Z5 (computer)
| Developer | Konrad Zuse |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Zuse KG |
| Released | July 1953 |
| Lifespan | 5 years |
Introductory price | DM 300,000 (equivalent to DM 812,445 in 2021) |
| CPU | @ ca. 40 Hz |
| Memory | 720 relays, 36 bit word length, 12 cells |
| Power | 5000 watts |
| Predecessor | Z4 |
The Z5 was an electromechanical relay computer designed by Konrad Zuse and manufactured by Zuse KG following a commission from Ernst Leitz GmbH in Wetzlar in 1950. Delivered in July 1953, it was the first commercial built-to-order mainframe in Germany. The machine was purchased to support the design and optimisation of optical lens systems, a computationally intensive task that had previously required large teams of human computers.