Difference between revisions of "Power 6/32"
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| − | [[Image:Young-sherlock-holmes-knight.jpeg|thumb|right|3D rendering in Young Sherlock Holmes]] | + | [[Image:Young-sherlock-holmes-knight.jpeg|thumb|right|3D rendering by a Power 6/32 in Young Sherlock Holmes]] |
| − | The '''Power 6/32''', code named '''Tahoe''', from [[Computer Consoles Incorporated]], was the [[ | + | The '''Power 6/32''', code named '''Tahoe''', from [[Computer Consoles Incorporated]], was the [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] for a [[supermini]]; the [[Computer Systems Research Group|CSRG]] [[software port|ported]] [[4.3 BSD]] to it, in the '4.3 BSD Tahoe' release. |
| − | Although the Tahoe did help separate out a lot of | + | Although it was not very successful commercially (in part because CCI exited the computer business shortly after it was released), it was very influential as the first non-[[VAX]] machine that [[BSD]] [[UNIX]] was ported to. The Tahoe did help separate out a lot of VAX-specific code from the base, allowing BSD to become more portable, but the Power 6/32 machine quickly disappeared off the market, and not much is known about them. |
| − | Unisys sold the 6/32 under the name | + | It was re-sold (under other names) by several vendors: [[Unisys]] sold the 6/32 under the name 'Unisys 7000/40', using their own bastardized BSD+SYSV Unix. (Kuwait Petroleum in Denmark had one of them.) [[ICL]] had the 'Clan 7'. [[Harris]] had the HCX-5, -7, and -9 models (for which a bit survives - below), running the [[SysV]] derivative HCX/UX. |
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| + | Pixar used a Power 6/32 to render the stained-glass knight in the 1985 movie ''Young Sherlock Holmes''. | ||
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| + | ==Details== | ||
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| + | The Power 6/32 [[CPU]] was implemented in [[transistor-transistor logic|TTL]]; it had a [[clock rate]] of 100nS. | ||
All that I can find out about them is this table from [https://web.archive.org/web/20150123191735/http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/dhrystone.c http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/dhrystone.c] (archive link) | All that I can find out about them is this table from [https://web.archive.org/web/20150123191735/http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/dhrystone.c http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/dhrystone.c] (archive link) | ||
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Which may give some indication on the initial reasons why the Power 6/32 was chosen as the successor to the VAX by CSRG. | Which may give some indication on the initial reasons why the Power 6/32 was chosen as the successor to the VAX by CSRG. | ||
| − | + | {{semi-stub}} | |
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| + | ==External links== | ||
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| + | * [https://virtuallyfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/harris_hcx5.jpg Harris HCX-5] - ad | ||
| + | * [https://virtuallyfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Harris-HCX-9-print-ad.jpg Harris HCX-9] - ad | ||
| + | * [https://virtuallyfun.com/2017/02/24/the-harris-hcx-9-aka-tahoe-platform/ The Harris HCX-9 aka TAHOE platform] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Superminis]] |
Revision as of 19:29, 22 December 2023
The Power 6/32, code named Tahoe, from Computer Consoles Incorporated, was the CPU for a supermini; the CSRG ported 4.3 BSD to it, in the '4.3 BSD Tahoe' release.
Although it was not very successful commercially (in part because CCI exited the computer business shortly after it was released), it was very influential as the first non-VAX machine that BSD UNIX was ported to. The Tahoe did help separate out a lot of VAX-specific code from the base, allowing BSD to become more portable, but the Power 6/32 machine quickly disappeared off the market, and not much is known about them.
It was re-sold (under other names) by several vendors: Unisys sold the 6/32 under the name 'Unisys 7000/40', using their own bastardized BSD+SYSV Unix. (Kuwait Petroleum in Denmark had one of them.) ICL had the 'Clan 7'. Harris had the HCX-5, -7, and -9 models (for which a bit survives - below), running the SysV derivative HCX/UX.
Pixar used a Power 6/32 to render the stained-glass knight in the 1985 movie Young Sherlock Holmes.
Details
The Power 6/32 CPU was implemented in TTL; it had a clock rate of 100nS.
All that I can find out about them is this table from http://www.dunnington.u-net.com/public/dhrystone.c (archive link)
*----------------DHRYSTONE VERSION 1.0 RESULTS BEGIN-------------------------- * * MACHINE MICROPROCESSOR OPERATING COMPILER DHRYSTONES/SEC. * TYPE SYSTEM NO REG REGS * -------------------------- ------------ ----------- --------------- * CCI POWER 6/32 COS(SV+4.2) cc 7500 7800 * CCI POWER 6/32 POWER 6 UNIX/V cc 8236 8498 * CCI POWER 6/32 4.2 Rel. 1.2b cc 8963 9544 * VAX 11/780 - UNIX 5.2 cc 1515 1562 * VAX 11/780 - UNIX 4.3bsd cc 1646 1662
Which may give some indication on the initial reasons why the Power 6/32 was chosen as the successor to the VAX by CSRG.
