Thin-film rods give computer fast memory

A data processor with a main memory made entirely of thin-film storage elements has been made commercially available. The new system can process approximately 100 000 instructions per second and can control a wide variety of input-output equipment geared to the changing needs of the user. The internal memory is made up of cylindrical thin-film rodlike magnetic storage devices instead of the conventional doughnut-shaped cores. The basic cycle time is 800 nanoseconds. New peripherals include a 120-kc/s magnetic tape handler, a 1000-line-a-minute printer, and other input and output devices.