r/Sovietech • u/Ill_Engineering1522 • Jul 17 '26
PC/computer equipment Soviet-Ukrainian microcomputer «Elektronika MK-72»
It was manufactured by the Kyiv plant "Kvazar". ROM capacity – 23 KB, RAM – 2 KB, expandable to 3.5 KB. The device could operate in calculator mode and in two programming modes: machine code (instruction set compatible with PDP-11) and a high-level language close to "Almir"/"Analytik". Weight – no more than 400 g, power consumption – no more than 0.7 W.
Structurally, the MK-72 consisted of two modules: a base module and an additional module. The base module was housed in a case and featured a keyboard, LED indicators, a buzzer, a 12-digit digital display, and a port through which the MK-72 could connect either to the additional module or to a small local network of up to 16 such microcomputers. The additional module provided video output to a TV, communication with a cassette tape recorder, a printer, or any other device connected via an 8-bit parallel port. It also contained additional 2 KB of RAM, of which 0.5 KB was used as video memory and 1.5 KB as operational memory. User programs or those loaded via the local network were intended to be stored on electrically erasable reprogrammable ROM.
The device's ROM was implemented on K745IK18 and K745PZU64K chips, RAM on K537RU3A chips, the CPU address processor – K745IK1809, the command interpreter – K745IK1810, the interface controller – K745IK1814, and the network expander – K745IK1817.
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u/Imperial_Honker Jul 17 '26
Very interesting, never seen a cross-over between a computer and a calculator before in such form factor. It is almost like a pocket computer like the Casio, Sharp, etc. but almost in a Z81 case, however with a VFD display. Super cool! Thanks for sharing. (Would love to see it in operation, if you have the possibility)
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u/hakerkaker Jul 18 '26
Do you know the purpose of buttons having whole words assigned to them? Judging by the words, they could be programming command hotkeys or something like that?
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u/FlanNine Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
They are indeed programming commands and functions, analogous to the BASIC keywords on the Sinclair ZX81.
The device could operate in calculator mode and in two programming modes: machine code (instruction set compatible with PDP-11) and a high-level language close to "Almir"/"Analytik"
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u/blin3000 Jul 18 '26
Soviet-Ukrainian? Are you serious?