Difference between revisions of "VAX-11/730"

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| Codename = Nebula
 
| Codename = Nebula
 
| OS-support-VMS = VMS V3.0
 
| OS-support-VMS = VMS V3.0
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| CPU-module = KA730
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| CPU-module = [[KA730 CPU|KA730]]
 
| Num-proc = 1
 
| Num-proc = 1
 
| CPU-technology = Bipolar Schottky
 
| CPU-technology = Bipolar Schottky
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| VUPs = 0.3
 
| VUPs = 0.3
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''VAX-11/730''' was the third [[VAX]] introduced, and the slowest implementation of the VAX architecture to have been made. By way of extensive [[microcoding]] of the large architecture, the [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] was shrunk to three [[DEC card form factor|hex]] boards. The machine seems to have been most popular for application development projects for the VAX - where the architecture was needed, but not necessarily performance.
  
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The '''VAX-11/730''' was the third [[VAX]] introduced, and the slowest implementation of the VAX architecture to have been made. By way of extensive [[microcoding]] of the large architecture, the CPU was shrunk to three [[DEC card form factor|hex]] boards. The machine seems to have been most popular for application development projects for the VAX - where the architecture was needed, but not necessarily performance.
+
It was also sold as [[VAX-11/725]], which was a smaller-size packaging of the same machine.
 +
 
 +
It uses the [[UNIBUS]] for one of its [[input/output]] [[bus]]es; the 'Port Bus', used for data transfer, is the other. The only device on the Port Bus is the [[RB730 Integrated Disk Controller]], which also connects to the UNIBUS for [[interrupt]]s (it plugs into a dedicated, custom [[backplane]] slot). The [[main memory]] uses the same internal memory bus as the [[MS750 Memory System]] (and thus the same memory array modules, 1-5 of them).
 +
 
 +
A [[DMF32 Multi-Function Communications Interface]] is usually included, to provide a variety of low-speed I/O capabilities.
 +
 
 +
The [[front panel]] functionality is performed by an 8085A [[microprocessor]], which uses a [[TU58 DECtape II|TU58]] [[magnetic tape drive]] for [[mass storage]]. The 8085A and associated circuitry (three [[asynchronous serial line]]s; for the console, TU58, and a [[modem]] for remote diagnosis) are contained on the Writeable Control Store CPU card.
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==Hardware Details==
 +
 
 +
The boards are all mounted in a [[BA11-Z mounting Box]], which holds a custom 12-slot backplane ([[DEC part number]] 70-18080-0-1  for the complete assembly).<!--, 54-13593/50-13592 for the [[printed circuit board|PCB]]) --> In addition to the slots for the CPU, main memory, and IDC, it provides a slot which can be used to hold the DMF32 (probably a [[Modified UNIBUS Device|MUD/SPC]] slot, but this is not confirmed), and one [[Small Peripheral Controller|SPC]] slot, which also contained the 'UNIBUS out'.
  
−
It was also sold as [[VAX-11/725]], which was a smaller-size packaging of the same machine.
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Board locations are:
 +
<!-- (as seen from the board insertion side of the backplane, not the wire-wrap pin side, as is common in [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] documentation) -->
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{| class="wikitable"
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! !! colspan="6" | Connector
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|-
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! Slot !! A !! B !! C !! D !! E !! F
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|-
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| 1 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | RB730 IDC (M8388)
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|-
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| 2 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | FP730 FPA (M8389)
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|-
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| 3 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | KA730 DAP (M8390)
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|-
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| 4 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | KA730 MCT (M8391)
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|-
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| 5 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | KA730 WCS (M8394)
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|-
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| 6 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | MS730-CA Memory 0 (M8750)
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|-
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| 7 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | MS730-CA Memory 1 (M8750)
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|-
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| 8 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | MS730-CA Memory 2 (M8750)
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|-
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| 9 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | MS730-CA Memory 3 (M8750)
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|-
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| 10 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | MS730-CA Memory 4 (M8750)
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|-
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| 11 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | DMF32-AA (M8396)
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|-
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| 12 || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | UNIBUS Out || colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" | SPC
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|}
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Apparently the [[bus grant line]]s are run through the memory slots (perhaps so that they can be used to hold [[peripheral]]s if they are otherwise unused, but this has not yet been documented); a [[G7273 grant continuity card]] must be installed in any unused memory slot.
  
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{{semi-stub}}
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The 'UNIBUS out' slot will hold an [[M9302 UNIBUS terminator]] if there is no [[mounting box|expansion box]] to hold other peripherals.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/handbook/VAX_Hardware_Handbook_Volume_1_1986.pdf VAX Hardware Handbook Volume 1] - the VAX-11/730 is covered in Chapter 3 (pp. 132-152 of the PDF)
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/handbook/VAX_Hardware_Handbook_Volume_1_1986.pdf VAX Hardware Handbook Volume 1] - the VAX-11/730 is covered in Chapter 3 (pp. 132-152 of the PDF)
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/730/ VAX/730] - documentation at Bitsavers
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/730/ VAX/730] - documentation at Bitsavers
−
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/730/EK-KA730-TD-001_VAX-11_730_CPU_Technical_Description_198205.pdf VAX-11/730 Central Processing Unit Technical Description] (EK-KA730-TD-001)
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/730/EK-1173-UG-003_VAX_11_730_Hardware_Users_Guide_198312.pdf VAX-11/730 Hardware User's Guide] (EK-1173-UG-003)
 
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/730/MP01270_11-730_Engineering_Drawings_198204.pdf 11/730-Z Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP01270)
 
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/730/MP01270_11-730_Engineering_Drawings_198204.pdf 11/730-Z Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP01270)
  
 
{{Nav VAX}}
 
{{Nav VAX}}
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[[Category: VAX Minicomputers]]
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[[Category: VAX-11/7xx Systems]]

Latest revision as of 19:49, 19 May 2024


VAX-11/730
Summary
Announcement date: April 1982
Codename: Nebula
OS support (VMS): VMS V3.0
CPU Details
CPU module: KA730
Number of processors: 1
CPU technology: Bipolar Schottky
CPU cycle time: 270ns [1]
Instruction-buffer: 4 bytes [1]
Translation-buffer: 128 entries [1]
Writable Control Store: 16K 24-bit words [1]
Compatibility mode: Yes [1]
Console processor: 8085A [1]
Console device: TU58
Memory
Minimum memory: 1MB [1]
Maximum memory: 5MB
Physical address lines: 24 [1]
Memory checking: 7-bit ECC/longword [1]
Memory cycle: 810ns [1]
I/O
UNIBUS: 1 @ 1.5MB/s [1]
LAN support: optional
Performance
VUPs: 0.3

The VAX-11/730 was the third VAX introduced, and the slowest implementation of the VAX architecture to have been made. By way of extensive microcoding of the large architecture, the CPU was shrunk to three hex boards. The machine seems to have been most popular for application development projects for the VAX - where the architecture was needed, but not necessarily performance.

It was also sold as VAX-11/725, which was a smaller-size packaging of the same machine.

It uses the UNIBUS for one of its input/output buses; the 'Port Bus', used for data transfer, is the other. The only device on the Port Bus is the RB730 Integrated Disk Controller, which also connects to the UNIBUS for interrupts (it plugs into a dedicated, custom backplane slot). The main memory uses the same internal memory bus as the MS750 Memory System (and thus the same memory array modules, 1-5 of them).

A DMF32 Multi-Function Communications Interface is usually included, to provide a variety of low-speed I/O capabilities.

The front panel functionality is performed by an 8085A microprocessor, which uses a TU58 magnetic tape drive for mass storage. The 8085A and associated circuitry (three asynchronous serial lines; for the console, TU58, and a modem for remote diagnosis) are contained on the Writeable Control Store CPU card.

Hardware Details

The boards are all mounted in a BA11-Z mounting Box, which holds a custom 12-slot backplane (DEC part number 70-18080-0-1 for the complete assembly). In addition to the slots for the CPU, main memory, and IDC, it provides a slot which can be used to hold the DMF32 (probably a MUD/SPC slot, but this is not confirmed), and one SPC slot, which also contained the 'UNIBUS out'.

Board locations are:

Connector
Slot A B C D E F
1 RB730 IDC (M8388)
2 FP730 FPA (M8389)
3 KA730 DAP (M8390)
4 KA730 MCT (M8391)
5 KA730 WCS (M8394)
6 MS730-CA Memory 0 (M8750)
7 MS730-CA Memory 1 (M8750)
8 MS730-CA Memory 2 (M8750)
9 MS730-CA Memory 3 (M8750)
10 MS730-CA Memory 4 (M8750)
11 DMF32-AA (M8396)
12 UNIBUS Out SPC

Apparently the bus grant lines are run through the memory slots (perhaps so that they can be used to hold peripherals if they are otherwise unused, but this has not yet been documented); a G7273 grant continuity card must be installed in any unused memory slot.

The 'UNIBUS out' slot will hold an M9302 UNIBUS terminator if there is no expansion box to hold other peripherals.

See also

References

[1] VAX Hardware Handbook Volume 1 - 1986.
[2] Systems & Options Catalog. European Edition. Spring 1990.

External links


v • d • e VAX Computers and Operating Systems
VAX-11/7xx (including VAX 86x0) - VAX-11/780 • VAX-11/785 • VAX-11/750 • VAX-11/730 • VAX 8600 • VAX 8650

VAX 8000 series (excluding VAX 86x0, above) - VAX 82xx/83xx series • VAX 85xx/87xx/88xx series

MicroVAXen (many types also come in VAXserver and VAXstation models) - MicroVAX I • MicroVAX II
MicroVAX 2000 • MicroVAX 3100 • MicroVAX 3300/3400 • MicroVAX 3500/3600 • MicroVAX 3800/3900

VAXstation Series - VAXstation I • VAXstation II
VAXstation 3100 • VAXstation 3200/3500 • VAXstation 3520/3540 • VAXstation 4000 • VAXstation 8000

Late Model VAXen - VAX 4000 series • VAX 6000 series • VAX 7000 series • VAX 9000 series • VAX 10000 series

Special Purpose VAXen - VAXft series • rtVAX series • Infoserver series

Clones - CM 1700 • TPA-11/580

Operating Systems: VMS • VAXELN • ULTRIX • BSD UNIX

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