4051
The Tektronix 4051 is a graphics-capable desktop microcomputer produced by Tektronix in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The display is similar to the Tektronix 4010 terminal, using a direct-view storage CRT display (like an analog storage scope) to avoid the need for video RAM.
An all-in-one design, the 4051 includes display, keyboard, CPU and a 300 kByte DC300 quarter-inch cartridge tape drive in a single desktop case, and includes a GPIB interface. A simple operating system and BASIC interpreter are stored in ROM.
The storage tube display allows the screen to retain images drawn to it, eliminating the need for frame-buffer memory, and allowing the resolution to be as high as the display hardware can handle - logical coordinates are 1024 by 1024 of which the physical screen displays 1024 by 780. This type of display does not require a raster buffer memory, so all memory can be dedicated to programs and data.
The 4051 is based on an 8-bit Motorola 6800 CPU running at 1 MHz, and normally shipped with 8 kB of RAM expandable to 32 kB using 8 kB modules.
The remaining 32 kB of address space is reserved for ROM, which can be expanded using one or two external ROM cartridges of 8 kB each. The ROM includes six character sets and an extended dialect of BASIC including various vector drawing commands.
Option 1 adds a Data Communication Interface 021-0188-00 that attaches to the rear of the 4051 via a card-edge connector and provides an RS 232 port and two slots to accept expansion ROM cartridges/packs.
The 4051 was released in 1975 for the base price of $5,995 (2020 value $28,960). Adding the optional RS-232 interface allowed it to emulate a Tektronix 4012 terminal.
Key designer of the 4051 was Hiro Moriyasu.
See Also
- Patent US D244614S
- 021-0188-00 Option 1 Data Communication Interface
- 4051F10 - RS-232 Printer Interface
- 4050E01 - ROM Expander
- 4051R07 - Signal Processing Cartridge Number 1
- 4051R08 - Signal Processing Cartridge Number 2
- 4907 "File Manager" floppy disk drive (GPIB)
- 4924 cartridge tape drive (GPIB)
- HP 9830 to Tektronix 4051 Program Conversion Guide
- Tektronix 4051 Applications Library Master Tape Number 19 Documentation
- Category:4050-series_computers#Links
Links
General Information
- Tektronix 4051 Brochure (PDF)
- Tektronix 4050 series at Wikipedia
- Tekscope 1975 Vol.7 No.5: A desk-top graphic computing system
- 4051 leaflet from 1976
Museums
Videos
- Tek 4051 at work @ YouTube
- 4051 introduction @ YouTube - part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 / part 6 / Emulator
Software
- Tektronix 4051/4052/4054 Program Files (GitHub repository)
- 4051 firmware listings (microfiche scans) @ bitsavers
Documents Referencing 4051
| Document | Class | Title | Authors | Year | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tekscope 1975 V7 N5.pdf | Article | A Desk-top Graphic Computing System | Colin Barton | 1975 | 4051 |
| Tekscope 1975 V7 N5.pdf | Article | Graphing With the 4051 Graphic Computing System | Tom Needham | 1975 | 4051 |
| Tekscope 1977 V9 N2.pdf | Article | The Fundamental Beauty of Computer Graphics | Bruce Rodgers | 1977 | 4012 • 4014 • 4051 |
| Tektronix 4909 Hard Disk System Tekniques V5 N4.pdf | Article | 4050 Users Share Data Storage and Retrieval in New Tektronix Hard Disk | Chuck Smith • Dave Watts | 1981 | 4909 • 4050 series • 4051 • 4052 |
| Tekscope 1981 V13 N2.pdf | Article | Software Innovations Increase Productivity of Desktop Computer Users | Bruce Rodgers | 1981 | 4051 • 4052 • 4054 • PLOT50 |
| Tekniques vol.6 no.1.pdf | Article | A Fast Unidirectional TTY Interface for a Minicomputer | R. Christie Harper • Ben M. Williams • James E. Gaiser | 1982 | 4051 |
| Tekniques vol.6 no.1.pdf | Article | 4050 Controls New Generation of Programmable Instruments for Measurement Automation | 1982 | 4051 • 4052 • TM5000 system • TM5003 • TM5006 • DM5010 • DC5009 • DC5010 • FG5010 • PS5010 • SI5010 • MI5010 • MX5010 |
Pictures
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Front view
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Keyboard
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4051 with 4924 GPIB cartridge tape drive
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021-0188-00 Option 1 Data Communication Interface
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Back side detailed view
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Back side detailed view
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021-0188-00 Option 1 Data Communication Interface
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021-0188-00 Option 1 Data Communication Interface
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021-0188-00 Option 1 Data Communication Interface
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Inside view
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RAM board
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main board
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Screen without frame
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Power supply
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Power supply
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ROMs closeup
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4051 ad
Advertising
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4051 advertising in Electronics magazine 1976
Components
Some Parts Used in the 4051
| Part | Part Number(s) | Class | Description | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola 6800 | 156-0426-00 • 156-2413-00 • 156-5472-01 | Monolithic integrated circuit | 8-bit microprocessor | 021-0206-00 • 021-0374-00 • 067-0902-00 • 067-1137-99 • 222 • 222A • 222PS • 2424L • 2445 • 2465 • 2467 • 4051 • 7250 • 7912 • 7912AD • 7A16P • 7A29P • 7B81P • 7B90P • 833 • 834 • 835 • 836 • CG5001 • CG551AP • CG5010 • CG5011 • DF1 • DF2 • DM5010 • FG5010 • MI5010 • SI5010 • PS5004 • PS5010 • SG5010 • Keithley 181 • Keithley 182 • Keithley 175 • Keithley 175A • Keithley 191 • Keithley 192 • Keithley 195 • Keithley 195A • Keithley 197 • Keithley 220 • Keithley 224 • Keithley 230 • Keithley 263 • Keithley 485 • Keithley 580 • Keithley 617 |