Marconi Technical Manual Myriad User Code Programming Manual T6010 BM
Issue 4. November 1967

The Marconi Myriad was an early computer designed by the Marconi Company in the 1960s.

Myriad was a 24-bit machine largely built using integrated circuits from Ferranti. These were packaged in small "TO8" type cans. The architecture was "conventional", and was developed largely by the in-house Marconi team that designed similar, but physically larger computers based on SB345 discrete surface-barrier transistors. These machines were used successfully by the Royal Radar Establishment (RRE) in the UK, and by the Swedish Government in their "Fur Hat" defense system.

The Myriad computer was mounted in a small desk format, and was far smaller than any comparable machine at the time. 8-bit paper tape was (somewhat) standard input - but a high speed 600-characters/second (electrostatic) reader was capable of projecting paper tape across a room in spectacular fashion. A high-speed printer was provided. The major machine cycle time was around 800 nanoseconds, with inner cycles around 200 nanoseconds.

Reference Number :

Date Published : November 1967

Manufacturer : Marconi

Platform : Myriad