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GeneralRe: CCC 2021-11-17 Pin
pkfox17-Nov-21 23:43
professionalpkfox17-Nov-21 23:43 
GeneralWhen My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
BernardIE531716-Nov-21 11:18
BernardIE531716-Nov-21 11:18 
GeneralRe: When My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
Mike Hankey16-Nov-21 12:56
mveMike Hankey16-Nov-21 12:56 
GeneralRe: When My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
BernardIE531716-Nov-21 14:51
BernardIE531716-Nov-21 14:51 
GeneralRe: When My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
Mike Hankey16-Nov-21 22:26
mveMike Hankey16-Nov-21 22:26 
GeneralRe: When My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
Super Lloyd16-Nov-21 18:46
Super Lloyd16-Nov-21 18:46 
GeneralRe: When My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
raddevus17-Nov-21 3:58
mvaraddevus17-Nov-21 3:58 
GeneralRe: When My Code does not Work I Now Know Why Pin
trønderen17-Nov-21 6:37
trønderen17-Nov-21 6:37 
The days of 16-bit minicomputers (PDP-11 class) were in the period when alpha radiation was being discovered as a source of bit rot. People were seriously afraid that 64 kbit memory chips would be the end of the pat for static RAM, fearing that we would have to use dynamic RAM (i.e. flip-flops) in the future, or develop some completely new memory technology, not Si-based. (Such as waves in mercury filled tubes Smile | :) ).

The video mentioned ECC RAM, but not in much detail. The first computer I got to know in any detail was a 16-bit mini where the customer had a choice between 21 and 22 bit memory cards. Each 16 bit data word was protected by either 5 or 6 ECC bits per 16 bit word. I believe that the 21 bit memory could automatically correct any 2-bit error, while the 22 bit version could also detect 3 bit errors.

When I some 15 years later got my first PC, discovering that common PC RAM doesn't even have a simple parity bit, my reaction was What??

I never found a good explanation of what happened with RAM production, how they got around the problem. The alpha radiation certainly didn't disappear. RAM chips of today are six orders of magnitude(!) as dense as those 16 kbit chips mentioned in the movie (and each memory cell is correspondingly smaller). Yet, RAM chips do not suffer from those problems. I'd like to know why not!
RantThe downward spiral of unnecessary complication PinPopular
Chris Maunder16-Nov-21 7:47
cofounderChris Maunder16-Nov-21 7:47 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication PinPopular
jeffie10016-Nov-21 8:20
jeffie10016-Nov-21 8:20 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
theoldfool16-Nov-21 9:20
professionaltheoldfool16-Nov-21 9:20 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
Slow Eddie17-Nov-21 1:55
professionalSlow Eddie17-Nov-21 1:55 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
RickZeeland16-Nov-21 9:38
mveRickZeeland16-Nov-21 9:38 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
Super Lloyd16-Nov-21 18:55
Super Lloyd16-Nov-21 18:55 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
vinclaro00116-Nov-21 10:28
vinclaro00116-Nov-21 10:28 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
Henry Skoglund16-Nov-21 13:02
Henry Skoglund16-Nov-21 13:02 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
englebart16-Nov-21 13:27
professionalenglebart16-Nov-21 13:27 
AnswerRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
Super Lloyd16-Nov-21 18:47
Super Lloyd16-Nov-21 18:47 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
The Real Paps16-Nov-21 20:57
professionalThe Real Paps16-Nov-21 20:57 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
lmoelleb16-Nov-21 21:30
lmoelleb16-Nov-21 21:30 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
jsc4217-Nov-21 0:22
professionaljsc4217-Nov-21 0:22 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
lmoelleb17-Nov-21 7:55
lmoelleb17-Nov-21 7:55 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
den2k8816-Nov-21 21:37
professionalden2k8816-Nov-21 21:37 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
Mike Winiberg16-Nov-21 22:01
professionalMike Winiberg16-Nov-21 22:01 
GeneralRe: The downward spiral of unnecessary complication Pin
RickZeeland16-Nov-21 22:31
mveRickZeeland16-Nov-21 22:31 

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