To evaluate the performance of chromatographic columns accurately, the peak area, peak width, and retention time must reflect only the behavior of the chromatographic column. A precision chromatographic system has been designed and developed to measure the first and second moments of a peak and the peak area, regardless of the shape of the effluent profile. The experimental moments are corrected for the influence of the sampling system, mixing volums, connecting tubing, and the detector and electronic time constants. A digital logic system has been developed to accurately control the timing sequence to 1 part in 105 and the sampling and injection time to a standard deviation of 380 µsec. The GC-core storage interface includes a real time clock, an analog to digital converter, buffer storage, address advance, level converters, and sufficient analog filtering only to prevent “folding errors” in the analog to digital converter. The largest second moment contribution for this system is shown to be due to the time constant of the electrometer (5.3 msec.). The reproducibility of the system is limited by the stability and control of the pneumatic system.