But question asks how many bytes the ENIAC uses — assuming phrased as direct: ENIAC uses 250 bytes (20 digits × 10 registers × 0.055 ≈ 11)? Wait — standard interpretation: ENIAC’s memory equivalent:

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:12:07 +0000

How Many Bytes Does the ENIAC Use? Decoding the Myths and Reality of One of Computing History’s First Machines When exploring the origins of modern computing, few names stand out like the ENIAC—short for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. Widely recognized as the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, ENIAC marked a monumental leap from mechanical calculators and early analog systems. But a common (and technically flawed) question arises: how many bytes did the ENIAC actually use? ### The Mystery Behind ENIAC’s Memory Size The misunderstanding often centers on a rough estimation that ENIAC used around 250 bytes. This figure stems from early interpretations that multiplied the number of 20-digit decimal digits by 10 registers, each storing about 0.055 × 10 digits—yielding roughly 11 bytes. However, this approach conflates ENIAC’s architecture with modern memory models and misapplies byte conversion.