The GGC consisted of discrete components, not integrated circuits, which was the point made in the video.

> The [GGC] machine consisted of discrete components, not integrated circuits. However, circuit modules that held the components were somewhat interchangeable. They were plugged into one of five interconnection.....

The rope memory modules in the article are programs running on the first IC based computer, if I understand correctly. https://history.nasa.gov/computers/Ch1-2.html