View source for Varian Data Machines

{{Other uses of|Varian|Varian (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Varian Data Machines
| logo = Varian logo black.svg
| former_name = Decision Control Inc.
| founded = {{start date|1967}}
| hq_location = [[Newport Beach, California]], United States
| products = [[Minicomputer]]s
| parent = [[Varian Associates]] (1967{{endash}}1977)<br>[[Sperry Corporation]] (1977{{endash}}?)
}}

'''Varian Data Machines''' was a division of [[Varian Associates]] which sold [[minicomputer]]s. It entered the market in 1967 through acquisition of Decision Control Inc. (DCI) in [[Newport Beach, California]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newspaperarchive.com/san-rafael-daily-independent-journal-may-16-1967-p-24/ | title=Varian Acquires Computer Firm | date=May 16, 1967 | access-date=March 23, 2019}}</ref> It met stiff competition and was bought by [[Sperry Corporation]] in June 1977 who merged it into their Sperry [[UNIVAC]] division as the Sperry UNIVAC Minicomputer Operation.<ref>Computer History Museum, [http://www.computerhistory.org/brochures/companies.php?alpha=t-z&company=com-42bc269415ee0 Selling the Computer Revolution - Marketing Brochures in the Collection: Varian Data Machines]</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sperry Univac V77 Family Communications Capabilities |url=http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/datapro/communications_processors/C13-877_Sperry_V77.pdf |website=BitSavers.org |publisher=DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION |access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sperry Plans to Buy Varian Data Machines |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/24/archives/sperry-plans-to-buy-varian-data-machines.html |access-date=28 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=24 May 1977}}</ref>

== Products ==
[[File:Varian_data_machines_minicomputer.jpg|thumb|Varian Data Machines system connected to analogue tape playback system in 1984]]
The DCI 1966 DATA/620 was a parallel, binary [[16-bit]] general-purpose digital computer with [[magnetic-core memory]] expandable to 32,768 [[Word (computer architecture)|words]]. An 18-bit word length (for data, not addresses) was optionally available. A basic [[machine cycle]] took 1.8 [[microsecond]]s, and the core memory read time was 700 [[nanosecond]]s. The computers use [[two's complement]] arithmetic and had four main [[processor register|registers]] - [[Accumulator (computing)|accumulator]] A, accumulator extension B, an [[index register]] X and a [[program counter]] register. Addressing modes were direct, immediate and indexed. The instruction set had more than one hundred arithmetic, logic and control instructions and some variants supported [[microprogramming]]. These models used a hardware [[front panel]] console that allowed starting and stopping the machine, examining memory and registers and changing memory or registers with front-panel switches.  It used "Versalogic" (discrete transistorized) circuits with a [[Bit slicing|bit-sliced]] architecture.{{r|DMI620|p=21}}

The 620/i{{r|DMI620|p=1}} shipped in June 1967;<ref name="Census62-74" /> it and subsequent series were made with [[integrated circuit]] [[transistor–transistor logic]] from the [[7400-series integrated circuits|7400 series]]. The system was packaged in a [[19-inch rack]] and consumed 340 watts at 120 V AC. The 620/F was a variation with a faster machine cycle time of 750 nanoseconds. 

The ruggedized R-620/i was announced in 1968.<ref>Datamation, January 1968, p.i</ref>

A lower cost 520/i shipped in October 1968<ref name="Census62-74" />

The 620/L-100 was released in 1973. It had a cycle time of 950 nanoseconds and a more compact system chassis than the 620/F.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 1973|others=Varian Data Machines|title=Varian 620 Training Manual|url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/varian/98A9902504_Varian_620_Training_Manual_Jan73.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=bitsavers.org|publisher=}}</ref> The Sperry V70 series had [[semiconductor memory]], but could also support [[magnetic-core memory|magnetic core]]. Various models were released between 1972 and 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Minicomputer Orphanage|url=https://www.dimka.com/daily/external-pages/spies.com-~aek-orphanage.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.dimka.com}}</ref>

Varian V72 computer systems were installed at [[Bruce Nuclear Generating Station]] on the eastern shore of [[Lake Huron]] in [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], as the digital control computer system that monitors and controls the major reactor and power plant functions. {{As of|February 2017}} these were still in operation and scheduled to be replaced by more modern systems in 2018 and 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=22 February 2017|title=Bruce Power awards more Candu extension contracts - World Nuclear News|url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Bruce-Power-awards-more-Candu-extension-contracts-22021702.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.world-nuclear-news.org}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="DMI620">{{cite web
| url=https://archive.org/details/TNM_Data_620-I_computer_-_Data_Machines_Decision__20180115_0061
| title=The Data Machine - DATA 620i, DATA 620
| date=c. 1967
| website=Bitsavers
| publisher=Data Machines Division of DECISION Control Inc. 
| access-date=March 23, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Census62-74">{{cite web
| url=http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/computersAndAutomation/_Computer_Census_1962-74.pdf
| title=Digital Computer Census
| date=September 1974
| website=Bitsavers
| publisher=Multiple publishers
| access-date=March 23, 2019
| archive-date=August 10, 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810082554/http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/computersAndAutomation/_Computer_Census_1962-74.pdf
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |title=Documents for Varian computers |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/varian/ |website=www.bitsavers.org|format=pdfs}}

{{Ict-company-stub}}
[[Category:American companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1977]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 1977]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]