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/Subtract | 0.330 |
Fixed Point Multiply | 0.006 |
Fixed Point Divide | 0.002 |
Branch | 0.065 |
Compare | 0.040 |
Transfer 8 characters | 0.175 |
Shift | 0.046 |
Logical | 0.017 |
Modification | 0.190 |
Floating Point Add | 0.073 |
Floating Point Multiply | 0.040 |
Floating Point Divide | 0.016 |
The second one used is an ADP Mix produced by TSU and based on a
number of user applications:
|
Fixed Point Add/Subtract | 0.310 |
Fixed Point Multiply | 0.013 |
Fixed Point Divide | 0.006 |
Branch | 0.350 |
Compare | 0.062 |
Transfer 8 characters | 0.205 |
Logical | 0.054 |
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
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 |
|
|
|
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To Index
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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 |
|
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|
- |
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 |
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To Index
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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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