Retro Computers Train Tiny Transformer Efficiently
On March 30, 2026, hobbyist Damien trained a transformer on a 1960s IBM and a PDP-11 to reverse lists of digits, achieving 100% accuracy in 350 steps. The experiment fit within a 32KB memory limit using fixed-point arithmetic and lookup tables, and hand-tuned SGD cut training time to roughly five minutes. The project illustrates transformers can run under extreme resource constraints.
Scoring Rationale
Fresh same-day experimental project with practical techniques for low-memory training. Scored for relevance and actionable methods, but reduced for narrow scope and single-source maker reporting.
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Sources
- Read OriginalTraining A Transformer With 1970s-era Technologyhackaday.com
