DEC PDP-11
A 16-bit minicomputer line sold from 1970 into the late 1990s, with around 600,000 sold.
Digital Equipment Corporation sold the PDP-11 from 1970 into the late 1990s. Around 600,000 were sold across all models. Some experts consider it the most popular minicomputer.
Extra general-purpose registers made it easier to program than earlier models. Its Unibus let outside devices connect more easily. The first officially named version of Unix ran on a PDP-11/20 in 1970.
Why it matters
The PDP-11 design inspired late-1970s microprocessors, including the Intel x86 and the Motorola 68000. An effort to give it 32-bit addressing led to the VAX-11 design.
Key facts
- Sold from 1970 into the late 1990s.
- Around 600,000 sold.
- 16-bit minicomputer.
- Unibus eased connecting devices.
- Inspired the Intel x86 and Motorola 68000.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "PDP-11", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-11, accessed October 14, 2026.
- Wikipedia, "Digital Equipment Corporation", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Equipment_Corporation, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.