Main article: Third generation computers

This list of early third-generation computers, tabulates those computers using monolithic integrated circuits (ICs) as their primary logic elements, starting from small-scale integration CPUs (SSI) to large-scale integration CPUs (LSI). Computers primarily using ICs first came into use about 1961 for military use. With the availability of reliable low-cost ICs in the mid 1960s commercial third-generation computers using ICs started to appear.

The fourth generation of computers began with the shipment of CPS-1, the first commercial microprocessor microcomputer, in 1972 and for the purposes of this list marks the end of the "early" third-generation computer era. Third-generation computers were offered well into the 1990s.

The list is organized by delivery year to customers or production/operational date. In some cases only the first computer from any one manufacturer is listed. Computers announced, but never completed, are not included. Computers without documented manual input (keyboard/typewriter/control unit) are also not included.

Aerospace and military computers (1961–1971)

1961

1962

1963

1965

1967

1970

1971

  • AN/GYK-12 Militarized version of Litton L-3050

Commercial computers (1965–1971)

This table of commercial third-generation computers has been constructed by merging of several lists of computers[41][42][43][44] offered from February 1965, the date of the shipment of the first commercial third-generation computer, through 1971 and then finding reliable sources as to the generation of the models listed and the associated dates.

Date[a]ManufacturerModelComment
Feb 1965Scientific Data SystemsSDS 92First commercial third-generation computer
Sep 1965Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc.810
Oct 1965ASI Computer Division of Electro-Mechanical Research, Inc.[b]ASI 6070[45]
Nov 1965Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc.840
Dec 1965Honeywell Information Systems2200[46]
Jan 1966Computer Control CompanyDDP-124
Jan 1966Honeywell Information Systems1200[46]
Feb 1966ASI Computer Division of Electro-Mechanical Research, Inc.[b]ASI 6050[45]
Feb 1966Honeywell Information Systems120[46]
Jun 1966Honeywell Information SystemsDDP 516[47]
Jul 1966RCASpectra 70/35, /45 & /55
Aug 1966Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc.810A/840A
Nov 1966FerrantiArgus 400
Nov 1966Hewlett-Packard, Co.2116A
Dec 1966Business Information TechnologyBIT 480[48][49]
Dec 1966Scientific Data SystemsSigma 7
Jan 1967Scientific Data SystemsSigma 2
Feb 1967General ElectricGE 4020[50] (in Japanese)
Mar 1967Interdata, Inc.Interdata 3
Apr 1967Electronic Associates, Inc.EAI 640[51]
May 1967Honeywell Information Systems4200[46]
May 1967Standard Computer CorporationIC6000[52]
Jun 1967Univac9200 & 9300
Jun 1967Varian Data Machines620/i
Aug 1967BurroughsB2500/3500 [53]: 473
Aug 1967Xerox Data SystemsSigma 5
Sep 1967Elbit Computers, Ltd.100[54]
Oct 1967MarconiMyriad II[55]Uses DTL
Oct 1967ASI Computer Division of Electro-Mechanical Research, Inc.[b]ASI 6130[56]
Oct 1967Digiac Corporation3080C[57]
Oct 1967Raytheon Computer703[58]
Dec 1967Honeywell Information Systems125[59]
Jan 1968Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc.840MP
Jan 1968General Automation, Inc.SPC-12
Apr 1968Computer Automation, Inc.PDC 808Uses DTL circuits
Apr 1968Digital Equipment Corp.PDP-8/I[60]
Apr 1968Hewlett-Packard, Co.2115A
c. Apr 1968SpearMicro-LINC 300Uses MECL
May 1968Texas Instruments, Inc980[61]
Jun 1968Honeywell Information Systems1648[62]
Jul 1968Hewlett-Packard, Co.2116B
Jul 1968Redcor CorporationRC-70[63]
Aug 1968Honeywell Information Systems1250[59]
Sep 1968Honeywell Information Systems110[46]
Sep 1968National Cash RegisterCentury 100
Sep 1968Standard Computer CorporationIC4000[52]
Sep 1968Systems Engineering Laboratories, Inc.810B
Oct 1968Digital Equipment Corp.PDP-8/L[60]
Oct 1968Hewlett-Packard, Co.2114A
Oct 1968Varian Data Machines520/i
Nov 1968General Automation, Inc.SPC-8
Nov 1968RCASpectra 70/46
Dec 1968Bailey Meter855
Dec 1968Computer Automation, Inc.PDC 816Used TTL for logic
Dec 1968Honeywell Information SystemsDDP 416[64]
Dec 1968Honeywell Information SystemsH632[65][66]
Dec 1968Micro Systems, IncMicro 800/810[67][c]TTL MSI, Core Memory, Microprogrammed
1968Fujitsu, Ltd.FACOM230-25, -35, -45
Feb 1969Data GeneralNova
Feb 1969Honeywell Information Systems8200
Mar 1969Fujitsu, Ltd.FACOM-R[68][d]
Mar 1969Lockheed ElectronicsMAC-16
Mar 1969Raytheon Computer706[69]
Apr 1969BurroughsB8500[70]
Apr 1969Philips Electrologica LimitedP350 series[71]
Apr 1969Scientific Control CorporationSCC 4700[72]
May 1969Datacraft CorporationDC-6024/1[73][74][75]
May 1969Univac9400
Jun 1969National Cash RegisterCentury 200[76]
Jun 1969Honeywell Information SystemsH316[47]
Jun 1969Standard Computer CorporationIC7000[52]
Jul 1969BurroughsB6500 [53]: 449
Aug 1969Westinghouse Electric2500[77]
Sep 1969Tempo Computers, Inc.1/1-A[78]
Nov 1969Hewlett-Packard, Co.2114B
Dec 1969IBM360/85
Dec 1969Xerox Data SystemsSigma 3
1969International Computers and TabulatorsICT 1900A
Jan 1970Business Information TechnologyBIT 483[79]
Jan 1970GRI Computer Corp.GRI 909[80]
Jan 1970IBMSystem/3
Feb 1970Digital Equipment Corp.PDP-15[60]
Feb 1970Honeywell Information Systems3200[46]
Feb 1970Datacraft CorporationDC-6024/3[81][74][75]
Feb 1970CIIIris 50
Early 1970U. of IllinoisILLIAC IV
Mar 1970Digital Scientific Corp.META 4[82]
Apr 1970Digital Equipment Corp.PDP-11/20[60]
Apr 1970Raytheon Computer704[83]
Apr 1970Viatron Computer Systems Corp.Viatron 2140 & 2150
May 1970Data GeneralSuperNova
May 1970General Automation, Inc.SPC-16
Jun 1970Texas Instruments, Inc960[61]
Jul 1970Unicomp, Inc.COMP-16[84]
Aug 1970Digital Computer Controls, IncDCC-112[54]
Sep 1970RCASpectra 70/60
Sep 1970Wang Laboratories, Inc.Wang 3300
Sep 1970Philips Business Systems, Inc.P850/855/860[85]
Fall 1970Datamate Computer Systems, Inc.70[86]
before Nov 1970GRI Computer Corporation99[87]
before Nov 1970Varisystems CorporationPAC-16/2[88]
Dec 1970Modular Computer Systems, IncIII[89]
1970Fujitsu, Ltd.FACOM230-15
1970Unicomp, Inc.COMP-18[84]
Jan 1971IBM370/155
Feb 1971RCASpectra 70/61
Mar 1971Digital Equipment Corp.PDP-8/E[60]
Mar 1971General ElectricGE 655
Apr 1971Data General Corp.Nova 800
Apr 1971IBM370/165
Jun 1971IBM370/145
Dec 1971Data General Corp.Nova 1200
1971Fujitsu, Ltd.FACOM230-45S

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Unless otherwise noted date is "first customer shipment" or "first practical demonstration" taken from the following sources listed in priority order: #Dates with reliable sources in linked Wikipedia articles #Digital Computer Census (1964-1974)[90] #Auerbach EDP Series No.4 - Minicomputers,[42] Appendix C. Product Comparison charts #Dead Medium: Dead computational platforms, dead mainframes, and their dates[41] To the extent there is a conflict between sources, only the highest priority source is used.
  2. ^ ASI became EMR-Computer in 1964.[91] Later sold to Univac.[92]
  3. ^ Sold in Europe as Intertechnique Multi-8
  4. ^ Generation 3 estimated based upon dates of other older models from manufacturer

References

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Works cited

Further reading