<processor> A minicomputer(?) introduced by Data General
in 1969, with four 16-bit accumulators, AC0 to AC3, and a
15-bit program counter. A later model also had a 15-bit
stack pointer and frame pointer. AC2 and AC3 could be
used for indexed addressing and AC3 was used to store the
return address on a subroutine call. Apart from the small
register set, the NOVA was an ordinary CPU design.
Memory could be accessed indirectly through addresses stored
in other memory locations. If locations 0 to 3 were used for
this purpose, they were auto-incremented after being used. If
locations 4 to 7 were used, they were auto-decremented.
Memory could be addressed in 16-bit words up to a maximum of
32K words (64K bytes). The instruction cycle time was 500
nanoseconds(?). The Nova originally used core memory,
then later dynamic RAM.
Like the PDP-8, the Data General Nova was also copied, not
just in one, but two implementations - the Data General
MN601 and Fairchild 9440. Luckily, the NOVA was a more
mature design than the PDP-8.
Another CPU, the PACE, was based on the NOVA design, but
featured 16-bit addresses (instead of the Nova's 15), more
addressing modes, and a 10-level stack (like the Intel
8008).
[Speed, mini?]
(2003-10-23)
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