Building computers

Stormcrow · 11-11-2019, 12:51 PM

There are no sample computers in GURPS Ultra-Tech, and I find their construction to be confusing. I'd like to try to build a couple and ask for advice on how things work. The setting is TL10, no superscience. Page references are to GURPS Ultra-Tech.

(I'm not really interested in discussing whether my choices are the most likely for the given computer; these are just meant to be practice examples.)

Hand-held Computer. General-purpose hand-held computer that responds to voice commands. Typically loaded with language-translation and IQ-based TL skill packages as basic equipment.

I want to start with a Small Computer (p. 22).

Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB. $100, 0.5 lbs., 2B/20 hr., LC4.

I want it to be Compact (p. 23).

Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB, $200, 0.25 lbs., B/10 hr., LC4.

I want to give it a Datapad (p. 23). This includes a microcommunicator, cable jack, speaker/microphone, mini-camera, and datachip. The entire Datapad package is $10, 0.05 lbs., 2A/20 hr., LC4.

Radio Microcommunicator: 400-yard range, 0.1 GB per minute data transfer rate. Basic encryption.
Mini-Camera: The book says this is on page 51, but I don't see any such listing. What is this?

What do I do about the different power cells for the base computer and the datapad? For now I'm going to just add them. Is this right?

Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB +1 PB on datachip, $210, 0.3 lbs., B/10 hr., 2A/20 hr., LC4

For voice-control, it gets a Dedicated AI (p. 25). If I give it an IQ of 8, that's a Complexity of 5. $100. Does a dedicated AI need an IQ that high? Is Complexity 5 too much for a Complexity 6 computer's dedicated AI? You'll still be able to run one Complexity 6 program and 19 Complexity 5 programs on it.

Current Stats: Complexity 6; stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $310, 0.3 lbs., B/10 hr., 2A/20 hr., LC4

Portable Decryptor. Used by government spies to detect and decrypt enemy transmissions in the field and send sensitive intelligence while in the field.

Small Computer.

Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB, $100, 0.5 lbs., 2B/20 hr., LC4.

Genius. It's got cutting-edge processing.

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB, $50,000, 0.5 lbs., 2B/20 hr., LC3.

Quantum. Needed for decryption.

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB, $500,000, 1 lb., 2B/20 hr., LC2.

Portable Terminal: It's basically a laptop. Includes a datachip and removable drives.

Does this mean the base 10 PB of the computer is removable? Or does it refer to something else? I think it just means the base storage. Are the batteries of the base and the terminal meant to be added together? Four batteries instead of two?

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip $500,050, 1.5 lbs., 4B/20 hr., LC2.

Small Radio Communicator: 20-mile range, $200, 0.5 lbs., 2B/10 hr., 0.1 GB/minute data transfer rate.

Again, are the power cells just added together?

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $500,250, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2.

Decryption Program (p. 47): C2, $500.

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $500,750, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2.

Secure Encryption Chip (p. 47): $500.

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $501,250, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2.

Cryptography Program: Fine Quality (+2 quality bonus), Complexity 7, $1,000.

Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $502,250, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2.

Have I got this right?

Refplace · 11-11-2019, 01:08 PM

I just add power cells typically it makes sense such as a self powered keyboard/datapad. But if they are built together you can subsume the smaller power cells into drain on the lager. But the math can get more complicated so I just round.

Stormcrow · 11-11-2019, 01:37 PM

Hmm. I think I failed to consider the "Combination Gadgets" section on page 16. I don't know if it would apply to combining a computer and a terminal, but I think it would apply to the communicator in the portable decryption computer I statted up.

So the second computer should be 1.9 lbs. instead of 2 lbs., I think.

And I think in that same section, "B/10 hr., 2A/20 hr" can be combined. 2A/20 hr. is effectively A/10 hr., which is one-tenth of a B cell per hour, so the computer will run for B/9.9 hr. Or something.

Would the second computer work this way: 4B/20 hr. is effectively 2B/10 hr., so the whole thing is 6B/10 hr.?

See, this is why I find this all confusing...

11-11-2019, 12:51 PM	#1
Stormcrow Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY	Building computers There are no sample computers in GURPS Ultra-Tech, and I find their construction to be confusing. I'd like to try to build a couple and ask for advice on how things work. The setting is TL10, no superscience. Page references are to GURPS Ultra-Tech. (I'm not really interested in discussing whether my choices are the most likely for the given computer; these are just meant to be practice examples.) Hand-held Computer. General-purpose hand-held computer that responds to voice commands. Typically loaded with language-translation and IQ-based TL skill packages as basic equipment. I want to start with a Small Computer (p. 22). Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB. $100, 0.5 lbs., 2B/20 hr., LC4. I want it to be Compact (p. 23). Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB, $200, 0.25 lbs., B/10 hr., LC4. I want to give it a Datapad (p. 23). This includes a microcommunicator, cable jack, speaker/microphone, mini-camera, and datachip. The entire Datapad package is $10, 0.05 lbs., 2A/20 hr., LC4. Radio Microcommunicator: 400-yard range, 0.1 GB per minute data transfer rate. Basic encryption. Mini-Camera: The book says this is on page 51, but I don't see any such listing. What is this? What do I do about the different power cells for the base computer and the datapad? For now I'm going to just add them. Is this right? Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB +1 PB on datachip, $210, 0.3 lbs., B/10 hr., 2A/20 hr., LC4 For voice-control, it gets a Dedicated AI (p. 25). If I give it an IQ of 8, that's a Complexity of 5. $100. Does a dedicated AI need an IQ that high? Is Complexity 5 too much for a Complexity 6 computer's dedicated AI? You'll still be able to run one Complexity 6 program and 19 Complexity 5 programs on it. Current Stats: Complexity 6; stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $310, 0.3 lbs., B/10 hr., 2A/20 hr., LC4 Portable Decryptor. Used by government spies to detect and decrypt enemy transmissions in the field and send sensitive intelligence while in the field. Small Computer. Current Stats: Complexity 6, stores 10 PB, $100, 0.5 lbs., 2B/20 hr., LC4. Genius. It's got cutting-edge processing. Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB, $50,000, 0.5 lbs., 2B/20 hr., LC3. Quantum. Needed for decryption. Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB, $500,000, 1 lb., 2B/20 hr., LC2. Portable Terminal: It's basically a laptop. Includes a datachip and removable drives. Does this mean the base 10 PB of the computer is removable? Or does it refer to something else? I think it just means the base storage. Are the batteries of the base and the terminal meant to be added together? Four batteries instead of two? Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip $500,050, 1.5 lbs., 4B/20 hr., LC2. Small Radio Communicator: 20-mile range, $200, 0.5 lbs., 2B/10 hr., 0.1 GB/minute data transfer rate. Again, are the power cells just added together? Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $500,250, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2. Decryption Program (p. 47): C2, $500. Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $500,750, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2. Secure Encryption Chip (p. 47): $500. Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $501,250, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2. Cryptography Program: Fine Quality (+2 quality bonus), Complexity 7, $1,000. Current Stats: Complexity 8, stores 10 PB + 1 PB on datachip, $502,250, 2 lbs., 4B/20 hr., 2B/10 hr., LC2. Have I got this right?

11-11-2019, 01:08 PM	#2
Refplace Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Yukon, OK	Re: Building computers I just add power cells typically it makes sense such as a self powered keyboard/datapad. But if they are built together you can subsume the smaller power cells into drain on the lager. But the math can get more complicated so I just round. __________________ My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more! My GURPS fan contribution and blog: REFPLace GURPS Landing Page My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items) My GURPS Wiki entries

11-11-2019, 01:37 PM	#3
Stormcrow Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY	Re: Building computers Hmm. I think I failed to consider the "Combination Gadgets" section on page 16. I don't know if it would apply to combining a computer and a terminal, but I think it would apply to the communicator in the portable decryption computer I statted up. So the second computer should be 1.9 lbs. instead of 2 lbs., I think. And I think in that same section, "B/10 hr., 2A/20 hr" can be combined. 2A/20 hr. is effectively A/10 hr., which is one-tenth of a B cell per hour, so the computer will run for B/9.9 hr. Or something. Would the second computer work this way: 4B/20 hr. is effectively 2B/10 hr., so the whole thing is 6B/10 hr.? See, this is why I find this all confusing... Last edited by Stormcrow; 11-11-2019 at 01:46 PM.