Difference between revisions of "Able Computer"
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'''Able Computer''' was a company based in Irvine, California which made a variety of [[device controller]]s and similar devices (e.g. [[cache]]s) for [[PDP-11]]s and other machines which used the [[UNIBUS]] or [[QBUS]]. | '''Able Computer''' was a company based in Irvine, California which made a variety of [[device controller]]s and similar devices (e.g. [[cache]]s) for [[PDP-11]]s and other machines which used the [[UNIBUS]] or [[QBUS]]. | ||
| − | The controllers were usually program | + | The controllers were usually [[program compatible]] to existing [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] products, but more cost-effective; their other boards offered performance and capability enhancements that DEC themselves did not offer. |
The following table gives the part numbers and [[DEC card form factor|sizes]] of Able products, to aid in identification of un-identified boards: | The following table gives the part numbers and [[DEC card form factor|sizes]] of Able products, to aid in identification of un-identified boards: | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
| [[Able UNIVERTER|UNIVERTER]] || 10001 || quad* || Y || QBUS || UNIBUS output | | [[Able UNIVERTER|UNIVERTER]] || 10001 || quad* || Y || QBUS || UNIBUS output | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | CACHE/45 || 10003? (main)<br>10020 (jumper) || hex (main) + double dual (jumper) || Y || PDP-11/45, etc | + | | [[Able CACHE/45|CACHE/45]] || 10003? (main)<br>10020 (jumper) || hex (main) + double dual (jumper) || Y || PDP-11/45, etc |
|- | |- | ||
| REBUS || 10014 || double dual || Y% || UNIBUS | | REBUS || 10014 || double dual || Y% || UNIBUS | ||
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| QUADRASYNC/B || 10015 || quad || Y || UNIBUS || [[EIA RS-232 serial line interface|EIA]] only | | QUADRASYNC/B || 10015 || quad || Y || UNIBUS || [[EIA RS-232 serial line interface|EIA]] only | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | SCAT/45 || 10017 (control)<br>10025 (data) || hex (control and data) || Y control<br>Y% (data) || [[PDP-11/45]], etc | + | | [[Able SCAT/45|SCAT/45]] || 10017 (control)<br>10025 (data) || hex (control and data) || Y control<br>Y% (data) || [[PDP-11/45]], etc |
|- | |- | ||
| QUADRASYNC/C || 10022 || quad || Y% || UNIBUS || [[20mA current loop serial line interface|20mA]] | | QUADRASYNC/C || 10022 || quad || Y% || UNIBUS || [[20mA current loop serial line interface|20mA]] | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
| Dual I/O || 10039 || quad || Y% || UNIBUS | | Dual I/O || 10039 || quad || Y% || UNIBUS | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | QUADRACALL || 10045 || quad || Y | + | | QUADRACALL || 10045 || quad || Y || UNIBUS |
|- | |- | ||
| DMAX/16 || 10048 || double hex || Y% || UNIBUS | | DMAX/16 || 10048 || double hex || Y% || UNIBUS | ||
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The notation "PDP-11/45, etc" means it also applies to the -11/50 and -11/55 (machines which are physically identical to the -11/45, with different [[main memory]] configurations). | The notation "PDP-11/45, etc" means it also applies to the -11/50 and -11/55 (machines which are physically identical to the -11/45, with different [[main memory]] configurations). | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/able/ Able] - manuals at [[Bitsavers]] | ||
| + | ** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/able/brochures/Able_Computer_Product_Summary.pdf ABLE product summary] - synopsis and small image of all products | ||
| + | ** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/able/brochures/Able_Computer_Product_Brochures_1982.pdf ABLE product brochures] - header sheet, and brochures for about a dozen ABLE products | ||
[[Category: Board Manufacturers]] | [[Category: Board Manufacturers]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:48, 5 December 2022
Able Computer was a company based in Irvine, California which made a variety of device controllers and similar devices (e.g. caches) for PDP-11s and other machines which used the UNIBUS or QBUS.
The controllers were usually program compatible to existing DEC products, but more cost-effective; their other boards offered performance and capability enhancements that DEC themselves did not offer.
The following table gives the part numbers and sizes of Able products, to aid in identification of un-identified boards:
| Product | Part Number | Size | Image | Host Bus or Machine | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERTER | 10001 | quad* | Y | QBUS | UNIBUS output |
| CACHE/45 | 10003? (main) 10020 (jumper) |
hex (main) + double dual (jumper) | Y | PDP-11/45, etc | |
| REBUS | 10014 | double dual | Y% | UNIBUS | |
| QUADRASYNC/B | 10015 | quad | Y | UNIBUS | EIA only |
| SCAT/45 | 10017 (control) 10025 (data) |
hex (control and data) | Y control Y% (data) |
PDP-11/45, etc | |
| QUADRASYNC/C | 10022 | quad | Y% | UNIBUS | 20mA |
| QUADRASYNC/E | 10028 | hex* | Y | UNIBUS | EIA, modem control |
| CACHE/440 | 10031 | double dual | Y | PDP-11/40 | has termination resistors |
| CACHE/434 | 10033? | double dual | Y | PDP-11/34 | none, just sockets |
| Dual I/O | 10039 | quad | Y% | UNIBUS | |
| QUADRACALL | 10045 | quad | Y | UNIBUS | |
| DMAX/16 | 10048 | double hex | Y% | UNIBUS | |
| INTERLINK/LSI | 10062 | quad | Y | QBUS | BUSLINK |
| INTERLINK/UNI | 10064 | hex* | Y | UNIBUS | BUSLINK |
| QNIVERTER | 10067 (first version) | quad* | Y | QBUS | UNIBUS input/output |
| DZ/16 | 10090 | hex | Y | UNIBUS | |
| DH/DM | 10100 | hex | Y | UNIBUS | |
| VaxDZ | 10140 | hex | Y% | UNIBUS | |
| UNIMAP | 10143 | quad* | N | QBUS | UNIBUS output |
| VMZ/32 | 10185 | hex | Y | UNIBUS | |
| QNIVERTER | (second version) | quad* | Y# | QBUS | UNIBUS input/output |
| VMZ/LP | quad | Y | UNIBUS | ||
| DV/16 | hex | Y | UNIBUS | ||
| ENABLE | hex* (main board), quad (optional cache) | Y | MUD | UNIBUS input, output (optional) | |
| Q/DH | quad | Y | QBUS | ||
| QNIMAP | double dual | Y | QBUS | ||
| EASYWAY | hex | Y | UNIBUS | Ethernet |
* indicates a non-rectangular board; usually because there is a UNIBUS female connector on the back edge of the board
% indicates a poor image, from a sales brochure
# indicates we have images of a card that is probably the second version, but no confirmation from Able docs
The notation "PDP-11/45, etc" means it also applies to the -11/50 and -11/55 (machines which are physically identical to the -11/45, with different main memory configurations).
External links
- Able - manuals at Bitsavers
- ABLE product summary - synopsis and small image of all products
- ABLE product brochures - header sheet, and brochures for about a dozen ABLE products
