Originally posted by Uncle Bob:
Replace the words ships computer with the words sensor array and no other rule change is neccessary, although you might have to fiddle the deckplans a little.
I second that. The actual computer would probably be no larger than a RL server (and even that will allow for easy access and for extensive cooling/ventilation); it will cost 5% of the total cost (and that is including the expensive interface and backups) and its volume will be subsumed in the bridge tonnage.. The rest of the tonnage/cost/EP would go to sensors and communication equipment distributed around the ship. That is, a Model/1 is 1 dton sensors/comm units that cost MCr1.9; the actual computer is subsumed into the bridge's tonnage and costs MCr0.1.
IMTUs AI's (actually pseudo-AIs as it's TL12) aren't part of the standard Computer/Sensor/Comm array, but a seperately installed LBB8 Robot Brain.
My ideas on non-ship computers:
1) Supercomputers: use full size, cost and power requirements of an equivalent ship computer, but IT ALL GOES TO THE COMPUTER (rather than sensor/comm). Double Storage by 20 and CPU space by 10. These are the central computers of large military bases, universities, big research stations etc. TL5+
2) Mainframes: use 5% of equivalent ship computer size, cost and power requirements; use equivalent ship's computer for storage and CPU space. TL6+
3) Servers: use 1% of the size, cost and power requirements of an equivalent ship computer. The Server functions as a ship's computer of one TL less than it. TL7+
4) Personal Computer: (TL7+) Cr500, 5kg; functions as a ship's computer of two TLs less than it.
5) Hand Computer: (TL8+) Cr1,000, 0.25kg; functions as a ship's computer of three TLs less than it.
6)Implant Computer: (TL9+) Cr5,000, 0.25kg; implanted in the subject's brain and connects to the lower brain's motor sections and to the sensory nerves for interface. Functions as a ship's computer of three TLs less than it.
