In a surprising turn of events, the men’s England football team have reached the final of a major cup tournament for the first time in 55 years. That’s right, our last appearance in a final was that final. The 1966 World Cup. Since then, mobile phones have been invented, we started a new millennium, and flying cars are looking like they might actually be a thing. This really makes you think about how different life was back then, as well as how much technology has changed. What were 1960’s computers like?
1966
2021
Technology: Home Computers
The first home computer wasn’t developed until 1974. However, there WERE computers in use during 1966. That said, they are hardly recognisable in comparison to the desktops and laptops we use today. The computers of yesteryear look more like a typewriter and cupboard with buttons.
Manufactured by the same HP we know and love today, this computer was their very first model, the 2116A. The second 16-bit mini-computer ever made, the 2116A bagged a number of firsts within the industry. These included being the first computer accompanied by a suite of software and going from design to completion in a single year. Its large cabinet housing featured 16 expansion slots for other HP instrument connections, and the 2116A did not need the same strict climate conditions as others at the time.
Innovative Design
For its primary function, the 2116A was used to run diagnostic tests. You wouldn’t even be able to play Pong on this! Plus, it had to operate a minimum of 60 hours without error, or the whole process would need to be restarted. This did not have a simple “turn it off and on again” solution either. A technician would have to remove the circuitry from the cabinet, take it to their workstation, and repair it before reinstalling.
Despite this, HP’s first computer was still an innovative bit of kit. Much smaller than its counterparts, the 2116A used new integrated circuitry, saving on space and paving the way for the modern computing we have nowadays. For an idea of its memory specs, the 2116A had a 4096-word memory. Not gigabyte, megabyte, or even kilobytes. Word. Nothing like the memory capacity we have today!
Back in the present, the last full build released at Overclockers UK, was the 8Pack Hypercube MK2. A far cry from 1966, this machine is the absolute pinnacle of gaming performance. Just the way 8Pack likes it.
In comparison to the 2116A, the Hypercube has 32GB of RAM. That’s so exponentially bigger than 4096-word, I cannot even begin to fathom how to work out the difference. Hypercube MK2 is entirely water-cooled with a completely custom-designed system, whereas the 2116A operated in such a humid environment that you could wipe puddles off the top!
If you would like to learn more about the 8Pack Hypercube Mark 2’s phenomenal gaming performance, head over to our post all about it. What’s more, it is available to purchase right now!
Technology: Consoles & Graphics
When we think about early gaming, we think Pong, Atari, and Videomaster. But did you know that these were pre-dated by Ralph Baer’s Brown Box? Considered the Father of Video Games, he started designing the Brown Box in 1966, which was intended to allow the folks at home to game on their TVs without the need for a computer, microprocessor, or software.
By the 1960s, having television technology at home was becoming increasingly common, and Baer wanted to develop a means of gaming for everyone. With the Brown Box, he created the first multi-player and multi-program gaming system.
And So it Begins…
The first official Brown Box was released in the mid-70s, but Baer’s prototype was conceptualised and made in 1966. Later versions of the console included a gun.
This revolutionary box paved the way for modern console gaming as we know it. Honestly, it blows the mind!
Nowadays, console gaming and PC gaming is huge. With these devices, we can play the latest Football Manager and FIFA games to have a go at bringing football home ourselves. Whilst the Brown Box was insanely innovative at the time, modern graphics are out of this world in comparison to what it could render. Long gone are the days of 8-bit graphics, we now game with Gen 2 Ray Tracing and Nvidia’s DLSS.
At Overclockers UK, you can get the best in home gaming in the form of either a desktop or laptop. Desktop gaming PCs are great for those who love to build their dream machine from the motherboard up.
We also have a full range of pre-built desktops. Check out this post for a juicy selection. You can also get the latest and greatest that Nvidia has to offer in the way of graphics rendering with their 30 Series laptops. If you love gaming, but the tech goes a little over your head, then one of these laptops is the way to go.
Technology: RAM
During the 1960s, static RAM chips let high-speed computer programmes become a reality. In our golden year, 1966, an 8-bit RAM was featured on the front of Electronics magazine.
This 8-bit RAM was designed by Signetics for the SDS Sigma 7 mainframe computer, a third-generation computer used by Scientific Data Systems. Part of what made these computers the bleeding edge of technology was this 8-bit RAM, thanks to the integrated scratch pads. Plus, it was one of the earliest memory components to use a dedicated semiconductor.
After its design and production in 1966, developments in RAM technology snowballed courtesy of a little healthy competition with IBM. It’s because of these developments that we have high-performance RAM supporting our gaming PCs.
Naturally, RAM modules nowadays have much higher capacity than their 8-bit predecessors. What’s more, they come in a whole variety of shapes and sizes, some with RGB, some with dedicated heatsinks.
At Overclockers UK, you can choose from 8GB memory solutions all the way up to a whopping 128GB RAM. We stock memory modules from leading brands such as Corsair, Team Group, and Crucial Ballistix. Plus, with DDR5 on the horizon, timings are about to get tighter and fetch rates much faster. What a difference 55 years makes!
It’s Coming Home
The world of technology and gaming has advanced crazy amounts in the last 55 years. My brain is still reeling from the fact that a gaming console was designed and prototyped in 1966! It’s crazy to think that without the 2116A and Brown Box, just how different modern gaming could have been. Would it have even been?! We can save that existential crisis for another day.
Of course, Overclockers UK keeps up-to-date with all the latest and greatest when it comes to PC gaming. From new brand launches to gaming events, we live and breathe that silicone goodness.
Lastly, we want to wish good luck to the England team on Sunday! Fingers crossed for that historic win and more finals to follow in the future. I would hate to have to come back in another 55 years to do another comparison post
Anyone for another round of 3 Lions?
PC specs are subject to change.
- 6 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK for two years, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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