Title

Computer Speeds From Instruction Mixes
pre-1960 to 1971

Before standard benchmarks were available, average speed rating of computers was based on calculations for a mix of instructions with the result given in Kilo Instructions Per Second (KIPS). This document contains results produced by the UK Government Central Computer & Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). This organisation was formed in 1957, initially as HM Treasury Technical Support Unit (TSU) and later Central Computer Agency (CCA). This document was produced by Roy Longbottom (CCTA 1960 to 1993).

More Historic Data

The most famous, the Gibson Mix, was produced by J Gibson of IBM for scientific applications. This had the following weighting for the variation used here:


Fixed Point Add/Subtract0.330
Fixed Point Multiply0.006
Fixed Point Divide0.002
Branch0.065
Compare0.040
Transfer 8 characters0.175
Shift0.046
Logical0.017
Modification0.190
Floating Point Add0.073
Floating Point Multiply0.040
Floating Point Divide0.016

The second one used is an ADP Mix produced by TSU and based on a number of user applications:

Fixed Point Add/Subtract0.310
Fixed Point Multiply0.013
Fixed Point Divide0.006
Branch0.350
Compare0.062
Transfer 8 characters0.205
Logical0.054

The KIPS are calculated as 1000 / weighted average instructions time in microseconds. This is then multiplied by a factor of between 1.0 and 2.0 to adjust for different architecture, mainly 1.0 where instructions relate to a single address and an accumulator and 1.25 with 1 address and multiple registers.

Memory speed is given as cycle time in microseconds and memory size is given in KC (characters, probably 6 bits), KB (bytes) or KW (words).

Not all available results are shown but they are for IBM and the mainframe BUNCH - Burroughs, Univac, NCR, CDC, Honeywell, plus most, but not all variations, for the UK company ICL.

Some dates are from:

http://www.crowl.org/Lawrence/history/computer_list
http://www.ourcomputerheritage.org/CCSprop6.pdf

Index

Burroughs CDC Data General DEC Elliot
English Electric EMI Ferranti GEIS HP
Honeywell IBM ICL Lyons NCR
RCA UNIVAC XDS    

Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
Burroughs 160/170/180 24 4.8 KC 10 - 2.8 1964
Burroughs 260/270 36 4.8 KC 10 - 3.2 1962
Burroughs 263/273 36 4.8 KC 6 - 5.4 1964
Burroughs 280 36 4.8 KC 10 - 3.2 1962
Burroughs 283 36 19 KC 6 - 5.4  
Burroughs 300 36 19 KC 6 - 5.4  
Burroughs 3500 16 500 KW 1 34 63 1967
Burroughs 5000 48 32 KW 6 60 56 1962
Burroughs 5500 48 32 KW 4 144 181 1964
Burroughs 6712 48 1049 KW 1.2 430 368 1971
Burroughs 6714 48 1049 KW 1.2 518 446  
Burroughs 6504 48 524 KW 1.2 576 724 1969
Burroughs 6506 48 524 KW 0.6 864 1086  
Burroughs 6722 48 1049 KW 1.2 774 662  
Burroughs 6724 48 1049 KW 1.2 932 803  
Burroughs 6734 48 1049 KW 1.2 1399 1204  
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
CDC 160 12 4 KW 6.4 0.81 11 1960
CDC 160A 12 32 KW 6.4 4.3 12 1961
CDC 1604A 48 32 KW 6.4 81 76  
CDC 1774 48 32 KW 1.5 16 137 1966
CDC 3100 24 32 KW 1.75 22 121 1965
CDC 3130 24 256 KW 1.75 129 131  
CDC 3200 24 32 KW 1.25 197 253 1964
CDC 3300 24 256 KW 1.25 152 158 1963
CDC 3600 48 256 KW 1.5 337 326 1963
CDC 6600 60 128 KW 1.0 2190   1964
CDC 7600 60 64 KW 0.275 7000   1969
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
Data General Nova 16 32 KW 0.8 18.9 66.8 1969
Data General Nova 800 16 32 KW 0.8 83.5 243.6 1970
Data General Nova 1200 16 32 KW 1.2 49.3 115.4 1970
Data General SuperNova 16 32 KW 0.8 83.6 245.8 1970
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
DEC PDP7 18 32 KW 1.75 60 14  
DEC PDP8 12 32 KW 1.5     1965
DEC PDP 8E 12 32 KW 1.2 10 81 1968
DEC PDP8 EAU 12 32 KW 1.2 8 124  
DEC PDP 8S 12 32 KW 8.0 0.96 4.4 1966
DEC PDP9 EAU 18 32 KW 1.0 48 201  
DEC PDP10 36 256 KW 1.0 363 526 1967
DEC PDP11 16 32 KW 1.2 15.4 106.2 1970
DEC PDP11 EAE 16 32 KW 1.2 39.9 287.1  
DEC PDP 15 EAE 16 128 KW 0.8 156 40 1970
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
HP 2116B   32 K 1.6 8.4 86.6 1969
HP 2116B EAU   32 K 1.6 12.6 123.4  
HP 2100   32 K 0.98 24 126  
HP 2100 FLP   32 K 0.98 99 200  
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
Honeywell (GEIS) 215 20 8 KW 26 - 5.7 1963
Honeywell (GEIS) 225 20 16 KW 18 6.9 11 1961
Honeywell (GEIS) 235 20 16 KW 6 36 3.6 1964
Honeywell (GEIS) 415 24 32 KW 5.8 33 33 1964
Honeywell (GEIS) 423 24 32 KW 3.9 47 48  
Honeywell (GEIS) 435 24 32 KW 2.7 64 66 1964
Honeywell (GEIS) 615 36 128 KW 1 157 157 1969
Honeywell (GEIS) 625 36 256 KW 2 294 314 1965
Honeywell (GEIS) 635 36 256 KW 1 379 433 1965
Honeywell 110   16 KC 4 2 10 1968
Honeywell 120   32 KC 3 3 13 1966
Honeywell 125   32 KC 2.5 3.5 15  
Honeywell 200   64 KC 2 7.4 16 1964
Honeywell 200 SU   64 KC 2 43 36  
Honeywell 1200/1250   256 KC 1.5 10 54 1966
Honeywell 1200/1250 SU   256 KC 1.5 62 54 1968
Honeywell 2015   256 KC 1.35 73 80  
Honeywell 2200   256 KC 1 15 76 1965
Honeywell 2200 SU   256 KC 1 89 76  
Honeywell 3200   512 KC 1 106 128 1969
Honeywell 4200   512 KC   178 156 1967
Honeywell 8200       809 831 1968
Honeywell 800 48 28 KW 6 68 88 1960
Honeywell 1400 48 32 KW 6.5 13 26 1963
Honeywell 1800 48 64 KW 2 295 310 1963
Honeywell DDP124 24 32 KW 1.75 49 183  
Honeywell 632 32 128 KW 0.85 347 336 1967
Honeywell 6030/6040 36 128 KW 0.6 161-252 157-273 1972
Honeywell 6050/6060 36 256 KW 0.6 240-551 211-480 1972
Honeywell 6070/6080 36 256 KW 0.25 551-894 480-830 1972
Honeywell H316 16 32 KW 1.6 10.9 93 1969
Honeywell H316 HS 16 32 KW 1.6 16.2 184  
Honeywell DDP516 16 64 KW 0.96 18 119  
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
IBM 650       0.063 0.09 1954
IBM 705 1&2       0.5 2.8 1956
IBM 705 3       0.38 2.1  
IBM 709   32 K   21 25 1958
IBM 7044   32 K 2 109 126 1963
IBM 7090 36 32 KW 2.18 139 186 1959
IBM 7094/2 36 32 KW 1.4 257 308 1964
IBM 1130 16 8 KW 3.6 14 86 1966
IBM 1401   18 KC 11.5 1.2 6.2 1960
IBM 1410   80 KC 4.5 2.2 11 1961
IBM 1620 2   60 KC 10 4.6 8.1 1962
IBM 1800 16 32 KW 2 24 120 1966
IBM 1800 16 32 KW 4 12 60  
IBM 360/20 32 16 KB 3.6 2 2.6 1965
IBM 360/25 32 48 KB 1.8 9.7 25 1969
IBM 360/30 32 64 KB 1.5 10.2 29 1965
IBM 360/40 32 256 KB 2.5 40 75 1965
IBM 360/44 32 64 KB 1 118 185 1965
IBM 360/44 SR 32 64 KB 1 152 314 1965
IBM 360/50 32 256 KB 2 133 169 1965
IBM 360/65 G 32 1024 KB 0.75 543 542 1965
IBM 360/65 H. I, J 32 1024 KB 0.75 563 567 1965
IBM 360/75 32 1024 KB 0.75 940 670 1965
IBM 360/85 32 4 MB 0.96 3245 3418 1969
IBM 360/91 32 4 MB 0.96 1900 1800 1967
IBM 370/135 32 256 KB 0.75 113 171 1971
IBM 370/145 32 512 KB 0.61 178 330 1971
IBM 370/155 32 2 MB 2.1 470 678 1971
IBM 370/165 32 3 MB 2 3068 3102 1971
IBM System 3   48 KB 1.52 - 28.4 1970
IBM System 7   16 KB 0.4 13.6 354 1970
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
ICL (Ferranti) ATLAS 1 48 256 K 2 350 - 1962
ICL (EE) KDF9 48 32 KW 6 170 198 1963
ICL (Lyons) LEO II 19 2K 1 1.1 1957
ICL LEO III 42 16 KW 14 6.2 14 1962
ICL LEO 326 42 32 KW 2.5 66 116 1965
ICL LEO 360 42 32 KW 6 34 45 1965
ICL (EMI) 1100 36   12 2.6 8 1959
ICL (EMI) 2400   8 K 4 16 57 1961
ICL 1202 40     0.06 0.09 1954
ICL 1301 48     3.2 15 1961
ICL (EE) DEUCE I & 2 32 8 KW   1.2 10 1955
ICL (Elliot) 803 39 8 KW 288 0.82 0.94 1960
ICL (Elliot) 503 39 8 KW 3.6 66 78 1963
ICL (Elliot) 905   128 KB 1 19 190 1969
ICL 4120/2 24 32 KW 2 25 95 1965
ICL 4130/2 24 64 KW 2 112 164 1966
ICL 4/30 32 64 KB 1.5 7 39 1967
ICL 4/40 32 128 KB 1.5 47 77 1969
ICL 4/50-52 32 256 KB 1.4 55 114 1967
ICL 4/70 32 1024 KB 1 368 410 1968
ICL 4/72 32 1024 KB 0.5 426 479 1971
ICL 4/75 32 1024 KB 0.9 356 395 1968
ICL 4/77 32 1024 KB 0.5 410 452 1971
ICL 1901 24 16 KW 6 1.4 8.1 1966
ICL 1901S + 24 16 KW 6 22 23.6 1967
ICL 1902S + 24 64 KW 3 59.8 95 1971
ICL 1903S + 24 32 KW 2 59 106.3 1967
ICL 1903A + 24 128 KW 1.5 113.7 189.6 1968
ICL 1904 24 256 KW 1.5 13.3 112.1 1965
ICL 1904E + 24 256 KW 1.8 16.9 181 1967
ICL 1904F 24 256 KW 0.75 22.4 225 1968
ICL 1904A + 24 256 KW 0.75 261 276 1969
ICL 1904S + 24 256 KW 0.3 355 424 1973
ICL 1905 24 32 KW 2 104 112 1965
ICL 1905E + 24 256 KW 1.8 144 181 1967
ICL 1905F + 24 256 KW 0.75 169 172 1968
ICL 1906 24 256 KW 1 38.7 320 1967
ICL 1906E + 24 256 KW 1.8 30.4 326  
ICL 1906F 24 256 KW 0.75 40.3 405 1968
ICL 1906A 24 512 KW 0.65 866 907 1970
ICL 1906S 24 512 KW 0.3 1150 1125 1973
ICL 1907 24 256 KW 1.1 255 294 1967
ICL 1907E + 24 256 KW 1.8 259 326  
ICL 1907F 24 256 KW 0.75 353 405 1968
ICL 1909 24 256 KW 6 46 43.7  
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
NCR 315 12 40 KW 6 3.4 15 1962
NCR 315 RMC 12 80 KW 0.8 45 116 1965
NCR Century 100   32 K 0.8 2 9 1968
NCR Century 200   32 K 0.8 65.9 69 1969
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
RCA 301   40 K 7 12 13 1961
RCA 3301   160 K 1.93 174 174 1964
RCA Spectra 70/25 32 64 KB 1.5 25 39 1965
RCA Spectra 70/45 32 256 KB 1.44 55 114 1966
RCA Spectra 70/55 32 256 KB 0.94 174 314 1966
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
UNIVAC SS 80/90/1       2.77 2.27 1960
UNIVAC SS 80/90/2       2.9 2.4 1961
UNIVAC III       118.8 87.2 1962
UNIVAC 418 II 18   4 26 165  
UNIVAC 418 III 18 132 K 0.75 354 440 1969
UNIVAC 490 30   6 15 50 1961
UNIVAC 494 30 128 K 0.75 665 836 1966
UNIVAC 1050       28.6 25.5 1963
UNIVAC 1107 36   4 131 121 1962
UNIVAC 1106 36 256 K 1.5 517 492 1969
UNIVAC 1108 36   0.75 932 866 1965
UNIVAC 9200   32 KB 1.2 0.3 13 1967
UNIVAC 9300   32 KB 0.6 0.6 26 1967
UNIVAC 9380   128 KB 0.3 11 69  
UNIVAC 9400   128 KB 0.3 23 138 1969
UNIVAC 9700   1024 KB 0.15 345 466  
To Index
Manufacturer Model Word
Size
bits
Memory
Max
Memory
Cycle
Time
Gibson
Mix
KIPS
ADP
Mix
KIPS
Intro
Year
XDS Sigma 2 16 16 KW 0.9 100 238 1966
XDS Sigma 3 16 64 KW 1 23 146 1969
XDS Sigma 5 32 128 KW 0.85 272 400 1967
XDS Sigma 7 32 128 KW 0.85 361 385 1966
XDS Sigma 9 32 256 KW 0.9 972 1251 1971
XDS 90/2       - 82  
XDS 90/10 24 16 KW 8 5.9 26 1964
XDS 90/20 24 16 KW 8 12 30  
XDS 90/25 24 16 KW 1.75 50 116  
XDS 90/30 24 32 KW 1.75 70 143  
XDS 90/300 24 16 KW 1.75 195 208  
To Index

 

More Historic Computer Speeds

Whetstone Benchmark History and Results (1960's to 1990's, PCs to 2006)
Computer Speed Claims 1980 to 1996 - PCs and IBM Mainframes to 2004
PC CPU Performance Comparisons (to 2006)
Main Page Roy Longbottom's PC Benchmark Collection

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