to read-only memory. The read-only board is then plugged OF MEMORY into the Nova or Supernova chassis. Both Nova and Supernova have It can stay there permanently, or two compatible kinds of memory: it can be plugged in only when core and read-only (ROM). The required (as in the case of same programs run in core and diagnostic programs). read-only, and the two are physically Supernova read-only memory has interchangeable. Core can be theadditional advantage of being expanded to 20K in the basic Nova very much faster than Supernova cabinet, and to 16K in the basic core. This is possible because the Supernova cabinet. With an fetch and execute portions of expansion cabinet, either machine instructions from read-only memory can use 32K core. are overlapped. Add time is 300 nanoseconds in Supernova ROM, versus 800 nanoseconds in core. A program written in Nova or Supernova core and then debugged and transferred to Supernova ROM READ-ONLY MEMORY will run considerably faster than Read-only memory modules are itwould in core. Because interchangeable with core in both Nova Supernova core and ROM are and Supernova. interchangeable and can be combined in the same computer, ROM can also be used to extend several different approaches to the the instruction set of the Supernova use of ROM are open. The user may by adding instructions that are put all his applications packages in especially useful for a specific ROM. He may put only repetitive application. The additional portions of programs in ROM, instructions required are leaving variable portions of the constructed from several machine NOVA CORE MEMORY program in core. Or frequently used language instructions in core. This This Nova core memory board contains 4,096 16-bit words of storage. mathematical routines can be program is then wired into read-only stored in ROM, to be called from a memory. Supernova can often Read-only memory is inherently program in core. The Nova floating execute these extensions of its more secure than core, since there point interpreter, for example, is instruction set as fast as the is no way to write over or destroy available in a read-only memory machines in which they are information, either through an module. implemented by hardware. any instructions. The data channel logic allows the transfer of data to or from memory, incrementing of a memory word, and addition of external data to a word already in to request priority interrupt and memory. The latter two features data channel service. facilitate such functions as pulse The unary control lines from the height analysis and signal processor contain two types of averaging. information: the specific function to be performed by the device and timing information. These control lines are arranged in such a way that the device need connect only to those that correspond to the particular I/ 0 functions that the device requires. The timing of the control lines is determined by the processor in such a fashion that the device does not require anytime- dependent circuits to connect to the I10 interface. The inputloutput system allows Small computers interface with the program to address up to 62 more kinds of devices with greatly extern51devices. varying data rates and priority interrupt requirements than any STANDARD I/0 other class of computer. Not only A standard printed circuit board is used to interface standard peripherals such as do they interface with the full range Teletype and paper-tape reader and of computer peripherals, but they punch.
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