Hardware Documentation - Machines DEC - VAX hardware reference

This is an (incomplete) list of Digital Equipment Corporation VAX computers and specifications. Compiled by abs@NetBSD.org with much help from port-vax@NetBSD.org users.

This is very much still a work in progress - many sections are little more than placeholders. Having said that, there should be enough here to prove useful.

BSD daemon

Index

VAXstations
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VAXstation I (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Seahorse Cpu: KD32, UV1 (250ns)
Vup: 0.3 Bus: Q-bus
Introduced: October 1984 Image: MicroVAX-I (same box)
NetBSD: Cannot run NetBSD (As of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Effectively a MicroVAX I with graphics

VAXstation II (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Mayflower Cpu: KA630, UV2 (200ns), no cache
Vup: 0.9 Tps: 7
Bus: Q-bus (Max 3.3 MB/s)
Memory: 1MB on motherboard, can add up 16MB in 2,4,8, or 16MB cards (base 1MB disabled) (parity)
Enclosure: BA23 or BA123 Image: MicroVAX-II in a BA123 enclosure (same box)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD. (No support for VCB01 as of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Can be made from a MicroVAX II by adding VCB01, or into a VAXstation II/GPX by replacing VCB01 with VCB02

VAXstation II/GPX (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Caylith Cpu: KA630, UV2 (200ns), no cache
Vup: 0.9 Tps: 7
Bus: Q-bus (Max 3.3 MB/s)
Memory: 1MB on motherboard, can add up 16MB in 2,4,8, or 16MB cards (base 1MB disabled) (parity)
Enclosure: BA23 or BA123 Image: MicroVAX-II in a BA123 enclosure (same box)
Introduced: December 1985 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD (no support for VCB02 as of 1.6.1)
Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: Can be made from a MicroVAX II by adding VCB02, or into a VAXstation II by replacing VCB02 with VCB01. There was a two user /GPX that used two sets of VCB02 cards

VAXstation 2000 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: VAXstar; Kapri Cpu: KA410, UV2 (200ns), no cache
Vup: 0.9 Tps: 7
Memory: Base 2MB. Space for one extra board of 4M, 8M or 12MB for a maximum of 14MB. Clearpoint produced a 16MB board that also included an updated ROM required for the vax accept the board (parity)
Bus: none (3.3 MB/s max internal I/O) Max power: 160 W
Introduced: February 1987 Image: VAXstation-2000
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: Can be converted to MicroVAX 2000 by moving one jumper and adding MMJ converter pack.

VAXstation 3100 M30 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: PVAX Cpu: KA42-A, CVAX (90ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 2.8 Tps: 22
Bus: Two NCR-5380 SCSI-1 busses, or SCSI-1 & ST-506. (on daughter card) Enclosure: BA42-A
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VAXstation 3100 M40 used same hardware in a larger BA42-B box. VAXterminal VT1300 is a VAXstation 3100 M30 without the daughter card. Can toggle switch to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-B. Video on motherboard, where SCSI is on MicroVAX 3100 M10

VAXstation 3100 M38 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: PVAX rev Cpu: KA42-B, CVAX+ (60ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 3.8 Tps: (?)
Memory: 4MB on cpu board. 4, 12, or 16MB boards to max 32MB Bus: Two NCR-5380 SCSI-1 busses, or SCSI-1 & ST-506. (on daughter card)
Enclosure: BA42-A Max power: 348 W
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VAXstation 3100 M48 used same hardware in a larger BA42-B box. Can toggle switch to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-E. Video on motherboard, where SCSI is on MicroVAX 3100 M10e

VAXstation 3100 M40 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: PVAX Cpu: KA42-A, CVAX (90ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 2.8 Tps: 22
Bus: Two NCR-5380 SCSI-1 busses, or SCSI-1 & ST-506. (on daughter card) Enclosure: BA42-B
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VAXstation 3100 M30 used same hardware in a smaller BA42-A box. Can toggle switch to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-B. Video on motherboard, where SCSI is on MicroVAX 3100 M20

VAXstation 3100 M48 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: PVAX rev Cpu: KA42-B, CVAX+ (60ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 3.8 Tps: (?)
Memory: 4MB on cpu board. 4, 12, or 16MB boards to max 32MB Bus: Two NCR-5380 SCSI-1 busses, or SCSI-1 & ST-506. (on daughter card)
Enclosure: BA42-B NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VAXstation 3100 M38 used same hardware in a smaller BA42-A box. Can toggle switch to get VAXserver 3100 KA41-E. Video on motherboard, where SCSI is on MicroVAX 3100 M20e

VAXstation 3100 M76 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: RigelMAX Cpu: KA43-A, Rigel (28ns), 2KB on chip cache, 128KB external cache
Vup: 7.6 Tps: (?)
Memory: None on cpu board. 8 slots for 4MB MS44-AA modules. Max 32MB Bus: Two NCR-5380 SCSI busses on motherboard
Enclosure: BA42A Max power: 180 W
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAXstation 3200/3500 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Mayfair/GPX Cpu: KA650, CVAX (90ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 2.8 Tps: (?)
Bus: Q-bus Enclosure: (?)
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAXstation 3520 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Firefox Cpu: Dual CPU KA60, CVAX (80ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 3-10 (?) Probably around 5.5 Tps: (?)
Bus: M-bus (9 slots), SCSI, Q-bus adapter with 3 quadheight slots Enclosure: VS60S
NetBSD: Probably not (As of NetBSD 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Dual processor version of VAXstation 3540. CPU, memory, I/O, graphics and Q-bus-adapter modules sit in M-bus slots. Limited Q-bus modules supported: CXY08, DRQ3B, DVS11, TQK70 and TSV05

VAXstation 3540 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Firefox Cpu: Quad CPU KA60, CVAX (80ns), 1KB on chip cache, 64KB external cache
Vup: 10 Tps: (?)
Bus: M-bus (9 slots), SCSI, Q-bus adapter with 3 quadheight slots Enclosure: VS60S
NetBSD: Probably not (As of NetBSD 1.4) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Quad processor version of VAXstation 3540 CPU, memory, I/O, graphics and Q-bus-adapter modules sit in M-bus slots. Limited Q-bus modules supported: CXY08, DRQ3B, DVS11, TQK70 and TSV05

VAXstation 4000 VLC (M30) (VAXstations index)

Nickname: PVAX2/VLC Cpu: KA48, SOC 25MHz (40ns), 6KB on chip cache
Vup: 6 Specmark89: 6.2
Tps: (?) Bus: SCSI
Memory: Min 8MB, Max 24MB. MS40-BA, memory is standard 72-pin, 80-ns, parity. Larger PS/2 won't fit because of the low profile case.
Max power: 105 W Enclosure: BA10A
Documentation: EK-VAXVL-OG VLC-Owner Guide Order number: PV31x-xx
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD (no support for graphics or audio as of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VLC stands for 'very low cost'. This model is also known as 'VAXstation 4000 M30'. It has an AMD79c30 for ISDN and telephone-grade audio. The connections for an internal speaker are there, but it's not built in.

VAXstation 4000 M60 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: PMariah Cpu: KA46, Mariah 55MHz (18ns), 2KB on chip cache, 256K external cache
Vup: 12 Specmark: 12
Tps: 95 Bus: Turbochannel, SCSI
Memory: Min 8MB, Max 104MB, installed in pairs, MS44L-AA 4 MB parity, MS44-DA 32 MB parity
Enclosure: BA46-B Max power: 465 W
Order number: PV61x-xx Introduced: November 1991
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD (no support for graphics or audio as of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-18

VAXstation 4000 M90 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Cougar Cpu: KA49-A, NVAX 72MHz (14ns), 10KB on chip cache, 256KB external cache
Vup: 40 Specmark89: 32.8
Tps: 125 Bus: Turbochannel, SCSI
Enclosure: BA46-B NetBSD: Can run NetBSD (no support for graphics or audio as of 1.6.1)
Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAXstation 4000 M90A (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Cougar+ Cpu: KA49-A, NVAX 83MHz (12ns), 10KB on chip cache, 256KB external cache
Specmark89: 38.5 Tps: 125
Mem module: MS44L-BC 16MB parity, MS44-DC 64 MB parity Documentation: EK-VAXOG-DK Model 90 Owner's and System Installation Guide
Max power: 465 W Enclosure: BA46-B
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD (no support for graphics or audio as of 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAXstation 4000 M96 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Cougar++ Cpu: KA49-C, NVAX 100MHz (10ns?), 10KB on chip cache, ??KB external cache
Vup: 48.7 Specmark89: 45.6
Tps: 190 Memory: Min 16MB, Max 128MB
Enclosure: BA46-B NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17

VAXstation 8000 (VAXstations index)

Nickname: Lynx Cpu: (?), V-11 (200ns), 8KB on chip cache
Vup: 0.9-2 Tps: (?)
Bus: VAXBI (six slot) and CI Memory: Min 4MB
Enclosure: about the size of a BA213 Introduced: 1988
NetBSD: Probably not (as of NetBSD 1.6.1) Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Same CPU as in VAX 8200, 8300, 8250, and 8350. Digital's first true 3D workstation. Based on the VAX 8200 CPU packaged in a deskside enclosure, the VAXstation 8000 used a sophisticated 3D graphics subsystem designed with Evans and Sutherland. This graphics subsystem consisted of the complete 3D graphics pipeline and additional hardware support for such features as hardware anti-aliasing of vectors and depth queuing.
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