This list of early third generation computers, tabulates those computers using

monolithic integrated circuit An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a set of electronic circuits, consisting of various electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) and their interconnections. These components a ...

s (ICs) as their primary logic elements, starting from small-scale integration CPUs (SSI) to large-scale integration CPUs (LSI). Computers primarily using ICs first came into use about 1961 for military use. With the availability of reliable low cost ICs in the mid 1960s commercial

third generation computer Third or 3rd may refer to: Numbers * 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3 * , a fraction of one third * 1⁄60 of a ''second'', i.e., the third in a series of fractional parts in a sexagesimal number system Places * 3rd Street (dis ...

s using ICs started to appear. The fourth generation computers began with the shipment of CPS-1, the first commercial

microprocessor A microprocessor is a computer processor (computing), processor for which the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit (IC), or a small number of ICs. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, a ...

microcomputer A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer having a central processing unit (CPU) made out of a microprocessor. The computer also includes memory and input/output (I/O) circuitry together mounted on a printed circuit board (P ...

in 1972 and for the purposes of this list marks the end of the "early" third generation computer era. Note that

s were offered well into the 1990s. The list is organized by delivery year to customers or production/operational date. In some cases only the first computer from any one manufacturer is listed. Computers announced, but never completed, are not included. Computers without documented manual input (keyboard/typewriter/control unit) are also not included.

Aerospace and military computers (1961-1971)

1961 * Semiconductor Network Computer (Molecular Electronic Computer, Mol-E-Com), first monolithic

integrated circuit An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a set of electronic circuits, consisting of various electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) and their interconnections. These components a ...

general purpose computer (built for demonstration purposes, programmed to simulate a desk calculator) was built by

Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is an American multinational semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It is one of the top 10 semiconductor companies worldwide based on sales volume. The company's focus is on developing analog ...

for the

US Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

. 1962 *

Martin Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * M ...

MARTAC 420 (Fairchild Micrologic) *

AC Spark Plug ACDelco is an American automotive parts brand owned by General Motors, which also offers aftermarket parts for non-GM vehicles. Over its long history it has been known by various names such as United Motors Corporation, United Motors Service, an ...

MAGIC (Fairchild Micrologic) *

Librascope Librascope was a Glendale, California, division of General Precision, Inc. (GPI). It was founded in 1937 by Lewis W. Imm to build and operate theater equipment, and acquired by General Precision in 1941. During World War II it worked on improvi ...

L-90 series (silicon planar epitaxial semiconductor IC) 1963 *

UNIVAC UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was a line of electronic digital stored-program computers starting with the products of the Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation. Later the name was applied to a division of the Remington Rand company and ...

1824 *

Autonetics Autonetics was a division of North American Aviation that produced various avionics but is best known for their inertial navigation systems used in submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Its 188-acre facility in Anaheim, California, wi ...

D37 (Solid Circuit,

) 1965 *

Apollo Guidance Computer The Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) was a digital computer produced for the Apollo program that was installed on board each Apollo command module (CM) and Apollo Lunar Module (LM). The AGC provided computation and electronic interfaces for guidanc ...

First installation * Burroughs D84 * Litton L-304 - TTL IC *

Honeywell Honeywell International Inc. is an American publicly traded, multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It primarily operates in four areas of business: aerospace, building automation, industrial automa ...

ALERT - HLTTL IC *

D26 - DTL IC 1967 * Ballistic Research Laboratories Electronic Scientific Computer Model II (BRLESC II) * CDC 449 * CP-823/U 1970 * AN/UYK-7 * Rolm 1601 (AN/UYK-12(V)), Feb 1970 1971 * AN/GYK-12 Militarized version of Litton L-3050

Commercial computers (1965-1971)

This table of commercial 3rd generation computers has been constructed by merging of several lists of computers offered from February 1965, the date of the shipment of the first commercial 3rd generation computer, thru 1971 inclusive and then finding reliable sources as to the generation of the models listed and the associated dates.

Notes

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Aerospace and military computers (1961-1971)

Commercial computers (1965-1971)

See also

Notes

References

Works cited

Further reading