History Platform / BK0010

The computer itself is inextricably connected to its CPU, a rather successful chip generally known as 1801 series. Ironically, the very first iteration of the chip, released in 1981, wasn't a PDP clone in the slightest, being a microprocessor variant of the popular indigenous [[UsefulNotes/MainframesAndMinicomputers Elektronika NC mini]]. To demonstrate its abilities, the developers quickly threw together a prototype machine, a quick and dirty solution, not really well thought out -- just a CPU and a bunch of a support circuitry. Unfortunately, by that time the organization that developed NC minis had already lost in the powergames of Soviet industry, and the CPU [[ExecutiveMeddling was ordered to be made compatible]] with the PDP line.

As it was a very solid design for its time it was highly sought after by the industry, due to general lack of good [=CPUs=] in the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]]. The demo machine also wasn't lost in the process -- while very weird in some senses (like having a ridiculously small amount of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] for the time, for example), it had a virtue of being very simple and relatively cheap, and the aforementioned school program provided a good incentive to put it into production, so it was quickly polished (somewhat), and released. The release happened in 1985, both for schools and for general public, for the whopping 650 rubles (while the average wage at the time was about 150 r/month). Still, it was immediately popular even if it was supplied "as is", almost without any software or development tools, or even a manual. However, as it was generally compatible with the larger industrial [=PCs=] and minis, the thriving cottage industry for software development and hardware upgrades sprang up at once.

Obviously, most of this software was games. Generally created by the one-man "bedroom coders" (another parallel to the British situation), these were very popular, but generally not very polished titles, and thus are not very well known now. Another problem was the machine's limitations -- while housing a monstrous 16-bit CPU (basically, a 286 analogue in the terms of processing power), it has a pitiful 16K of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] and what basically amounted to CGA-level graphics with four colors in low-res mode (256 x 256) and a monochrome high-res mode with 512 x 256 resolution [[note]]For the sake of comparison, the competing Vector-06C can do '''256 colours''' at once - for a Soviet computer; this is incredibly astonishing and powerful![[/note]] Still, some games were rather good, and in its late days even such well-known games as ''[[VideoGame/XCOMUFODefense UFO: Enemy Unknown]]'' were ported onto it (Battlescape part only, based on a Spectrum remake).

An interesting aside: all models of the BK computer were essentially numbered in [[UsefulNotes/BinaryBitsAndBytes binary]], with 0001 being the original prototype (never released) and 0100 as a further update killed by Soviet collapse and following economical meltdown.

** 16K [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]]: It was generally slow and unreliable, which [[ExplosiveOverclocking limited CPU overclocking options]].

Later updates expanded the machine's RAM to the more respectable 128K and added a floppy disk controller, but didn't address the graphics problem -- the only real upgrade was the introduction of two UsefulNotes/VideoRAM pages and some hardwired color palettes, because its [[UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]] was still the same chip as the early 1981 demo machine and it couldn't really be upgraded because it was in fact a fully used up 600-gate ULA (making increases in functionality physically impossible), and there weren't any other domestic alternatives at a reasonable price. Still, it ran PDP-11 soft pretty well, and had a Q-bus slot, so it found a widespread use in business and industrial applications as well (as a cheaper alternative to Platform/Elektronika60 or DVK), so some are still in use even today. And of course, there's retrogaming and emulation.

** 16K [[UsefulNotes/VideoRAM VRAM]]

Later updates expanded the machine's RAM to the more respectable 128K and added a floppy disk controller, but didn't address the graphics problem — the only real upgrade was the introduction of two UsefulNotes/VideoRAM pages and some hardwired color palettes, because its [[UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]] was still the same chip as the early 1981 demo machine and it couldn't really be upgraded because it was in fact a fully used up 600-gate ULA (making increases in functionality physically impossible), and there weren't any other domestic alternatives at a reasonable price. Still, it ran PDP-11 soft pretty well, and had a Q-bus slot, so it found a widespread use in business and industrial applications as well (as a cheaper alternative to Platform/{{Elektronika60}} or DVK), so some are still in use even today. And of course, there's retrogaming and emulation.

Later updates expanded the machine's RAM to the more respectable 128K and added a floppy disk controller, but didn't address the graphics problem — the only real upgrade was the introduction of two UsefulNotes/VideoRAM pages and some hardwired color palettes, because its [[UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]] was still the same chip as the early 1981 demo machine and it couldn't really be upgraded because it was in fact a fully used up 600-gate ULA (making increases in functionality physically impossible), and there weren't any other domestic alternatives at a reasonable price. Still, it ran PDP-11 soft pretty well, and had a Q-bus slot, so it found a widespread use in business and industrial applications as well (as a cheaper alternative to UsefulNotes/{{Elektronika60}} or DVK), so some are still in use even today. And of course, there's retrogaming and emulation.

[[AC:{{CPU}}]]

One of the most peculiar Home Computers of its time, Elektronika BK series is a shining example of what happens when you try to produce consumer goods in an economy that's powerful, but not really suited for them. While generally successful and well-loved design, it was a fruit of so many compromises and inconsistencies, that it is generally better identified by its flaws than its strong points even by its fans. One more of the general Soviet horde of PDP-11 clones, it is generally thought to be spawned by the governmental program of computer literacy of 1985, just like UsefulNotes/BBCMicro and UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum, but the real story is much more complex and interesting.

* [[{{Chiptune}} General Instrument AY-3-8910]] was often added by enthusiasts, most games expected to see it

* COVOX Speech Thing also was a common addition

As it was a very solid design for its time it was highly sought after by the industry, due to general lack of good [=CPUs=] in the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]]. The demo machine also wasn't lost in the process — while very weird in some senses (like having a ridiculously small amount of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] for the time, for example), it had a virtue of being very simple and relatively cheap, and the aforementioned school program provided a good incentive to put it into production, so it was quickly polished (somewhat), and released. The release happened in 1985, both for schools and for general public, for the whopping 650 rubles (while the average wage at the time was about 150 r/month). Still, it was immediately popular even if it was supplied "as is", almost without any software or development tools. However, as it was generally compatible with the larger industrial [=PCs=] and minis, the thriving cottage industry for software development and hardware upgrades sprang up at once.

Obviously, most of this software was games. Generally created by the one-man "bedroom coders" (another parallel to the British situation), these were very popular, but generally not very polished titles, and thus are not very well known now. Another problem was the machine's limitations — while housing a monstrous 16-bit CPU (basically, a 286 analogue in the terms of processing power), it has a pitiful 16K of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] and what basically amounted to CGA-level graphics with four colors in low-res mode (256 x 256) and a monochrome high-res mode with 512 x 256 resolution. Still, some games were rather good, and in its late days even such well-known games as ''[[VideoGame/XCOMUFODefense UFO: Enemy Unknown]]'' were ported onto it (Battlescape part only, based on a Spectrum remake).

[[quoteright:340:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bk0011_7750.jpg]]

** 16K [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMomory RAM]]: It was generally slow and unreliable, which [[ExplosiveOverclocking limited CPU overclocking options]].

An interesting aside: all models of the BK computer were essentially numbered in [[UsefulNotes/BinaryBitsAndBytes binary]], with 0001 being the original prototype (never released) and 0100 as a further update killed by TheGreatPoliticsMessUp and following economical meltdown.

An interesting aside: all models of the BK computer were essentially numbered in [[BinaryBitsAndBytes binary]], with 0001 being the original prototype (never released) and 0100 as a further update killed by TheGreatPoliticsMessUp and following economical meltdown.

As it was a very solid design for its time it was highly sought after by the industry, due to general lack of good [=CPUs=] in the SovietUnion. The demo machine also wasn't lost in the process — while very weird in some senses (like having a ridiculously small amount of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] for the time, for example), it had a virtue of being very simple and relatively cheap, and the aforementioned school program provided a good incentive to put it into production, so it was quickly polished (somewhat), and released. The release happened in 1985, both for schools and for general public, for the whopping 650 rubles (while the average wage at the time was about 150 r/month). Still, it was immediately popular even if it was supplied "as is", almost without any software or development tools. However, as it was generally compatible with the larger industrial [=PCs=] and minis, the thriving cottage industry for software development and hardware upgrades sprang up at once.

Obviously, most of this software was games. Generally created by the one-man "bedroom coders" (another parallel to the British situation), these were very popular, but generally not very polished titles, and thus are not very well known now. Another problem was the machine's limitations — while housing a monstrous 16-bit CPU (basically, a 286 analogue in the terms of processing power), it has a pitiful 16K of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] and what basically amounted to CGA-level graphics with four colors in low-res mode (256 x 256) and a monochrome high-res mode with 512 x 256 resolution. Still, some games were rather good, and in its late days even such well-known games as ''[[{{X-COM}} UFO: Enemy Unknown]]'' were ported onto it (Battlescape part only, based on a Spectrum remake).

The computer itself is inextricably connected to its CPU, a rather successful chip generally known as 1801 series. Ironically, the very first iteration of the chip, released in 1981, wasn't a PDP clone in the slightest, being a microprocessor variant of the popular indigenous [[MainframesAndMinicomputers Elektronika NC mini]]. To demonstrate its abilities, the developers quickly threw together a prototype machine, a quick and dirty solution, not really well thought out — just a CPU and a bunch of a support circuitry. Unfortunately, by that time the organization that developed NC minis had already lost in the powergames of Soviet industry, and the CPU [[ExecutiveMeddling was ordered to be made compatible]] with the PDP line.

Later updates expanded the machine's RAM to the more respectable 128K and added a floppy disk controller, but didn't address the graphics problem — the only real upgrade was the introduction of two VRAM pages and some hardwired color palettes, because its [[UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]] was still the same chip as the early 1981 demo machine and it couldn't really be upgraded because it was in fact a fully used up 600-gate ULA (making increases in functionality physically impossible), and there weren't any other domestic alternatives at a reasonable price. Still, it ran PDP-11 soft pretty well, and had a Q-bus slot, so it found a widespread use in business and industrial applications as well (as a cheaper alternative to UsefulNotes/{{Elektronika60}} or DVK), so some are still in use even today. And of course, there's retrogaming and emulation.

** 16K {{VRAM}}

Later updates expanded the machine's RAM to the more respectable 128K and added a floppy disk controller, but didn't address the graphics problem — the only real upgrade was the introduction of two VRAM pages and some hardwired color palettes, because its {{GPU}} was still the same chip as the early 1981 demo machine and it couldn't really be upgraded because it was in fact a fully used up 600-gate ULA (making increases in functionality physically impossible), and there weren't any other domestic alternatives at a reasonable price. Still, it ran PDP-11 soft pretty well, and had a Q-bus slot, so it found a widespread use in business and industrial applications as well (as a cheaper alternative to UsefulNotes/{{Elektronika60}} or DVK), so some are still in use even today. And of course, there's retrogaming and emulation.

Obviously, most of this software was games. Generally created by the one-man "bedroom coders" (another parallel to the British situation), these were very popular, but generally not very polished titles, and thus are not very well known now. Another problem was the machine's limitations — while housing a monstrous 16-bit CPU (basically, a 286 analogue in the terms of processing power), it has a pitiful 16K of {{RAM}} and what basically amounted to CGA-level graphics with four colors in low-res mode (256 x 256) and a monochrome high-res mode with 512 x 256 resolution. Still, some games were rather good, and in its late days even such well-known games as ''[[{{X-COM}} UFO: Enemy Unknown]]'' were ported onto it (Battlescape part only, based on a Spectrum remake).

** 16K {{RAM}}: It was generally slow and unreliable, which [[ExplosiveOverclocking limited CPU overclocking options]].

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bk0011_7750.jpg

As it was a very solid design for its time it was highly sought after by the industry, due to general lack of good [=CPUs=] in the SovietUnion. The demo machine also wasn't lost in the process — while very weird in some senses (like having a ridiculously small amount of RAM for the time, for example), it had a virtue of being very simple and relatively cheap, and the aforementioned school program provided a good incentive to put it into production, so it was quickly polished (somewhat), and released. The release happened in 1985, both for schools and for general public, for the whopping 650 rubles (while the average wage at the time was about 150 r/month). Still, it was immediately popular even if it was supplied "as is", almost without any software or development tools. However, as it was generally compatible with the larger industrial [=PCs=] and minis, the thriving cottage industry for software development and hardware upgrades sprang up at once.

One of the most peculiar Home Computers of its time, Elektronika BK series is a shining example of what happens when you try to produce consumer goods in an economy that's powerful, but not really suited for them. While generally successful and well-loved design, it was a fruit of so many compromises and inconsistencies, that it is generally better identified by its flaws than its strong points even by its fans. One more of the general Soviet horde of PDP-11 clones, it is generally thought to be spawned by the governmental program of computer literacy of 1985, just like BBCMicro and UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum, but the real story is much more complex and interesting.

One of the most peculiar Home Computers of its time, Elektronika BK series is a shining example of what happens when you try to produce consumer goods in an economy that's powerful, but not really suited for them. While generally successful and well-loved design, it was a fruit of so many compromises and inconsistencies, that it is generally better identified by its flaws than its strong points even by its fans. One more of the general Soviet horde of PDP-11 clones, it is generally thought to be spawned by the governmental program of computer literacy of 1985, just like BBCMicro and ZXSpectrum, but the real story is much more complex and interesting.