Marconi Myriad Corestore Driver Circuit Board

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The Marconi Myriad was an early computer designed by the Marconi Company in the 1963.

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.

Most early programming was performed in very amenable and complete assembly code. The 24-bit architecture provided a logical and flexible address/data environment. The operating system allowed multiple programs to run concurrently. Addressing allowed easy integration of external computing and display equipment.

In 1964, a Myriad was displayed at a major computer show in London. To catch the public's attention, it was decided to deploy a model HO railroad layout containing numbered (1 - 10) rolling stock. The public were invited to enter the order in which they wanted to see the train assembled. Immediately Myriad developed a strategy for shunting trucks around the tracks to assemble the train correctly.

Marconi's Myriad out-performed most if not all US machines at that time.

The Myriad contained core memory and this item is believed to be the corestore driver sub-board and was kindly donated by Jim Wild.

Date : 1963

Manufacturer : Marconi

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH7695. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.
 

Scan of Document: Marconi Myriad Corestore Driver Circuit Board

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