website/content/museum/gespac-gescomp-720-730.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Gespac Gescomp 720 / 730	Computers	Professional Computer	Swiss	1982	6800	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts oc_id source Gescomp 720 / 730 /media/museum/photos/gespac_gescomp-720-730_1s.jpg /companies/gespac Gespac label value NAME Gescomp 720 / 730 label value MANUFACTURER Gespac label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN Swiss label value YEAR ? 1982 label value KEYBOARD Full stroke keyboard with numeric keypad and function keys label value CPU 6800 / 6809 / Z80 label value RAM 64 KB label value GRAPHIC MODES 256x192 label value COLORS yes label value SOUND unknown label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 5.25'' disk drives (400 KB or 800 KB each) + optional 5 MB Winchester hard disk label value OS GESDOS (6800-6809), CP/M 2.2, GESBOS (Z80) label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in PSU photos adverts title subtitle text image GESCOMP 720-730 null title subtitle text image GESCOMP Model not really known, but this is one is based on a 6809 CPU. Thanks to F1FCO for this picture null title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT (JUNE 1982) null 1340 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230609210709/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1340 2023-06-09

GESPAC SA was a Swiss company who designed the G-64/96 Bus in 1979. This interface bus concept provides a simple way to interface microprocessor modules with memory and peripheral modules on a parallel bus. The G-64/96 Bus uses a simple, yet modern and powerful interface scheme which allows a higher level of functionality from the single height Eurocard form factor. The low overhead of the G-64/96 Bus interface greatly eases the design of custom boards by the User. This is why, even many years after its invention, the G-64/96 Bus is still widely used in the industry.

The G-64/96 bus concept supports the following features:

- Processors manufacturer independent interface - 8 and 16-bit data transfers - Up to 32 Mbyte addressing capability - Multiple DMA operations - Non-vectored and vectored interrupts - A parallel decentralized arbitration scheme (G-96: multi-processors) - A message passing mechanism (G-96: multi-processors)

In 1982, GESPAC SA released two computers based on the G64 Bus: Gescomp 720 and Gescomp 730, mainly targeted as industrial use.

These modular systems could use a wide variety of G64 compatible boards. They could be powered by a 68000/6809 CPU, or a ZX80 CPU or a 8085 CPU !

Depending on the CPU installed, the computer could run different operating systems:

- 68800-6809 -> GESDOS, offering an editor, macro-assembler, Basic, Graphical Basic, 6809 emulator, IEEE 4888, Centronics printer interface
- Z80-8085 -> CP/M 2.2, mainly used for wordprocessing and CP/M tools
- Z80 -> GESBOS, offering a GESBOL interpreter, GESBOL compilator + many professional applications.

Each computer had 64 KB RAM and came in different mass storage configurations:
- two 5.25'' floppy disk drives (400 KB each)
- two 5.25'' floppy disk drives (800 KB each)
- one 5.25'' floppy disk drive + 5 MB Winchester hard disk

Apparently the computer had a colour graphic card offering 512x256 pixels resolution.

In 1982, GESPAC NETWORK was available. It was a communication network solution for Gespac Bus based systems. Up to 32 computers could be connected, to a maximum distance of 300m and with a transmission speed rate of 800 KB/s.

We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.