page_title: IBM 704
hierarchical_section_title: IBM 704
caption_attribution_description: English: Man and woman working with IBM type 704 electronic data processing machine used for making computations for aeronautical research. Langley NACA Español: Un hombre y una mujer trabajando con la máquina de procesamiento de datos IBM 704, utilizada para hacer cálculos en el área de la investigación aeronáutica. La IBM 704 fue la primera computadora producida en masa con hardware basado en la llamada aritmética de coma flotante (o aritmética de punto flotante), introducida por IBM en abril de 1954.
context_page_description: The IBM 704, introduced by IBM in 1954, is the first mass-produced computer with floating-point arithmetic hardware. The IBM 704 Manual of operation states:
  The type 704 Electronic Data-Processing Machine is a large-scale, high-speed electronic calculator controlled by an internally stored program of the single address type.
  The 704 at that time was thus regarded as "pretty much the only computer that could handle complex math." The 704 was a significant improvement over the earlier IBM 701 in terms of architecture and implementation. Like the 701, the 704 uses vacuum tube logic circuitry and 36-bit binary words. Changes from the 701 include the use of core memory instead of Williams tubes, floating-point arithmetic instructions, 15-bit addressing and the addition of three index registers. To support these new features, the instructions were expanded to use the full 36-bit word. The new instruction set, which is not compatible with the 701, became the base for the "scientific architecture" subclass of the IBM 700/7000 series computers.
  The 704 can execute up to 12,000 floating-point additions per second. IBM sold 123 type 704 systems between 1955 and 1960.
context_section_description: The IBM 704, introduced by IBM in 1954, is the first mass-produced computer with floating-point arithmetic hardware. The IBM 704 Manual of operation states: 
  The type 704 Electronic Data-Processing Machine is a large-scale, high-speed electronic calculator controlled by an internally stored program of the single address type.
  The 704 at that time was thus regarded as "pretty much the only computer that could handle complex math." The 704 was a significant improvement over the earlier IBM 701 in terms of architecture and implementation. Like the 701, the 704 uses vacuum tube logic circuitry and 36-bit binary words.  Changes from the 701 include the use of core memory instead of Williams tubes, floating-point arithmetic instructions, 15-bit addressing and the addition of three index registers. To support these new features, the instructions were expanded to use the full 36-bit word. The new instruction set, which is not compatible with the 701, became the base for the "scientific architecture" subclass of the IBM 700/7000 series computers.
  The 704 can execute up to 12,000 floating-point additions per second. IBM sold 123 type 704 systems between 1955 and 1960.
caption: An IBM 704 computer at NACA in 1957
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