Computer History - 1954 - IBM 704 vacuum tube based computer (floating point, scientific)

Like and subscribe. This is an archive channel, i'm not the owner of the content, check the link in the end. Introduced by IBM in 1954, the 704 was considered the first mass-produced computer with floating-point arithmetic hardware. The IBM 704 Manual of operation states: "The type 704 Electronic Data-Processing Machine is a large-scale, high-speed electronic calculator controlled by an internally stored program of the single address type."

The 704 was a significant improvement over the earlier IBM 701 in terms of architecture and implementation. Like the 701, the 704 uses vacuum tube logic circuitry and 36-bit binary words. Changes from the 701 include the use of core memory instead of Williams tubes, floating-point arithmetic instructions, 15-bit addressing and the addition of three index registers. To support these new features, the instructions were expanded to use the full 36-bit word. The new instruction set, which is not compatible with the 701, became the base for the "scientific architecture" subclass of the IBM 700/7000 series computers.

Computer History from 1954 showing the IBM 704 computer control panel and operator. Updated Narration. History lore says Arthur C. Clark witnessed the computer used to reproduce the song "Daisy" and this became an inspiration for his use of the song in "2001: A Space Odyssey".

The 704 could execute up to 12,000 floating-point additions per second.

IBM produced 123 type 704 systems between 1955 and 1960.
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