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magnetic-core-memory
A type of computer memory using ferrite rings magnetized in different directions to store bits, notable for its nonvolatility and fast random access.
1 chapter across 1 book
Core Memory: A Visual Survey of Vintage Computers (2007)John Alderman, Mark Richards
NAMECORE MEMORY
This chapter details the development and significance of magnetic core memory, pioneered by MIT researchers building on earlier work at Harvard, which became the standard memory technology before integrated circuits. It also covers the SAGE air-defense system, a massive Cold War-era project that utilized core memory and real-time computing to monitor and defend U.S. airspace, highlighting its technical innovations, scale, and legacy.