The Unit (was: One-upsmanship (was: Secret Mac))

From: Sellam Ismail <foo_at_siconic.com>
Date: Thu Apr 18 12:50:27 2002

On Thu, 18 Apr 2002, Hans Franke wrote:

> Soo, I looked around, here's the number for the Z1,
> the first Zuse machine, 100% machanical.
>
> area: ~ 4 m^2
> weight: ~500 kg
> power: ~1000w
> memory: 220 bits (10 floating point words of 22 bits)
> speed: 0,2 IPS (clockfrequency 1 Hz, and about 5 clocks for a multiplication)
>
> this comes up to
> 45,45 kZ (kilozuse)
>
> Quite an extraordinary number due the fact of real low storage and speed,
> not so much of size and weight.
>
> His next (real) Machine is quite different
>
> Z3 electromechanical:
> area: 6 m^3 (including operator desk)
> weight: 1000 kg
> power: 4000 w
> memory 1408 bits (64 22 bit words)
> speed: 0,33- 1,4 IPS (3 seconds per multiplication, 0,7 per addition)
>
> 51,7 kZ to 12,2 kZ
>
> Nice numbers, but to much memory :)
>
> His next machine, the Z4, although in size, weight and power
> like the Z3 is already 30 times faster, barely gets around a
> Kilozuse ...

I think your formula needs some serious tinkering. I think the lowest
number should reflect the most classic machine.

The Zuse 1 should come out to 1 Zuse as others have suggested. So by
this measure, the Babbage Difference Engine should come out at something a
bit less than 1 Zuse.

The Pentium III with 256MB and 10GB hard disk sitting on my desk should be
something in the TerraZuse range (or much higher).

We should also factor in user I/O. Machines that used front panels and
blinkenlights should have much lower (i.e. more classic) scores than those
that have keyboards and 16MB bit-mapped displays with 24 million colors
and what not.

Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Thu Apr 18 2002 - 12:50:27 BST

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