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Archive-name: dec-faq/pdp8-models
Last-modified: Oct 1, 2000
Frequently Asked Questions about DEC PDP-8 models and options.
By Douglas Jones, jones@cs.uiowa.edu
(with help from many folks)
Sites known to carry reasonably current FTPable copies of this file:
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/alt.sys.pdp8
ftp://ftp.uu.net/usenet/news.answers/dec-faq
ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk:/pub/usenet/news.answers/alt.sys.pdp8
Reasonably current automatic translations of this document to HTML format
for the World Wide Web are available from:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/dec-faq/
http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/dec-faq/.html
An obsolete version of this file is available on the Walnut Creek USENET
FAQ CDROM; another version will be published as part of the FAQbook by
Pamela Greene et al.
This posting conforms to RFC1153 USENET digest format (with exceptions due
to the fact that it is not really a digest).
The purpose of this document is to supplement the material in the primary
"Frequently Asked Questions about the PDP-8" file with more detailed
information about the hardware and options of the different models of the
PDP-8 sold by DEC.
Although this document is something of a history of the DEC PDP-8 family,
the primary purpose of this document is as a guide and general outline to
the PDP-8 models and options likely to be encountered by those involved
in collecting and restoring such systems.
Contents:
What is a PDP-5?
What is a PDP-8?
What is a LINC-8?
What is a PDP-8/S?
What is a PDP-8/I?
What is a PDP-8/L?
What is a PDP-12?
What is a PDP-8/E?
What is a PDP-8/F?
What is a PDP-8/M?
What is a PDP-8/A?
What is a VT78?
What is a DECmate I?
What is a DECmate II?
What is a DECmate III?
What is a DECmate III+?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-5?
Date of introduction: Aug 11, 1963, unveiled at WESCON.
Date of withdrawal: early 1967.
Total production run: 116.
Price: $27,000
Technology: The PDP-5 was built with DEC System Modules, the original
line of transistorized logic modules sold by DEC. The supply
voltages were +10 and -15 volts, with logic levels of -3 (logic 1)
and 0 (logic 0). Logic was packaged on boards that were about
4.75 inches high with each card mounted in a metal frame with a
22 pin edge connector.
Input output devices were connected to the daisy-chained I/O bus
using military-style armored cables and connectors. Use of
toggle switches (as opposed to slide switches) on the front
panel was another vestige of military-style design.
Reason for introduction: This machine was inspired by the success of
the CDC-160, Seymour Cray's 12 bit minicomputer, and by the
success of the LINC, a machine that was built by DEC customers
out of System modules. These demonstrated that there was a
market for a small inexpensive computer, and from the start,
DEC's advertisements were aimed at this market. "Now you can
own the PDP-5 computer for what a core memory alone used to
cost: $27,000", ran one 1964 ad.
Ken Olson has stated that the PDP-5 was not originally meant to
be a computer; it was designed for a company that wanted an
automatic controller for some industrial work. He told them
they could make a small programmable controller instead of the
hardwired machine they were asking for, and since they weren't
entirely certain of the control equations they wanted to run, they
accepted the idea. The result was the PDP-5.
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-8 outperformed the PDP-5, and did so for
a lower price.
Compatability: The core of the PDP-8 instruction set is present, but
memory location zero is the program counter, and interrupts are
handled differently. The Group 1 OPR rotate instructions cannot
be combined with IAC or CMA; this limits the ability of the
PDP-5 to support code from later models.
The machine does not support 3 cycle data-break (DMA transfers using
memory to hold buffer address and word-count information), so
many later PDP-8 peripherals cannot be used on the PDP-5. In
addition, DMA transfers are not allowed outside the program's
current 4K data field, severely limiting software compatability
on systems with over 4K of memory where either interrupts or
software initiated changes to the data field during a transfer
would cause chaos.
Standard configuration: CPU with 1K or 4K of memory (2K and 3K versions
were not available).
Peripherals:
An extended arithmetic element (EAE) was available; this was an
I/O device, using IOT instructions to evoke EAE operations. As
a result, it was not compatable with the later PDP-8 EAEs. In
addition, machines with the EAE option had a different front
panel from those without.
The type 552 DECtape control and type 555 dual DECtape transports
were originally developed for the PDP-5 and contemporaneous DEC
systems such as the PDP-6.
After the PDP-8 was introduced, DEC offered a bus converter that
allowed the PDP-5 to support standard PDP-8 negibus ueripherals,
so long as they avoided using 3-cycle data break transfers. The
standard 804 PDP-8 expander box was frequently sold as an
upgrade to PDP-5 systems.
Survival: A small number of PDP-5 systems survive, at least one in near
operational condition!
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8?
Date of introduction: 1965 (Unveiled March 22, in New York).
Date of withdrawal: 1968.
Total production run: 1450.
Also known as:
Classic PDP-8 (to point out lack of a model suffix)
Straight-8 (Again, points out the lack of a model suffix)
PCP-88, an OEM label, used by Foxboro Corporation.
AN/GYK-6, (Army-Navy Ground-based (Y)data-processing Komputer 6)
Price: $18,000
Technology: Mostly standard DEC R-series logic modules; these were
originally discrete component transistor logic, but around the
time the PDP-8 was introduced, DEC introduced the Flip Chip, a
hybrid diode/resistor "integrated circuit" on a ceramic substrate.
These could directly replace some of the discrete components on
some logic modules, and DEC quickly began to refer to all R-series
modules as flip-chip modules; they even advertised the PDP-8 as
an integrated circuit computer. A typical flip-chip module, the
R111, had three 2-input nand gates and cost $14, with no price
change from 1965 to 1970. Some special dual height R-series
modules were designed specifically for the PDP-8.
S and B-series logic modules were also used; these are similar
to their R-series cousins, but with different speed/fanout
tradeoffs in their design. Some logic modules have trimmers
that must be tuned to the context, making replacement of such
modules more complex than simply swapping boards.
As with the system modules used in the PDP-5, the supply
voltages were +10 and -15 volts and the logic levels were -3
(logic 1) and 0 (logic 0). Logic was packaged on boards that
were 2.5 inches wide by 5 inches long. The card edge connector
had 18 contacts on 1/8 inch centers. Some double height cards
were used; these had two card edge connectors and were 5 1/8
inches high. Machine wrapped wire-wrap technology was used on
the backplane using 24-gauge wire.
The "negibus" or negative logic I/O bus used -3 and 0 volt logic
levels in 92 ohm coaxial cable, with 9 coaxial cables bundled
per connector card and 6 bundles making up the basic bus. 5
(later 4) more bundles were required to support data-break (DMA)
transfers. The total bus length was limited to 50 feet, and bus
termination was generally kluged in with 100 ohm resistors
clipped or wrapped into the backplane, although a bus terminator
card was sometimes used. Some time after the first year of
production, flat ribbon cable made of multiple coaxial cables
was used, and later still, shielded flat stripline cable was used
(but this cut the allowed bus length by a factor of two).
Core memory was used, originally made by FERROXCUBE, with a 1.5
microsecond cycle time, giving the machine an add time of 3
microseconds. 4K of core occupied an aluminum box 6 inches on a
side and needed numerous auxiliary flip-chips and for support,
as well as an array of boards from the core vendor. It is worth
noting that the PDP-8 was about as fast as was practical with the
logic technology used; only by using tricks like memory
interleaving or pipelining could the machine have been made much
faster.
Reason for introduction: This machine was inspired by the success of
the PDP-5 and by the realization that, with their new Flip-Chip
technology, DEC could make a table-top computer that could be
powered by a single standard wall outlet; of course, adding any
peripherals quickly increased the power requirement!
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-8/I was less expensive, and after
initial production difficulties, it equalled the performance of
the PDP-8.
Compatability: This machine defines the core of the PDP-8 instruction
set, but with restrictions that were lifted on later machines.
The Group 1 OPR instruction IAC cannot be combined with any of
the rotate instructions. If RAR and RAL or RTR and RTL are
combined, the results are unpredictable (simultaneous set and
reset of bits of AC results in metastable behavior). The IOT 0
instruction was used for the internal type 189 ADC, and not for
the later CAF (clear all flags) instruction. As a result, if
the ADC option was not present, IOT 6004 (or microcoded
variants) would hang the machine.
The SWP instruction (exchange AC and MQ) never works, even if
the extended arithmetic element is present. This works on later
models when the EAE is present, although it was only documented
with the introduction of the PDP-8/E. Finally, the EAE lacks
the SCL (shift count load) instruction that is present on later
models.
On machines with 8K or more, an attempt to change the data field
to a non-existant field caused a bizarre double-indirect and
skip instruction execution that must be accounted for in memory
diagnostics.
Standard configuration: The PDP-8 was sold as a CPU with 4K of memory,
a 110 baud current loop teletype interface and an ASR 33 Teletype.
In addition, the standard in-cabinet logic includes support for
the full negibus interface, including data-break (DMA) transfers.
Both a rack-mount model with rosewood trim and an elegant
plexiglass enclosed table-top configuration were standard. Under
the skin, the basic machine occupies a volume 33 inches high by
19 inches wide by 22 inches deep. The two halves of the backplane
are mounted vertically, like the covers of a book, with the
spine in back and circuit modules inserted from the two sides.
Sliding the CPU out of the relay rack or removing the plexiglass
covers allows the backplane to swung open to access the wires-wrap.
Expandability: In-cabinet options include the type 182 extended
arithmetic element (EAE) ($3,500), the type 183 memory extension
control subsystem ($3000), and the type 189 low performance
analog to digital converter ($1450). Prewired backplane slots
were reserved for all of these, as well as the optional type 129
data channel multiplexor ($2700).
Expansion beyond 4K of memory requires rack mounting space (at
$690 per CAB-8 rack). Each type 184 memory module adds a 4K
field of memory ($10,000), seven modules may be added. The
rack-mount CPU occupied a large part of one rack, allowing room
for a single memory expansion module below the CPU; generally,
a second rack was needed for added peripherals or memory.
At the end of the production run, some PDP-8 systems were sold
with PDP-8/I memory, allowing room for an additional 4K without
need for an expansion chassis. These nonstandard machines were
very difficult to maintain!
Peripherals: At the time of introduction, the following negibus
peripherals were offered.
-- Type 750 high speed paper tape reader and control ($3500).
-- Type 75A high speed paper tape punch and control ($4000).
-- Type 138 analog to digital converter ($4500).
-- Type 139 analog multiplexor ($3300).
-- Type 30N precision CRT display ($13,400).
-- Type 34B oscilloscope display ($3600).
-- Type 370 high speed light pen ($1625)
-- Type 350 incremental (CalComp) plotter and control ($8,900 up).
-- Type 451 card reader and control ($14,900).
-- Type 451B fast card reader and control ($25,600).
-- Type 450 card punch control for IBM Type 523 punch.
-- Type 64 (later 645) Mohawk line printer and control ($28,900).
-- Type 250 (RM08) serial magnetic drum (256K words for $43,600).
-- Type 552 DECtape control (for type 555 DECtape drives, $9500).
-- Type 555 dual DECtape transport, $7400).
-- Type 57A magnetic tape control with IBM type 729 drive ($15,200).
-- Type 580 magnetic tape system with one transport ($19,700).
By 1966, the following peripherals had been added to the line:
-- Type AA01A three-channel digital to analog converter.
-- Type CR01C card reader control.
-- Type TC01 DECtape control for up to 8 TU55 transports.
-- Type 251 drum (8-256 tracks, 8 sectors/track, 128 words/sector).
-- Type 645 line printer control.
-- Type 680 data communications system (allows 64 teletypes).
By 1967, the following peripherals had been added to the line:
-- Type AF01 analog to digital converter and multiplexor.
-- Type AX08 parallel digital input port.
-- Type 338 Programmed Buffered Display (vector graphics).
By 1968, the following new peripheral had been added:
-- Type DF32 fixed head disk system (32K to 256K words).
-- Type BE01 OEM version of the TC01 (no blinking lights).
-- Type BE03 dual TU55 drive for the TC01 or BE01.
Finally, as DEC abandoned the negibus, they introduced the
DW08B negibus to posibus converter so newer posibus
peripherals could be used on older negibus machines, and the
DW08A posibus to negibus converter to allow use of old
peripherals on new machines.
Survival: Many classic PDP-8 systems survive to this day in working
condition.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a LINC-8?
Date of introduction: 1966 (during or before March).
Date of withdrawal: 1969
Total production run: 142.
Price: $38,500
Technology: DEC Flip Chip modules, as in the PDP-8, with a LINC CPU
partially reimplemented in Flip Chips and partially emulated
with PDP-8 instructions. (The original LINC was built from
the same System Modules used in the PDP-5.)
Compatability: The PDP-8 part of the machine was identical to the PDP-8.
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-12 accomplished the same goals at a lower
cost.
Standard configuration: The combined PDP-8/LINC CPU, plus 4K of memory
was central to the system. The set of peripherals bundled with
the machine was impressive:
-- An ASR 33 Teletype modified for the LINC character set.
-- Two LINCtape drives.
-- 8 analog to digital converter channels with knob inputs.
-- Another 8 ADC channels with jack inputs.
-- 6 programmable relay outputs, good up to 60 Hz.
-- 1 Tektronix 560 oscilliscope, somewhat modified.
The X and Y axis control for the scope came from DACs attached
to the LINC's AC and MB registers, respectively.
Expandability:
In addition to standard PDP-8 peripherals, up to 3 additional
pairs of LINCtape drives could be added, for a total of 8 drives.
The design of the type 555 dual DECtape transport was based on
that of the LINCtape drive.
Up to 2 additional ranks of 8 ADC channels could be added.
Remote oscilliscope could be added.
Survival: A few LINC-8 systems are in operable condition today.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/S?
Date of introduction: 1966 (Unveiled, Aug 23, WESCON, Los Angeles).
Date of withdrawal: 1970.
Total production run: 1024, or over 1500
The first figure is from Computers and Automation, based on figures
released by the manufacturer. The second figure is based on memory
of the first-year production run. We need to look at the serial
numbers on surviving machines to pin this down!
Price: $10,000
Technology: DEC Flip Chip modules and core memory, as in the PDP-8.
Unlike the PDP-8, the PDP-8/S memory module was mounted between
a pair of quad-height single-width boards that plugged into the
standard flip-chip sockets (this was sold separately as the H201
core memory unit, at $2000 for 4K by 13 bits). It is noteworthy
that the prototype machine was built using Digital Logic Laboratory
H901 plugboards and patchcords, based entirely on off-the-shelf
modules. Another new feature of the PDP-8 was its use of a single
internal bus within the machine for all register transfers. This
was, of course, bit serial, but the idea formed the basis for
the DEC UNIBUS and OMNIBUS and essentially all later bus-oriented
CPU designs.
Reason for introduction: This machine was developed as a successful
exercise in minimizing the cost of the machine, in response to
a complaint by Ken Olson that the company hadn't gotten the
price of the PDP-8 down any further, and the vision that someday,
people ought to be able to buy a desktop PDP-8 for under $10,000.
The result was the least expensive general purpose computer ever
made with second generation (discrete transistor) technology,
and it was one of the smallest such machines to be mass produced
(a number of smaller machines were made for aerospace
applications). It was also incredibly slow, with a 36
microsecond add time, and some instructions taking as much as 78
microseconds, even though the internal clock ran faster than
that of the original PDP-8! By 1967, DEC took the then unusual
step of offering this machine for off the shelf delivery, with
one machine stocked in each field office available for retail
sale.
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-8/L vastly outperformed the PDP-8/S, and
and it did so at a lower price.
Compatability: The core of the PDP-8 instruction set is present, but
there are a sufficient number of incompatabilities that, as with
the PDP-5, many otherwise portable "family of 8" programs will
not run on the PDP-8/S. Perhaps the worst incompatability is
that the Group 1 OPR instruction CMA cannot be combined with any
of the rotate instructions; as with the PDP-8, IAC also cannot
be combined with rotate.
Standard configuration: CPU with 4K of memory, plus PT08 110 baud current
loop teletype interface and teletype. Both a rack-mount and
table-top versions were sold (both 9" high by 19" wide by 20"?
deep). The rack mount version included slides so it could be
pulled out for maintenance.
Expandability: The CPU supported the standard PDP-8 negibus, but I/O
bandwidth was 1/5 that of the PDP-8. Thus, most, but not all
PDP-8 peripherals could be used. A few DEC peripherals such as
the DF32 came with special options such as interleaving to slow
them down for compatability with the PDP-8/S. The speed problems
were such that there was never any way to attach DECtape to this
machine.
Survival: Because they were so slow, PDP-8/S systems were quickly
discarded as newer machines became available for comparable prices;
thus, they are less common today than the Classic PDP-8, even
though comparable numbers were made. A few survive in working
condition.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/I?
Date of introduction: 1968 (Announced before December '67)
Date of withdrawal: 1971.
Total production run: 3698.
Technology: DEC M-series logic modules, called M-series flip-chips
as the term flip-chip was applied to the module format instead
of to DEC's hybrid integrated circuits. M-series modules used
TTL chips, with a +5 volt supply, packaged on the same board
format used with the original flip-chips, but with double-sided
card-edge connectors (36 contacts instead of 18). Modules were
limited to typically 4 SSI ICs each. The M113, a typical
M-series module, had 10 2-input nand gates and cost $23 in 1967
(the price fell to $18 in 1970). Wire-wrapped backplanes used
30-gauge wire.
The PDP-8/I, as originally sold, supported the then-standard
PDP-8 negibus. 4K words of core were packaged in a 1 inch thick
module made of 5 rigidly connected 5 by 5 inch two-sided printed
circuit boards. Connectors and support electronics occupied an
additional 32 backplane slots.
Nominally, the core memory (which, curiously, used a negative
logic interface!) was supposed to run at a 1.5 microsecond cycle
time, but many early PDP-8/I systems were delivered running at a
slower rate because of memory quality problems. DEC went through
many vendors in the search for good memory! The memory interface
was asynchronous, allowing the CPU to delay for slow memory. DEC
continued to make the classic PDP-8 until the problems with
memory speed were solved.
Reason for introduction: This machine was developed in response to the
introduction of DIP component packaging of TTL integrated
circuits. This allowed a machine of about the same performance
as the original PDP-8 to fit in about half the volume and sell
for a lower price.
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-8/E made slight performance improvements
while undercutting the price of the PDP-8/I.
Compatability: The core of the PDP-8 instruction set is present, and
unlike the original PDP-8, IAC can be combined with rotate in a
single microcoded Group 1 OPR instruction. Combined RAR and RAL
or RTR and RTL produce the logical and of the expected results
from each of the combined shifts.
If the extended arithmetic element is present, the SWP (exchange
AC and MQ) instruction works, but this was not documented.
On large memory configurations, memory fetches from a nonexistant
memory field take about 30 microseconds (waiting for a bus
timeout) and then they return either 0000 or 7777 depending on
the memory configuration and the field that was addressed.
A front panel bug prevented continue after load-address without
first clearing the machine.
Standard configuration: CPU with 4K of memory, plus 110 baud current
loop teletype interface. Pedestal, table-top and rack-mount
versions were made. The pedestal mounted version was futuristic
looking; the table-top version split the pedistal, with the CPU
on the table and the power supply (the base of the pedistal) on
the floor beside the table. The standard rack-mounted version
had the power supply bolted to the right side of the rack while
the CPU, mounted on slides, slid out of the left side of the rack.
Expandability: 4K of memory could be added internally, and additional
memory could be added externally using a rack-mounted MM8I memory
expansion module for each 4K or 8K addition over 8K.
The backplane of the PDP-8/I was prewired to hold a Calcomp
plotter interface, with the adjacent backplane slot reserved
for the cable connection to the plotter. There may be other
built-in options.
Initially, the CPU was sold with bus drivers for the PDP-8
negibus, allowing this machine to support all older DEC
peripherals, but later machines were sold with posibus interfaces,
and many older machines were converted in the field.
A posibus to negibus converter, the DW08A, allowed use of all
older PDP-8 peripherals, with small modifications. The change
from negibus to posibus during the period of PDP-8/I production
leads to confusion because surviving CPUs and peripherals may
have any of three I/O bus configurations: Negibus, early posibus,
or final posibus. The early posibus used the same connectors
and cables as the negibus, with only 9 conductors per connector,
while the final posibus used both sides of the connector paddles
for 18 bus lines per connector. Y-shaped cables for converting
from one physical bus layout to the other were available. To
add to this confusion, some negibus PDP-8/I systems were rewired
to use 18 conductor posibus cables with negative logic!
Eventually, an add-on box was sold that allowed PDP-8/E (OMNIBUS)
memory to be added to a PDP-8/I. Additionally, Fabritek sold a
24K memory box for the 8/I and PDP-12.
Survival: Many PDP-8/I systems are in operating condition, some still
performing in their original applications!
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/L?
Date of introduction: 1968 (Announced before August '68)
Date of withdrawal: 1971.
Total production run: 3902.
Price: $8,500
Technology: DEC M-series flip Chip modules, as in the PDP-8/I, with the
same core memory as the 8/I, but with a memory cycle cycle of 1.6
microseconds to avoid the speed problems that plagued early -8/I
systems.
The positive I/O bus, or posibus, was a 100 ohm bus clamped
between 0 and 3 volts with TTL drivers and receivers. This was
packaged with 18 signal lines per 2-sided interconnect cable,
using double-sided shielded mylar ribbon cable in most cases.
Electrically, coaxial cable could be used, but the slots in the
CPU box were too small for this.
Reason for introduction: This machine was developed as a moderately
successful exercise using M-series logic to produce a lower cost
but moderately fast machine. The idea was to cut costs by
limiting provisions for expansion.
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-8/E made performance improvements while
slightly undercutting the price of the PDP-8/L.
Compatability: The core of the PDP-8 instruction set is present, but
all Group 3 OPR instructions are no-ops, even the Group 3 version
of the CLA instruction. This is because there was no provision
made for adding an EAE to this machine. Microcoding RAR and RAL
together works as in the PDP-8/I. Finally, a new front panel
feature was added, the protect switch. When thrown, this makes
the last page of the last field of memory read-only (to protect
your bootstrap code).
The instruction to change the data field on an 8/L becomes a
no-op when the destination data field is non-existant; on all
other machines, attempts to address non-existant fields are
possible. One option for expanding the 8/L was to add a box that
allowed 8/E memory modules to be added to the 8/L; when this
was done, access to nonexistant data fields becomes possible and
always returns 0000 on read.
Standard configuration: A CPU with 4K of memory, plus 110 baud current
loop teletype interface was standard. Both rack-mount and
table-top versions were sold (both 9" high by 19" wide by 21"
deep). The backplane was on top, with modules plugged in from
the bottom. The rack-mount version could be slid out for
maintenance.
Expandability: The CPU supported a new bus standard, the PDP-8 posibus.
There is little space for in-box peripherals, but an expander
box with the same volume as the CPU was available, the BA08A;
this was prewired to hold an additional 4K of memory and to
support in-box peripheral interfaces for such devices as a
Calcomp plotter interface, a card-reader interface, a 4 line
asynch terminal interface, a real-time clock, and more.
DEC eventually offered the BM12L, an 8K expansion box that is
essentially the same as the MM8I, but using positive logic and
thus incompatable with the -8/I and -12. This allowed a total
memory of 12K on a PDP-8/L. This contains precisely the modules
needed to upgrade a 4K PDP-8/I or PDP-12 to an 8K machine, or to
populate an MM8I box to add 8K of additional memory to an 8/I or
PDP-12.
Finally, DEC eventually offered a box allowing PDP-8/E (OMNIBUS)
memory to be used with the PDP-8/L. PDP-8/L configurations with
over 8K of memory were awkward because the front panel only
showed one bit of the extended memory address. As a result,
extra lights and switches for the additional bits of the memory
address were mounted on the front of the memory expander boxes
for the large configurations.
A variety of posibus peripherals were introduced, most of which
were built with the option of negibus interface logic (the -P
and -N suffixes on these new peripherals indicated which was
which). Many early PDP-8/L systems were sold with DW08A bus
level converters to run old negibus peripherals.
Posibus peripherals introduced after the PDP-8/L (and also used
with posibus versions of the PDP-8/I) included:
-- The TC08 DECtape controller (for 8 TU55 or 4 TU56).
-- The DF32D fixed head disk controller (a posibus DF32).
-- The FPP-12 floating point processor.
-- The TR02 simple magnetic tape control.
-- The RK08 disk subsystem, 4 disk packs, 831,488 words each.
Survival: Many PDP-8/L systems are in operating condition, some performing
their original jobs.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-12?
Date of introduction: 1969 (February or earlier).
Date of withdrawal: 1973.
Total production run: 3500?
Price: $27,900
Technology: DEC M-series flip Chip modules, as in the PDP-8/I.
Reason for introduction: This machine was developed as a follow-up to
the LINC-8. Originally it was to be called the LINC-8/I, but
somehow it got its own number. In effect, it was a PDP-8/I with
added logic to allow it to execute the LINC instruction set.
Reason for withdrawal: The LAB-8/E and the LAB-11 (a PDP-8/E and a
PDP-11/20 with lab peripherals) eventually proved the equal of
the PDP-12 in practice, and LINC compatability eventually proved
to be of insufficient value to keep the machine alive in the
marketplace.
Compatability: This machine is fully compatable with the PDP-8/I, with
additional instructions to flip from PDP-8 mode to LINC mode and
back. IOT 0 could enable the API, causing trouble with later
PDP-8 code that assumes IOT 0 is "Clear all flags". Also, the
DECtape instruction DTLA (6766) becomes part of a stack-oriented
extension to the instruction set, PUSHJ, on late model (or field
updated) machines with the KF12-B backplane.
The PDP-12 supported trapping of those LINC functions that were
emulated by software on the LINC-8. This allowed it to run many
LINC-8 bootable systems (but not all, due mostly incompatabilities
in LINKtape support), and it allowed such things as emulation of
LINKtape instructions for reading and writing disk.
The TC12F Linktape controller could, with appropriate software,
read or write DECtape. This support is unreliable, and is not
software compatable with the TC01 or TC08 DECtape controller.
Standard configuration: PDP-8/LINC CPU with 4K of memory, plus 110 baud
current loop interface, plus output relay registers. In
addition, the standard configuration included either two TU55 or
one TU56 drive, with a PDP-12 only controller allowing it to
handle LINCtape. In addition, a 12" scope was always included,
with a connector that can connect to a second scope.
Expandability: An analog to digital converter and multiplexor was needed
to fully support knob-oriented LINC software.
Other options included:
-- the KW12 programmable lab clock.
-- additional TU55 or TU56 drives (up to 8 transports).
-- the BA12 expander box
-- the PC05 paper tape reader punch (needs the BA12).
Fabritek made a 24K memory box that could be added to a PDP-8/I or
PDP-12.
Survival: A few PDP-12 systems are in operating condition.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/E?
Date of introduction: 1970 (during or before August).
Date of withdrawal: 1978.
Also known as:
PDP-8/OEM
Industrial-8 (with a red color scheme)
LAB-8/E (with a green color scheme)
Price: $6,500
Technology: SSI and MSI TTL logic were used on these boards, and the
entire CPU fit on 3 boards. Nominally, these were DEC M-series
flip Chip modules, but in a new large format, quad-high (10.5
inch), extended-length (9 inch, including card-edge connector,
excluding handles). The terms used for board height and length
are based on the original working assumption that all flip-chips
were plugged horizontally into a vertially mounted card-edge
connector. On the PDP-8/E, the cards were plugged vertically
down into a horizontally mounted connector, so many users
incorrectly refer to these boards as quad-wide double-high.
Interconnection between boards was through a new bus, the OMNIBUS.
This eliminated the need for a wire-wrapped backplane, since all
slots in the bus were wired identically. A new line of peripheral
interfaces was produced, most being single cards that could be
plugged directly into the inside the main enclosure. These
included a set of posibus adapters allowing use of older
peripherals on the new machine.
Interboard connectors were needed for some multiboard options,
including the CPU and memory subsystems. These used standard
36-pin backplane connectors on the opposite side of the board
from the backplane. Some boards, notably memory boards, had a
total of 8 connector fingers, 4 for the omnibus and 4 for
interboard connectors.
The core memory cycle time was 1.2 or 1.4 microseconds, depending
on whether a read-modify-write cycle was involved (a jumper would
slow all cycles to 1.4 microseconds). A 4K core plane was
packaged on a single quad-wide double-high board, with most of
the drive electronics packed onto two adjacent boards. Soon after
the machine was introduced, an 8K core plane was released in the
same format.
Reason for introduction: The cost of the PDP-8/I and PDP-8/L was
dominated by the cost of the interconnect wiring, and this cost
was high as a result of the use of small circuit boards. By
packing a larger number of chips per board, similar function
could be attained in a smaller volume because less interboard
communication was required. The PDP-8/E exploited this to achieve
a new low in cost while attaining a new high in performance.
Reason for withdrawal: This machine was slowly displaced by the PDP-8/A
as the market for large PDP-8 configurations declined in the face
of pressure from 16 bit mini and microcomputers.
Compatability: As with the PDP-8/I and PDP-8/L, there are no limits on
the combination of IAC and rotate instructions. Unlike the early
machines, basic Group 3 OPR operations for loading and storing
the MQ register work even if there is no extended arithmetic
element. Finally, a new instruction was added, BSW; this swaps
the left and right bytes in AC, and is encoded as a Group 1 OPR
instruction using the "double the shift count bit".
An odd quirk of this machine is that the RAL RAR combination ands
the AC with the op-code, and the RTR RTL combination does an
effective address computation loading the high 5 bits of AC with
the current page and the lower bits of AC with the address field
of the instruction itself!
The EAE has a new mode, mode B. Previous EAE designs were
single-mode. Mode B supports a large set of 24 bit operations
and a somewhat more rational set of shift operations than the
standard EAE. All prior EAE designs would hang on the microcoded
CLA NMI (clear/normalize) instruction applied to a nonzero AC.
This instruction is redefined to be a mode changing instruction
on the 8/E.
Standard configuration: A CPU with 4K of memory, plus 110 baud current
loop teletype interface. Both a rack-mount table-top versions
were sold (both 9" high by 19" wide by 21" deep). The rack mount
version was mounted on slides for easy maintenance. The OMNIBUS
backplane was on the bottom, with boards inserted from the top.
The PDP-8/OEM had a turn-key front panel, no core, 256 words of
ROM and 256 words of RAM, and was priced at $2800 in lots of 100.
The standard OMNIBUS backplane had 20 slots, with no fixed
assignments, but the following conventional uses; certain board
sets were jumpered together (shown with brackets) and therefore
were required to be adjacent to each other:
-- KC8E programmer's console (lights and switches)
-- M8300 \_ KK8E CPU registers
-- M8310 / KK8E CPU control
--
--
-- M833 - Timing board (system clock)
-- M865 - KL8E console terminal interface.
--
--
-- -- space for more peripherals
--
--
-- M849 - shield to isolate memory from CPU
-- G104 \
-- H220 > MM8E 4K memory
-- G227 /
--
-- -- space for more memory
--
-- M8320 - KK8E Bus terminator
Most of the early boards with 3 digit numbers were defective
in one way or another, and the corrected boards added a trailing
zero. Thus, the M833 was generally replaced with an M8330, and
the M865 was replaced with the M8650.
Expandability: The following are among the OMNIBUS boards that could be
added internally:
-- M8650 - KL8E RS232 or current loop serial interface.
-- M8340 \_ Extended arithmetic element.
-- M8341 / (must be attached in two slots between CPU and M833.
-- M8350 - KA8E posibus interface (excluding DMA transfers).
-- M8360 - KD8E data break interface (one per DMA device).
-- M837 - KM8E memory extension control (needed for over 4K).
-- M840 - PC8E high speed paper tape reader-punch interface.
-- M842 - XY8E X/Y plotter control.
-- M843 - CR8E card reader interface.
There were many other internal options. There was room in the
basic box for another 20 slot backplane; taking into account the
2 slots occupied by the M935 bridge between the two backplanes,
this allowed 38 slots, and a second box could be added to
accomodate another 38 slot backplane, bridged to the first box by
a pair of BC08H OMNIBUS extension cables.
Given a M837 memory extension control, additional memory could be
added in increments of 4K by adding G104, H220, G227 triplets.
The suggested arrangement of boards on the OMNIBUS always
maintained the M849 shield between memory other options. The
one exception was that the M8350 KA8E and M8360 KD8E external
posibus interfaces were typically placed at the end of the
OMNIBUS right before the terminator.
The following options were introduced later, and there were many
options offered by third party suppliers.
-- G111 \
-- H212 > MM8EJ 8K memory
-- G233 /
-- M8357 -- RX8E interface to RX01/02 8" diskette drives.
-- M7104 \
-- M7105 > RK8E RK05 Disk Interface
-- M7106 /
-- M8321 \
-- M8322 \ TM8E Magtape control for 9 track tape.
-- M8323 /
-- M8327 /
Survival: It is still fairly common to find PDP-8/E systems on the
surplus market, recently removed from service and in working
condition or very close to it. A modest number are still in
service doing their orignal jobs, and there is still a limited
amount of commercial support from both DEC and third-party vendors.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/F?
Date of introduction: 1972.
Date of withdrawal: 1978.
Technology: an OMNIBUS machine, as with the PDP-8/E. First use
of a switching power supply in the PDP-8 family.
Reason for introduction: The PDP-8/E had a large enough box and a large
enough power supply to accomodate a large configuration. By
shortening the box and putting in a small switching power supply,
a lower cost OMNIBUS machine was possible.
Reason for withdrawal: The PDP-8/A 800 displaced this machine, providing
similar expansion capability at a lower cost.
Compatability: The PDP-8/F used the PDP-8/E CPU and peripherals.
Standard configuration: Identical to the PDP-8/E, except that the KC8E
front panel was replaced with a KC8M front panel that had LEDs
instead of incandescent lights; this front panel could also be
installed on PDP-8/E systems, but the PDP-8/E front panel could
not be used on a PDP-8/F because of the lack of a +8 supply for
the lights. The original PDP-8/F box had a defective power
supply, but a revised (slightly larger) box corrected this
problem.
With the dintroduction of the M8330, DEC began to require that
this board be placed adjacent to the KC8x front panel, although
many OMNIBUS PDP-8 systems continued to be configured (by users)
with the M8330 elsewhere on the bus. As a result, the suggested
order of boards on the omnibus began with:
-- KC8E programmer's console (lights and switches)
-- M8330 - Timing board (system clock)
-- M8340 \_ optional EAE board 1
-- M8341 / optional EAE board 2
-- M8310 \_ KK8E CPU control
-- M8300 / KK8E CPU registers
-- M837 - Extended Memory & Time Share control
Expandability: This machine could be expanded using all PDP-8/E OMNIBUS
peripherals, including the external expansion chassis. The
relatively small internal power supply and the lack of room for
a 20 slot bus expander inside the first box were the only
limitations. There were minor compatability problems with some
options, for example, the power-fail auto-restart card, as
originally sold, was incompatable with the PDP-8/F power supply.
Survival: As with the PDP-8/E, these machines are moderately common on
the surplus market, and frequently in working condition.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/M?
Date of introduction: 1972.
Date of withdrawal: 1978.
Technology: This machine was a PDP-8/F (with a PDP-8/E CPU)
Reason for introduction: DEC knew that OEM customers were an important
market, so they packaged the PDP-8/F for this market, with no
hardware changes behind the front panel.
Reason for withdrawal: Same as the PDP-8/F
Compatability: The PDP-8/M used the PDP-8/E CPU and peripherals.
Standard configuration: Identical to the PDP-8/F, except that the KC8M
front panel was replaced with a minimal function panel and the
color scheme was different. Because of this, one of the following
options were required:
-- M848 -- KP8E Power fail and auto-restart.
-- M847 -- MI8E Hardware Bootstrap Loader.
Expandability: All options applying to the PDP-8/F applied. In
addition, the KC8M front panel (standard with the PDP-8/F) was
available as an option; the only difference between a PDP-8/F
and a PDP-8/M with the KC8M front panel was in the artwork on
the front panel and on the serial number and configuration
stickers on the back of the box.
Survival: As with the PDP-8/F.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a PDP-8/A?
Date of introduction: 1974 (Announced in May for December delivery)
Date of withdrawal: 1984
Also known as:
KIT-8/A (CPU plus 1K RAM)
CLASSIC (CLASSroom Interactive Computer)
DECDataSystem310 (an 8/A 500 sold as a word-processor)
Price: $1,835
Technology: This machine used the OMNIBUS with a new single-board CPU.
The backplane was reoriented so that boards plugged into it from
the front, with the board held horizontally. The new omnibus
allowed a board format half again as wide as the original
(formally, this was called hex height), but the extra 2 groups
of contact fingers added to each wide board was largely unused.
(the 6th contact group was not connected on most backplane slots;
the 5th was unsupported on 8 of the 12 or 20 backplane slots, and
was used primarily for additional power and ground distribution).
Reason for introduction: Using TTL MSI and LSI components, DEC was able
to reduce the PDP-8 CPU to a single oversize board (formally, hex
height, double width). Similarly, they were able to make an 4K
core memory board, and later, an 8K board in this format, and they
were able to introduce a static RAM card using semiconductor
memory. The minimum system was thus reduced to 3 boards. The
relatively expensive lights and toggle switches on the front panel
of the PDP-8/E were replaced with an octal membrane keypad and
4-digit 7-segment LED display.
The market for the PDP-8 was dominated by small systems, with
fewer and fewer customers needing large-scale expandability.
Thus, the 20 slot backplane of the early OMNIBUS machines was too
big; with the new single board CPU and memory, a 12 slot backplane
was enough, allowing further cost reductions.
Reason for withdrawal: The market for the PDP-8 family was shrinking in
the face of pressure from larger minicomputers and the new
monolithic microcomputers. After 1975, many PDP-8 sales were to
captive customers who had sufficient software investments that
they could not afford to move. Only the word-processing and
small business markets remained strong for first-time PDP-8
sales, and in these, the specialized DEC VT-78 and DECmate
machines were more cost effective than the open architecture
OMNIBUS machines.
Compatability: The new PDP-8/A CPU was largely compatable with the
PDP-8/E CPU, except that the combination of RTR and RTL (Group 1
OPR instructions) loaded the next address. The power-fail
auto-restart option included the standard skip on power low
instruction, but also a new skip on battery empty instruction to
test the battery used for back-up power on the new solid state
memory.
The standard parallel port on the M8316 was not software
compatable with the earlier line-printer interfaces used with
device code 66.
Standard configurations: The PDP-8/A was sold with a new short OMNIBUS
backplane, mounted on its side above a power supply and a
battery to back up the solid state memory. The minimum
configuration included a limited function control panel and the
following components on the bus:
-- M8315 -- KK8A CPU board
-- M???? -- MS8A 1K to 4K solid state memory.
-- M???? -- MR8A ROM companion for the MS8A.
-- M8316 -- DKC8AA serial/parallel interface and clock.
The M8316 board contained a remarkable but useful hodgepodge of
commonly used peripherals, including the console terminal
interface, a parallel port, the power/fail auto-restart logic,
and a 100 Hz real time clock.
The smallest PDP-8/A configuraton marketed was the KIT/8A, either
just the KK8A and MS8A 1K boards for $572, or $1350 for a system
that appears to have included the M8316 and a 4 slot backplane.
The 8/A 100, was a computer system with a 10 slot backplane
and a poor power supply. The 8/A 400 was a better system with
a 12 slot backplane, and the 8/A 420 had a 20 slot backplane.
The 8/A 600 and 620 were the 8/A 400 and 420 with the KK8E
PDP-8/E CPU set allowing added speed and the use of the 8/E EAE.
Expandability: All PDP-8/E peripherals and options could be used with
the PDP-8/A. For those configurations requiring more than 20
backplane slots, A pair of PDP-8/A backplanes could be connected
using BC08H cables, and there was a special cable, the BC80C,
for connecting a hex wide 8A backplane to a PDP-8/E, -8/F or
-8/M backplane.
By February 1975, the PDP-8/A was being sold in a workstation
configuration, with the CPU and dual 8" diskette drives in a desk
with a video terminal (VT52) and optional letter quality printer
on top. For the educational market, this configuration was
marketed as the CLASSIC. As an office system, such configurations
were marketed as DECDataSystems.
The following additional PDP-8/A (hex) boards were offered:
-- G649 \_ MM8AA 8K Core stack (too slow for 8/E CPU!).
-- H219A / MM8AA 8K Core memory control.
-- G650 \_ MM8AB 16K Core stack (ok for 8/E CPU!).
-- H219B / MM8AB 16K Core memory control.
-- M8349 -- MR8F 1K ROM (quad, overlayable with core).
-- M8317 -- KM8A memory extender (with variations).
-- M8319 -- KL8A 4 channel RS232 or current loop serial I/O.
-- M8433 -- RL8A controller for 1 to 4 RL01/RL02 disk drives.
-- M8410 \_ FPP8A floating point processor control
-- M8411 / FPP8A floating point processor data path
The PDP-8/A model 800 was the same as the model 600, but with the
FPP8A floating point processor included as part of the package.
-- M8416 -- KT8AA Memory management unit for up to 128K.
-- -- KC8AA Programmer's Console (requires M8316)
-- M8417 -- MSC8DJ 128K DRAM MOS Memory.
Note that memory extension to 128K was a new PDP-8/A feature that
was necessarily incompatable with the older PDP-8 memory expansion
options, although the conventional PDP-8 memory expansion
instructions still operate correctly on the first 32K. Access to
additional fields involved borrowing IOT instructions that were
previously dedicated to other devices.
The MM8A core memory options require the use of a box with a G8018
power supply that provides +20V, while the semicondustor memory
options require a G8016 power supply with built-in battery backup.
Also, the use of the MSC8 DRAM memory cards require a CPU that
supports the memory stall signal; early PDP-8/E CPUs did not.
Survival: As with the PDP-8/E, these machines are moderately common on the
surplus market and a modest number are still in use.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a VT78?
Date of introduction: 1978
Date of withdrawal: 1980 (Displaced by the DECmate)
Also known as:
DECstation
DECstation 78
Price: $7,995 ($5,436 in lots of 100)
Technology: Based on the Intersil/Harris 6100 microprocessor, packaged
in a VT52 case. The 6100 processor was able to run at 4 MHz, but
in the VT78, it was only clocked at 2.2 MHz because of the speed
of the DRAM used and the deliberate use of graded out chips.
Reason for introduction: Using TTL MSI and LSI components, DEC could
pack a system into the vacant space in a standard terminal case,
allowing PDP-8 systems to compete with personal computers in the
small business and office automation market. This was a natural
follow-on to the desk-mounted workstation configurations in which
the PDP-8/A was already being sold.
Compatability: The Group I OPR combinations RAL RAR and RTL RTR are
no-ops. Unlike all earlier PDP-8 models, autoindex locations
10 to 17 (octal) only work in page zero mode; these operate like
all other memory locations when addressed in current page mode
from code running on page zero. Other than this, it is fully
PDP-8/E compatable, even at the level of I/O instructions for
the standard periperals; this was the last PDP-8 to offer this
level of compatability.
It was not possible to continue from a halt without restarting
the machine. In addition, none of the peripherals available on
this machine needed DMA (data break) transfers.
Standard configuration: The VT78 was sold with 16k words of DRAM with
the keyboard and display of the VT52 terminal. An RX01 dual 8"
diskette drive was included, packaged in a teacart pedestal under
the terminal. The console (device 03/04) and the serial ports
(devices 30/31 and 32/33) are compatible with the M8650 KL8E,
with the latter extended to allow software controlled baud rate
selection. There are two parallel ports; device 66 (compatible
with the M8365 printer controller) and device 47, compatible with
the nonstandard port on the M8316 DKC8AA. There is also a 100Hz
clock compatible with the clock on the M8316 DKC8AA.
The standard ROM boots the system from the RX01 after setting the
baud rates to match that selected by the switches on the bottom
of the VT52 case.
Expandability: This was a closed system, with few options. The base
configuration was able to support two RX01 drives (later RX02),
for a total of 4 transports. Various boot ROM's were available,
including a paper-tape RIM loader ROM for loading diagnostics
from tape. Another ROM boots the system from a PDP-11 server in
the client/server configuration used by WPS-11.
Survival: There are probably many VT78 systems still in use.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a DECmate I?
Date of introduction: 1980
Date of withdrawal: 1984 (Phased out in favor of the DECmate II)
Also known as: DECmate (prior to the DECmate II, no suffix was used)
VT278
Technology: Based on the Harris 6120 microprocessor, packaged in a
VT-100 box with keyboard and display.
Reason for introduction: This machine was aimed primarily at the market
originally opened by the VT78, using a new gate-array implementation
of the PDP-8 built under contract with DEC by Harris. The Harris
6120 was designed to run at 10 Mhz, and the new packaging was
optimized for minimum cost and mass production efficiency.
Compatability: A new feature was introduced in the 6120 microprocessor:
The Group I OPR combination RAL RAR was defined as R3L, or rotate
accumulator 3 places left, so that byte swap (BSW) is equivalent
to R3L;R3L. RTR RTL remained a no-op, as in the 6100.
Also, the EAE operations not implemented in the basic CPU cause
the CPU to hang awaiting completion of the operation by a
coprocessor. Unfortunately, no EAE coprocessor was ever offered.
The printer port offered software baud-rate selection compatable
with the VT78 baud-rate selection scheme. The dual-port data
communications option was flexible but completely incompatable
with all previous PDP-8 serial ports.
The console and printer ports are not fully compatable with the
earlier PDP-8 serial ports. Specifically, on earlier serial
interfaces, it was possible to test flags without resetting them,
but on the DECmate machines, testing the keyboard input flag
always resets the flag as a side effect. In addition, on the
console port, every successful test of the flag must be followed
by reading a character or the flag will never be set again.
It was not possible to continue from a halt without restarting
the machine.
The large amount of device emulation performed by the CPU in
supporting screen updates severely limits the ability of the
system to run in real time.
Standard configuration: The DECmate I was sold with 32k words of memory,
with a small control memory added to handle control/status,
console device emulation and boot options. The console terminal
keyboard and display functions are largely supported by code
running in control memory (a less expensive alternative to
dedicating hardware for this, as was done in the VT78).
The DECmate I came with an integral printer port, compatable with
the VT78 (device 32/33), and it had an RX02 dual 8 inch diskette
drive, mounted in the short pedistal under the terminal/CPU box.
A 100Hz clock was included, as in the VT78 and PDP-8/A.
Expandability: This was a closed system, with limited options.
Specifically, a second RX02 could be connected (or an RX01,
because that had a compatable connector), the DP278A and DP278B
communications boards (really the same board, but the DP278B had
2 extra chips), and the RL-278 disk controller, able to accomodate
from 1 to 4 RL02 rack mount disk drives.
When the DP278A option is added, additional routines in control
memory come alive to handle terminal emulaton and allow diskless
operation. The terminal emulator is an extended VT100 subset
that is essentially compatable in 80 column mode. The DP278A
option could support both asynchronous and synchronous protocols,
and the DP278B could handle SDLC and other nasty bit-stuffing
protocols.
Various pedestal and desk configurations were sold for housing
the RX01 and RX02 drives, most being teacart style designs, but
there was also a pedestal version that was essentially a
repackaging of the RX02 with either 2 or 4 new 8 inch disk
transports (physically incompatable with earlier DEC transports).
Survival: Many DECmates are still in use, and they are fairly common on
the surplus market. They are found in small numbers just about
anywhere large numbers of early PC vintage machines are found.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a DECmate II?
Date of introduction: 1982
Date of withdrawal: 1986
Also known as:
PC27X series.
Price: $1,435
Technology: Based on the 6120 microprocessor, this shared the same
packaging as DEC's other competitors in the PC market, the
Rainbow (8088 based) and the PRO-325 (PDP-11 based).
Reason for introduction: This machine was introduced in order to allow
more flexibility than the DECmate I and to allow more sharing of
parts with the VT220 and DEC's other personal computers.
Compatability: Same as the DECmate I, except it could continue from a
halt. There was better hardware for device emulation support,
allowing for somewhat better real-time performance. The data
communications port was an incompatable improvement on the
incompatable DECmate I communications port. No built-in terminal
emulation was provided, and the data communications port supported
only one line, but aside from this, the data communications port
is essentially as powerful as the DP-278B on the DECmate I.
Standard Configuration: The DECmate II was sold with 32K of program
memory, plus a second full bank for dedicated control panel
function emulation. Code running in the second bank is sometimes
referred to as slushware; it looks like hardware to the PDP-8
user, but it is actually device emulation software that is loaded
from the boot diskette.
An integral RX50 dual 5 1/4 inch diskette drive with an 8051
controller chip was included, along with a printer port, a 100Hz
real-time clock, single data communications port, and interfaces
to the monitor and keyboard. The diskette drive can read
single-sided 48 track-per-inch diskettes, so it might be possible
to read (but not write) IBM PC diskettes on it.
Expandability: This was the most open of the DECmate systems, with a
number of disk options: An additional pair of RX50 drives could
be added, and with the RX78 board, it could support a pair of
dual 8 inch drives, either RX01 or RX02.
As an alternative to the RX78, there was a controller for an
MFM hard drive. The interface to the RX78 board wasn't fully
compatable with earlier interfaces to RX01 and RX02, and there
was no way to have both an RX78 and an MFM drive. The MFM drive
could be up to 64 MB, with 16 sectors per track, 512 bytes each
and at most 8 heads and 1024 (or possibly 4096) cylinders. A
power supply upgrade was needed to support the MFM drive. DEC
sold this machine with 5, 10 and 20 meg hard drives, Seagate
ST-506, 412, and 225 respectively.
A graphics board supporting a color monitor could be added in
addition to the monochrome console display; two variants of
this board were produced during the production run, all slightly
incompatable.
A coprocessor board could be added, with communication to and
from the coprocessor through device 14. DEC sold three boards,
an APU board (Z80 and 64K), and two XPU boards (Z80, 8086 and
either 256K or 512K). If these added processors are used, the
6120 processor is usually used as an I/O server for whatever
ran on the coprocessor. The XPU boards used a Z80 for I/O
support, so 8086 I/O was very indirect, particularly if it
involved I/O to a PDP-8 device that was emulated from control
memory. Despite this, the DECmate version of MS/DOS is generally
faster than MS/DOS on more recent 80286 and 80386 based IBM PCs
because of effective use of the coprocessors (but they couldn't
run MS/DOS code that bypasses MS/DOS for I/O).
Survival: As with the DECmate I.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a DECmate III?
Date of introduction: 1984
Date of withdrawal: 1990
Also known as:
PC23P-Ax/LH -- where x gave the monitor color A (B/W), J(Grn), S(Amb).
Price: $2,695 - $2885
Technology: Same as the DECmate II.
Reason for introduction: Again, DEC discovered that the market for large
systems was dominated by other products, and that the PDP-8 based
products were rarely expanded to their full potential. Thus,
there was no point in paying the price for expandability.
Compatability: Same as the DECmate II, except that the printer port is
fixed at 4800 baud.
Standard Configuration: The DECmate III was sold with 32K of program
memory, plus a second full bank for dedicated control panel
functions, an integral RX50 dual 5 1/4 inch diskette drive with
an 8051 controller chip, a printer port, a 100Hz real-time-clock,
a data communications port, and interfaces for the VR-201 monitor
and keyboard.
Expandability: A revised version of the Z80 based coprocessor for the
DECmate II was available for $430 (PC23X-AB/LH), and a graphics
board largely compatable with the later DECmate II graphics board
could be added for $630 (PC23X-CA/LH), allowing the standard
monochrome monitor to be replaced with a VR-241 color monitor.
Dual monitor configurations were not supported. An obscure
variant of the DEC scholar modem was also supported for $630
(PC23X-DA/LH).
Survival: As with the DECmate I.
------------------------------
Subject: What is a DECmate III+?
Date of introduction: 1985
Date of withdrawal: 1990
Also known as:
PC24P-Ax/LH -- where x gave the monitor color A (B/W), J(Grn), S(Amb).
Price: $5,145
Technology: Same as the DECmate II.
Reason for introduction: This machine apparently represents the last
gasp of the PDP-8, hunting for the remains of the ever-shrinking
market niche that the earlier DECmates had carved out. The
market niche was not there, and the production runs for this
machine were short enough that UV erasable EPROM technology was
used where earlier DECmates had used mask programmed chips.
Compatability: Same as the DECmate II, but the machine was unable to
read 48 track per inch IBM formatted diskettes. Again the
printer port was fixed at 4800 baud.
Standard Configuration: The DECmate III+ was sold with 32K of program
memory, plus a second bank for dedicated control panel functions,
an integral RX33 single 5 1/4 inch diskette drive with an 8751
controller chip, a printer port, a data communications port and
interfaces to the monitor and keyboard. A hard disk controller
compatable with the optional one on the DECmate II was included,
supporting an integral ST-225 20 MB disk; it is likely that it
can only handle up to 1024 cylinders, but it is otherwise
compatable with the DECmate II.
Expandability: The same coprocessor option sold with the DECmate III was
available, but because of the difficulty of adding a second floppy
drive, this was rarely used (the Z80 was most likely to be used
to run CP/M, but that system requires two drives to handle the
installation procedure; an appropriately configured bootable
image created on a DECmate II or III could run on a DECmate III+).
The same graphics board as used on the DECmate III was also
available. The circuit traces and connectors for the Scholar
modem are present, but this option was never sold on the
DECmate III+.
Survival: As with the other DECmates.
------------------------------
End of PDP-8 Summary of Models and Options (posted every other month)
*********************************************************************
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