Difference between revisions of "MS750 Memory System"

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(MS750-HB used the then-new L0022 Memory Controller Module)
 
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The Memory Controller Module connects to the /750's [[CPU/Memory Interconnect]] [[bus]], and also to an internal memory bus - which does not seem to have a formal name - which runs to the memory array modules' slots.
 
The Memory Controller Module connects to the /750's [[CPU/Memory Interconnect]] [[bus]], and also to an internal memory bus - which does not seem to have a formal name - which runs to the memory array modules' slots.
  
The Memory Controller Module (either L0011, L0016, or L0022) resides in a custom slot in the main [[backplane]]; slot 10. The memory array modules have their own slots in a dedicated section of the backplane, 8 slots in total. (The physical backplane itself, [[DEC part number]] 50-13821/70-16486, is shared with the [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]]).
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The Memory Controller Module (either L0011, L0016, or L0022) resides in a custom slot in the main [[backplane]]; slot 10. The memory array modules have their own slots in a dedicated section of the backplane, 8 slots in total. (The physical backplane itself, [[DEC part number]] 50-13821/70-16486, is shared with the [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]]).
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A later version, the '''MS750-HB''' which used the then-new L0022 Memory Controller Module, allowed the use of up to two M7199 4MB memory array modules; the older Memory Controller Modules were restricted to smaller memory array modules.
 
   
 
   
==VAX-11/750 Memory Controllers==
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==MS750 Memory Controllers==
  
 
[[Image:256KBMemoryArray.jpg|thumb|200px|right|256KB module]]
 
[[Image:256KBMemoryArray.jpg|thumb|200px|right|256KB module]]
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The earlier array modules are also used with the [[MK11 memory system]] of the [[PDP-11/70]].
 
The earlier array modules are also used with the [[MK11 memory system]] of the [[PDP-11/70]].
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==Further reading==
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* ''MS750-HB User Guide'' (EK-MS75H-UG-001) - not online (yet; coming soon, we hope)
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* ''MS750-HB Field Maintenance Print Set'' (MP-02061) - not online
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/750/EK-MS750-TD-001_VAX-11_750_Memory_System_Technical_Description_198009.pdf VAX-11/750 Memory System Technical Description] (EK-MS750-TD-001) <!-- https://www.vaxhaven.com/images/9/97/EK-MS750-TD-001.pdf -->
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/750/EK-MS750-TD-001_VAX-11_750_Memory_System_Technical_Description_198009.pdf VAX-11/750 Memory System Technical Description] (EK-MS750-TD-001) <!-- https://www.vaxhaven.com/images/9/97/EK-MS750-TD-001.pdf -->
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* [https://vt100.net/mirror/hcps/si75fin1.pdf VAX-11/750 Installation Manual] (EK-SI75F-IN-001) - the MS750 is covered in Chapter 9 (pp. 131-132 of the PDF)
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/750/MP01404_750_Engineering_Drawings_Memory_Controller_198206.pdf Comet Memory Unit Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP01404) - covers the L0016
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/750/MP01404_750_Engineering_Drawings_Memory_Controller_198206.pdf Comet Memory Unit Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP01404) - covers the L0016
 
* [https://manx-docs.org/collections/hcps/m8750.pdf M8750 Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP01398) - very faint scans
 
* [https://manx-docs.org/collections/hcps/m8750.pdf M8750 Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP01398) - very faint scans

Latest revision as of 16:32, 12 August 2024

/750 backplane from behind, showing the slots occupied by the MS750 in the centre

The MS750 Memory System is the main memory for the VAX-11/750; it consists of:

  • one Memory Controller module (MCM)
  • one to eight memory array modules

The Memory Controller Module connects to the /750's CPU/Memory Interconnect bus, and also to an internal memory bus - which does not seem to have a formal name - which runs to the memory array modules' slots.

The Memory Controller Module (either L0011, L0016, or L0022) resides in a custom slot in the main backplane; slot 10. The memory array modules have their own slots in a dedicated section of the backplane, 8 slots in total. (The physical backplane itself, DEC part number 50-13821/70-16486, is shared with the CPU).

A later version, the MS750-HB which used the then-new L0022 Memory Controller Module, allowed the use of up to two M7199 4MB memory array modules; the older Memory Controller Modules were restricted to smaller memory array modules.

MS750 Memory Controllers

256KB module

There were three different Memory Controller Modules for the MS750:

  • L0011 - up to eight M8728 256KB memory array modules = 2MB max.
  • L0016 - up to eight M8750 1MB memory array modules = 8MB max.
  • L0022 - up to two M7199 4MB memory array modules and six M8750 1MB memory array modules = 14MB max.

(14MB of Memory is the architectural limit of the VAX-11/750)

1MB module


The earlier array modules are also used with the MK11 memory system of the PDP-11/70.

Further reading

  • MS750-HB User Guide (EK-MS75H-UG-001) - not online (yet; coming soon, we hope)
  • MS750-HB Field Maintenance Print Set (MP-02061) - not online

External links