View source for Intertec Superbrain

{{Short description|Early Z80-based microcomputer}}
{{Redirect|Superbrain|the Chinese talent show|The Brain (game show)}} 
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Intertec SuperBrain
| title = 
| aka = 
| logo = 
| image = Intertec Superbrain.jpg
| caption = The twin-Z80 Intertec SuperBrain
| developer = 
| manufacturer = [[Intertec Data Systems]]
| family = 
| type = [[microcomputer]]
| generation = 
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1979}}
| lifespan = 
| price = 
| discontinued = 
| unitssold = 
| unitsshipped = 
| media = 
| os = [[CP/M]]
| power = 
| soc = 
| cpu = (2x) [[Zilog Z80|Z80]] @ 4 [[MHz]]
| memory = 64 [[kilobyte|KB]] [[random access memory|RAM]]<br />2 KB [[read only memory|ROM]]
| storage = 
| memory card = 
| display = 80 × 25 character text; 12-inch monochrome CRT
| graphics = 
| sound = 
| input = 
| controllers = 
| camera = 
| touchpad = 
| connectivity = Two [[RS-232]] [[serial ports]]
| platform = 
| service = 
| dimensions = H: 14-5/8-inch<br />W: 21-3/8-inch<br />D: 23-1/8-inch
| weight = {{convert|45|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| topgame = 
| compatibility = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| related = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}

The '''Intertec SuperBrain''' was an all-in-one commercial [[microcomputer]] that was first sold by [[Intertec Data Systems|Intertec Data Systems Corporation]] of [[Columbia, South Carolina]], USA in 1979. The machine ran the operating system [[CP/M]] and was somewhat unusual in that it used dual [[Zilog Z80|Z80]] CPUs, the second being used as a [[disk controller]]. In 1981, it sold with 64K of RAM for $2649 ($9368 in 2025 USD) and the QD model was $3195 (approximately $11,300 in 2025 USD). In 1983, the basic machine sold for about {{USD|2000|1983|round=-1}}.

There were several variants, including the SuperBrain II (released in 1982), SuperBrain II Jr., "QD" (quad-density disk drives) and "SD" (super density) models.

Intertec also released a similar looking [[dumb terminal]], the '''Intertube''', and smart terminal, the '''Emulator'''.

The SuperBrain is notable for being at the user end of the first [[Kermit (protocol)|Kermit]] connection in 1981.

The machine was practical and useful in the office environment, but somewhat limited until the arrival of the first 5 [[megabyte|MB]] [[hard drive]] in one of the floppy drive bays.  This was soon replaced by the 10 MB hard drive.

Up to 255 CompuStar workstations could be [[daisy chain (electrical engineering)|daisy-chained]] together via DC-37 "Chaining Adaptor" [[IEEE 1284|parallel ports]] to share the "central disk system" (one of the three hard drive peripheral options below). Each computer, or VPU (Video Processing Unit), was assigned a unique number from 1 to 255 by setting an eight-position [[DIP switch]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Preliminary users manual for Intertec's Compustar video processing system |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/intertec/Intertec_Compustar_Users_Manual_Preliminary_May81.pdf |website=Bitsavers |date=May 1981}}</ref>

The Brazilian company [[Prológica Indústria e Comércio de Microcomputadores|Prológica]] introduced the [[Sistema 700]] in 1981, based on the SuperBrain and with similar characteristics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-19 |title=Prológica Sistema 700 – Revista Microsistemas – Anúncios Antigos – MCC - Museu Capixaba do Computador |url=https://museucapixaba.com.br/memoria/anuncios-antigos/prologica-sistema-700-revista-microsistemas/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=museucapixaba.com.br |language=pt-BR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Intertec Superbrain Disks {{!}} Datassette |url=https://datassette.datacassete.com.br/softwares/us-estados-unidos-aplicativos-intertec-superbrain-softwares/intertec-superbrain-disks |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=datassette.datacassete.com.br}}</ref>

==Specifications==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Model Number
! Processor
! Disk Drives
! Clock Speed
! RAM
|-
| CompuStar 10
| Z80
| No drives (network device)
| 4&nbsp;MHz
| 64 KB
|-
| Jr / CompuStar 20
| Z80
| 170 KB
| 4&nbsp;MHz 
| 64 KB
|-
| QD (Quad Density) / CompuStar 30
| Z80
| 340 KB
| 4&nbsp;MHz 
| 64 KB
|-
| SD (Super Density) / CompuStar 40
| Z80
| 780 KB
| 4&nbsp;MHz 
| 64 KB
|}

==Peripherals==
* CompuStar DSS-10 10 MB Hard Drive (CompuStar Disk Storage System)
* [[Control Data Corporation|CDC]] 96 MB Hard Drive (80 MB fixed disk with 16 MB removable platter)
* [[Priam Corporation|Priam]] 14-inch 144 MB Hard Drive

==Applications==
* [[Microsoft BASIC]]
* 8080 assembler
* Microsoft COBOL 74
* [[APL (programming language)|APL]]

==In pop culture==
The Superbrain can be seen in two episodes of ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'': one in Season 1, Episode 10, "The Final Verdict" (1982), and the second in Season 1, Episode 18, "White Bird" (1983).<ref name=starring/>

In John Carpenter’s ''[[The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing]]'', Dr. Blair uses a Superbrain to analyse samples from The Thing from which he estimates that it will take over the world in about three years.<ref name=starring>{{cite web |title=Starring the Computer - Intertec Superbrain |url= https://www.starringthecomputer.com/computer.html?c=118}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/supbrain/index.htm Intertec SuperBrain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417082504/http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/supbrain/index.htm |date=2008-04-17 }} DAVES OLD COMPUTERS
*[https://oldcomputermuseum.com/superbrain.html Superbrain] at Old Computer Museum
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717215904/http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/intertec/index.html Marcus Bennett's Superbrain documentation]
*{{youTube|4Gp6xDBsq54|Video walkthrough of restored unit}}

[[Category:CP/M]]
[[Category:Microcomputers]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1979]]


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