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Magnetic-core memory
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In computing, magnetic-core memory is a form of random-access memory. It predominated for roughly 20 years between 1955 and 1975, and is often just called core memory, or, informally, core.
A 32 × 32 core memory plane storing 1024 bits (or 128 bytes) of data. The small black rings at the intersections of the grid wires, organised in four
A 32 × 32 core memory plane storing 1024 bits (or 128 bytes) of data. The small black rings at the intersections of the grid wires, organised in four squares, are the ferrite cores.
Project Whirlwind core memory
Project Whirlwind core memory
Close-up of a core plane. The distance between the rings is roughly 1 mm (0.04 in). The green horizontal wires are X; the Y wires are dull brown and v
Close-up of a core plane. The distance between the rings is roughly 1 mm (0.04 in). The green horizontal wires are X; the Y wires are dull brown and vertical, toward the back. The sense wires are diagonal, colored orange, and the inhibit wires are vertical twisted pairs.
One of three inter-connected modules that make up an Omnibus-based (PDP 8/e/f/m) PDP-8 core memory plane
One of three inter-connected modules that make up an Omnibus-based (PDP 8/e/f/m) PDP-8 core memory plane
Core rope memory
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Core rope memory is a form of read-only memory for computers. It was used in the UNIVAC I and the UNIVAC II, developed by the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation in the 1950s, as it was a popular tech
Magnetic-core memory
…turned off. Therefore, they are a type of non-volatile memory. Depending on how it was wired, core memory could be exceptionally reliable. Read-only core rope memory, for example, was used on the mission-critical Apollo Guidance Computer essential to NASA's successful Moon landings. Using smaller cores and wires…
Rope memory from the Apollo Guidance Computer
Rope memory from the Apollo Guidance Computer
Photo detail of a 16Kb rope core memory board from a 1974 computer
Photo detail of a 16Kb rope core memory board from a 1974 computer
Core rope memory test sample from the Apollo program
Core rope memory test sample from the Apollo program