Intertec Superbrain
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Headquarters | Columbia, South Carolina , United States |
| Products | Intertec SuperBrain microcomputer, Intertube dumb terminal, Emulator smart terminal |
The Intertec SuperBrain was a commercial all-in-one microcomputer introduced in 1979 by Intertec Data Systems Corporation, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. Operating on the CP/M platform, it incorporated dual Z80 processors, with the second CPU specifically assigned to manage disk control functions. In 1981, the entry-level model equipped with 64K RAM was priced at $2,649 (equivalent to about $9,368 in 2025 dollars), while the QD variant was offered at $3,195 (roughly $11,300 in 2025 dollars). By 1983, the base configuration's cost had decreased to nearly $2,000.
The product line expanded to include the SuperBrain II released in 1982, the SuperBrain II Jr., and versions featuring quad-density ("QD") and super density ("SD") floppy disk drives. Additionally, Intertec developed complementary devices such as the Intertube dumb terminal and the Emulator smart terminal.
Notably, the SuperBrain served as the terminal during the inaugural Kermit file transfer session in 1981. While it was well-suited for office environments, its capabilities were initially constrained until a 5 MB hard drive was introduced within a floppy drive bay, which was subsequently upgraded to a 10 MB capacity.
Up to 255 CompuStar workstations could be linked in series using DC-37 "Chaining Adaptor" parallel ports, enabling shared access to a centralized disk system. Each Video Processing Unit (VPU) was configured with a distinct identification number through an eight-position DIP switch.
In 1981, Brazilian manufacturer Prológica released the Sistema 700, modeled after the SuperBrain architecture and offering comparable specifications.
Specifications
| Model Number | Processor | Disk Drives | Clock Speed | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompuStar 10 | Z80 | None (network device) | 4 MHz | 64 KB |
| Jr / CompuStar 20 | Z80 | 170 KB | 4 MHz | 64 KB |
| QD (Quad Density) / CompuStar 30 | Z80 | 340 KB | 4 MHz | 64 KB |
| SD (Super Density) / CompuStar 40 | Z80 | 780 KB | 4 MHz | 64 KB |
Peripherals
- CompuStar DSS-10 10 MB Hard Drive
- CDC 96 MB Hard Drive (80 MB fixed disk with 16 MB removable platter)
- Priam 14-inch 144 MB Hard Drive
Applications
- Microsoft BASIC
- 8080 assembler
- Microsoft COBOL 74
- APL
In pop culture
The SuperBrain made appearances in two episodes of Knight Rider (Season 1, Episodes 10 and 18). In John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), Dr. Blair utilizes a SuperBrain to examine samples and projects that the entity will dominate the globe within three years.