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[[File:4051ad.png|thumb|350px|right]]
[[File:Tek_4051_front_01.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]
The '''Tektronix 4051''' was a graphics-capable desktop microcomputer produced by Tektronix in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The display technology was similar to the Tektronix [[4010]] terminal, using a [[direct-view storage tube]] display (like an analog storage scope) to avoid the need for video RAM. It was all-in-one design with the display, keyboard, CPU and a 300 kByte [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter-inch_cartridge DC300 quarter-inch cartridge tape drive] in a single desktop case, and included a [[GPIB]] interface. A simple operating system and BASIC interpreter were included in ROM.
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.   


The storage tube display allowed the screen to retain images drawn to it, eliminating the need for frame-buffer memory. This allowed the resolution to be as high as the hardware could handle, which was ostensibly 1024 by 1024 but limited by the physical layout of the screen to 1024 by 780. It also allowed the machine to dedicate all of its memory to the programs running on it, as opposed to partitioning off a section for the buffer.
An all-in-one design, the 4051 includes display, keyboard, CPU and a 300 kByte [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter-inch_cartridge 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 4051 was based on an 8-bit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6800 Motorola 6800 CPU] running at 1 MHz, and normally shipped with 8 kB of RAM expandable to 32 kB using 8 kB modules.
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 remaining 32 kB of address space was reserved for ROM, which could be expanded using one or two external ROM cartridges of 8 kB each. It included six character sets in ROM and an extended dialect of BASIC that included various vector drawing commands.


The 4051 was released in 1975 for the base price of $5,995 (2016 value $26,900). Adding the optional RS-232 interface allowed it to emulate a Tektronix [[4012]] terminal.
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.
 
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]].
Key designer of the 4051 was [[Hiro Moriyasu]].
==See Also==
* [[4050E01|4050E01 - ROM Expander]]
* [[4051R07|4051R07 - Signal Processing Cartridge Number 1]]
* [[4051R08|4051R08 - Signal Processing Cartridge Number 2]]
* [[4924|4924 cartridge tape drive (GPIB)]]


==Links==
==Links==
* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/tektronix/405x/ 4050 series manuals] @ bitsavers
===General Information===
* [[Media:4051_Brochure.pdf|Tektronix 4051 Brochure (PDF)]]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tektronix_4050 Tektronix 4050 series at Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tektronix_4050 Tektronix 4050 series at Wikipedia]
* [[Media:Tekscope_1975_V7_N5.pdf | Tekscope 1975 Vol.7 No.5: ''A desk-top graphic computing system'']]
* [[Media:Tekscope_1975_V7_N5.pdf | Tekscope 1975 Vol.7 No.5: ''A desk-top graphic computing system'']]
* [http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/tektronix/405x/Tektronix-4051-1976.pdf 4051 leaflet from 1976]
* [http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/tektronix/405x/Tektronix-4051-1976.pdf 4051 leaflet from 1976]
===Manuals===
* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/tektronix/405x/ 4050 series manuals] @ bitsavers
* [[Media:Tek_4051_basicref.pdf|Tektronix 4051 BASIC Reference Guide (OCR, PDF)]]
===Museums===
* [http://www.tekmuseum.com/tek-museum_009.htm 4051 @ tekmuseum.com]
* [http://www.tekmuseum.com/tek-museum_009.htm 4051 @ tekmuseum.com]
* [http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/tektronix-4051 4051 @ Dalby Datormuseum]
* [http://www.datormuseum.se/computers/others/tektronix-4051 4051 @ Dalby Datormuseum]
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yCHW0tQrAA Tek 4051 at work] @ YouTube
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yCHW0tQrAA Tek 4051 at work] @ YouTube
* 4051 introduction @ YouTube - [https://youtu.be/xWrIS_l5HWk part 1] / [https://youtu.be/wZKfOTkEZKU part 2] / [https://youtu.be/DvcFw9jPLEs part 3] / [https://youtu.be/-lUSDb-1NDg part 4] / [https://youtu.be/V3ET9xRb82c part 5] / [https://youtu.be/tXeQoHw950E part 6] / [https://youtu.be/a94uJjTOjTY Emulator]
===Software===
* [https://github.com/mmcgraw74/Tektronix-4051-4052-4054-Program-Files Tektronix 4051/4052/4054 Program Files] (GitHub repository)
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/405x/fiche/4051_Firmware/ 4051 firmware listings (microfiche scans)] @ bitsavers
==Pictures==
<gallery>
Tek_4051_front_01.jpg|Front view
Tek_4051_keyboard_01.jpg|Keyboard
Tek 4051 with 4924 tape drive.jpg | 4051 with [[4924|4924 GPIB cartridge tape drive]]
Tek_WP1110_01.jpg|4051 with connected [[P7001|DPO]] - [[SPS|WP1110]]
Tek_WP1110_front.jpg|4051 with connected [[P7001|DPO]] - [[SPS|WP1110]]
Tek_4051_back_01.jpg|Back side
Tek_4051_back_02.jpg|Back side detailed view
Tek_4051_back_03.jpg|Back side detailed view
Tek_4051_comint01.jpg|Communication Interface
Tek_4051_comint02.jpg|Communication Interface
Tek_4051_comint03.jpg|Communication Interface
Tek_4051_inside01.jpg|Inside view
Tek_4051_ram.jpg|RAM board
Tek_4051_mb01.jpg|main board
Tek_4051_monitor.jpg|Screen without frame
Tek_4051_pwr01.jpg|Power supply
Tek_4051_pwr02.jpg|Power supply
Tek_4051_roms.jpg|ROMs cloaseup
4051ad.png | 4051 ad
</gallery>





Revision as of 22:10, 8 April 2021

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.

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

Links

General Information

Manuals

Museums

Videos

Software

Pictures