Corvette
DeveloperMoscow State University
TypePersonal computer
Generation8-bit
Release date1987
Lifespan1985–1992
Operating systemCP/M, MicroDOS
CPUKR580VM80A, 2,5 MHz
Memory64 KB CPU RAM, 48 or 192 KB Video RAM, 1 KB Text RAM, 24 Kb ROM
Storagefloppy disk drive 5¼, Cassette tape
Display512x256 resolution graphics, 32x16 or 64x16 character text, 16 colors on screen
SoundIntel 8253

Corvette (Russian: Корвет) was an 8-bit personal computer in the USSR, created for Soviet schools in 1980s. The first device was a homemade computer, created in 1985 by employees of the Moscow State University for their purposes (physics experiments). The first description was made in the magazine «Microprocessor tools and systems».[1] The PC was named "ПК 8001" (21.08.1985).

Graphics

This computer had advanced graphic capabilities for its time. It has only one video mode which uses 4 planes: 3 graphic and 1 text. The graphic planes have 512x256 resolution. The text plane is capable to show 32x16 or 64x16 text using two sets of 256 ROM 8x16 characters for both modes. It possible to show 16 colors on screen. 8 colors are free and 8 additional colors can be used combining text symbols and pixels. Any logical color may be any physical color from 0 to 15 (RGBI). The graphic video RAM size is 192 KB (4 pages) or 48 KB (1 page). The text video RAM size is 1 KB which is 9-bit static RAM. The 9th bit is used as the reverse video attribute. There is no contention for access to video and processor RAM. The Corvette has a way to accelerate filling an area with a given color. It could be faster than the IBM PC AT with the EGA card for this task.

Sound

One channel of the Intel 8253 is used to generate sound.

Software

Educational computer technology complex

"НИИСчётмаш" created an educational computer technology complex based on "Corvette"[2] It includes a teacher's computer (ПК8020, with FDD , a printer port) and about 15 computers for students (ПК8010), connected to the local network (19,5 kbit/s).

Variants

It has been mass-produced since 1987 year at the plants of the Ministry of Radio Technology (Soviet Union):[3]

Place Name Description
Baku Production Association "Radio Engineering" PC 8010/8020 «Corvette» The original scheme without modifications. Original firmware ROM ОПТС 1.1 [4] or ОПТС 2.0.[4] Original firmware of the character generator..
Brest Electromechanical Plant[5] PC 8010/8020 «Corvette» The original scheme without modifications. Original firmware ROM ОПТС 1.1 [4] or ОПТС 2.0.[4] Original firmware of the character generator..
Moscow Experimental and Computing Center ELEKS PC «Eleks-1»  ?
Cooperative ELIN  ?  ?
Frunze Factory "Computer" (Kyrgyz SSR)  ?  ?
Izhevsk Radio Plant PC «Kontur» Modification of the "Corvette" with a simplified scheme and a modified keyboard. Modified firmware ROM ОПТС 2.0.[4] Modified firmware of the character generator.
October (production association) PC «Neiva» The original scheme without modifications. Original firmware ROM ОПТС 2.0.[4] Original firmware of the character generator..
Leningrad LNPO "Electroautomatics" PC 8015 «Orbit» Following the previously mastered game device "Intellect", a modification of "Corvette" - PC 8015 "Orbit" was produced. Minor modification of the circuit. Original firmware ROM ОПТС 2.0.[4] Original firmware of the character generator.
Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Measuring Systems PC «Quantum-8» Modification of the "Corvette" with a greatly modified circuit, keyboard and body. Modified firmware ROM ОПТС 1.1 [4] or ОПТС 3.0.[4] Modified firmware of the character generator.
Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Measuring Systems telegraph device "Telecommunication terminal VK-8T" Modification of "Quantum-8", which was a telegraph terminal with the function "creeping line" and with a non-standard keyboard for Corvette. Modified firmware ROM ОПТС 3.0.[4] Modified firmware of the character generator.
Factory "Sail" (Sevastopol)  ? A small production of training classes has been established
Screenshot of the VK-8T Telecommunication Terminal (Corvette modification - Kvanta-8)
Corvette main logic board (1986)

Production

Even though this PC was created in a fairly short time, and the decision to produce a new computer was approved by the Council of Ministers, the start of the mass production was delayed.[6][7] Although the computer consisted exclusively of components already mastered by Soviet industry, it was not possible to increase production volumes on time, and the supplied components were of very poor quality. In addition, there was a competition with another computer of the same purpose.: UKNC. As a result, deliveries of the new computer were far behind the plan.:[6][8][9]

YearPlanFact
1987100001157
198836000 ?
19898400036900
1990120000 ?
1992250000 ?

After the collapse of the USSR, the production of Corvettes stopped, and incomplete cases were used to assemble numerous ZX Spectrum clones. "LINTech" ("Laboratory of Information Technologies") carried out the modernization of the "Corvette" - the network was modernized and an IBM PC-compatible computer was installed as the head machine. Network speed increased from 19.5 kilobits / sec to 375 kilobits / sec. This revision was recommended by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation for use in schools.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Е. П. Велихов, И. Г. Персианцев, А. Т. Рахимов, Н. Н. Рой, А. В. Скурихин, О. А. Щербаков. (1986). "Персональный компьютер в системе автоматизации физического эксперимента" (1) (Микропроцессорные средства и системы ed.): 34–36. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ "Комплекс учебной вычислительной техники "Корвет"". No. 2 (Вычислительная техника и её применение ed.). 1988. pp. 90–92.
  3. ↑ Пользователям о «Корвете». Журнал «Радио» № 1/1989 г., стр.29-32
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ОПЕРАТИВНАЯ ПРОВЕРКА ТЕХНИЧЕСКИХ СРЕДСТВ ПЭВМ
  5. ↑ http://brestobl.com/predpr/01brest/bemz_5.html Визитная карточка предприятия.
  6. 1 2 «Корвет» на мели, кто виноват? Журнал «Радио» № 7/1988 г., стр.2-4
  7. ↑ Кто и когда снимет «Корвет» с мели? Журнал «Радио» № 12/1988 г., стр.2-3
  8. ↑ Захаров В. Н. (2011). "Школьная информатика в России – техническая база начального периода". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ Захаров В. Н. (2011). "Материалы конференции SORUCOM-2011 : Школьная информатика в России – техническая база начального периода". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ О модернизации отечественных КУВТ «Корвет» и УКНЦ — документ Минобразования РФ N 155/28 от 13 мая 1996 г.
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