PDP-8/A: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Machine  
{{Infobox Machine  
| name = PDP-8/A
| name = PDP-8/A
<!--
| image = PDP-8'A-400.jpg
| image = PDP 8 e Trondheim.jpg
| caption = PDP-8/A-400
| caption = PDP-8/E front panel
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]
| ram = Maximum of 32 kwords in eight 4 kword banks
| architecture = [[PDP-8 architecture|PDP-8]]
-->
| year introduced = 1976
| year introduced = 1976
| form factor = [[minicomputer]]
| form factor = [[minicomputer]]
Line 15: Line 14:
| design type = [[clock]]ed random [[logic]]
| design type = [[clock]]ed random [[logic]]
-->
-->
| clock speed = 333KHz
| clock speed = 666KHz
| memory speed = 1.5 µseconds
<!--
| ram = Maximum of 32 kwords in eight 4 kword banks
-->
| memory speed = 2.3 µseconds
| bus arch = [[OMNIBUS]]
| bus arch = [[OMNIBUS]]
| memory mgmt = bank selection, CPU mode
| memory mgmt = bank selection, CPU mode
| operating system = [[OS/8]], [[TSS/8]]
| operating system = [[OS/8]], [[TSS/8]]
| predecessor = [[PDP-8/E]]
| predecessor = [[PDP-8/E]]
<!--
| successor = None
| successor = [[]]
| price = US$2.6K (CPU. 4KW memory, Operator's Panel)
-->
}}
}}


The '''PDP-8/A''' was [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]'s last non-[[microprocessor]] [[PDP-8]]. The KK8-A [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] was a single [[DEC card form factor|hex]] board, which plugged into an [[OMNIBUS]] [[backplane]]. It supported both [[core memory|core]] [[main memory]] (MM8-AA and MM8-AB) and [[semiconductor]] (MS8-A).
The '''PDP-8/A''' was [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]'s last non-[[microprocessor]] [[PDP-8 family|PDP-8]]. The KK8-A [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] was a single [[DEC card form factor|hex]] board (M8315), which plugged into an [[OMNIBUS]] [[backplane]]. It supported both [[core memory|core]] [[main memory]] (MM8-AA, H219A/G649; and MM8-AB, H219B/G650) and [[semiconductor]] (MS8-A, M8311).


There were a number of options available for use with the -8/A, including:
There were a number of options available for use with the -8/A, including:


* KM8-A Extended Option - main memory extension and [[time-sharing]] control, etc
* KM8-A Extended Option - main memory extension, [[time-sharing]] control, [[bootstrap]] [[read-only memory|ROM]], etc
* FPP8/A Floating Point Processor
* DKC8-AA - [[front panel]] control, [[real-time clock]], [[asynchronous serial line]] interface, [[parallel port]], etc
* DKC8-AA - front panel control, real-time [[clock]], [[asynchronous serial line]] interface, etc
* [[FPP8/A Floating Point Processor]]


The FPP8/A used two hex boards; it was not part of the CPU, but used [[Direct Memory Access|DMA]] for its [[instruction]]s and data. Its [[floating point]] format provided three and six [[word]] formats, with 12 bits of exponent; it also supported double-word integers.
The -8/A could use either an Operator's Panel, or a KC8-AA Programmer's Panel (similar to the [[KY11-LB Programmer's Console|KY11-LB]]); the latter required the DKC8-AA.


The -8/A could use either an Operator's Panel, or a Programmer's Panel (similar to the [[KY11-LB Programmer's Console|KY11-LB]]); the latter required the DKC8-AA.
The -8/A came either as a kit of boards, or as a complete system including a chassis, [[power supply]] and backplane; in the latter form, there was a list of different configurations.


The -8/A came either as a kit of boards, or as a complete system including a chassis, [[power supply]] and backplane; in the latter form, there was a list of different configurations.
==Eternal links==
 
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/pdp8a/ PDP-8/A] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
* [http://www.vandermark.ch/pdp8/uploads/PDP8/PDP8.Manuals/EK-8A002-MM-002.pdf PDP-8/A Miniprocessor Users Manual] (EK-8A002-MM-002)
* [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/dec-faq/pdp8-models/section-11.html PDP-8 Summary of Models and Options - What is a PDP-8/A?]


{{Nav PDP-8}}
{{Nav PDP-8}}


[[Category: PDP-8s]]
[[Category: PDP-8s]]

Latest revision as of 12:11, 14 July 2023


PDP-8/A

PDP-8/A-400
Manufacturer: DEC
Architecture: PDP-8
Year Introduced: 1976
Form Factor: minicomputer
Word Size: 12
Logic Type: TTL
Clock Speed: 666KHz
Memory Speed: 2.3 µseconds
Physical Address Size: 32KW (requires optional KM8-A)
Virtual Address Size: 4KW
Memory Management: bank selection, CPU mode
Bus Architecture: OMNIBUS
Operating System: OS/8, TSS/8
Predecessor(s): PDP-8/E
Successor(s): None
Price: US$2.6K (CPU. 4KW memory, Operator's Panel)


The PDP-8/A was DEC's last non-microprocessor PDP-8. The KK8-A CPU was a single hex board (M8315), which plugged into an OMNIBUS backplane. It supported both core main memory (MM8-AA, H219A/G649; and MM8-AB, H219B/G650) and semiconductor (MS8-A, M8311).

There were a number of options available for use with the -8/A, including:

The -8/A could use either an Operator's Panel, or a KC8-AA Programmer's Panel (similar to the KY11-LB); the latter required the DKC8-AA.

The -8/A came either as a kit of boards, or as a complete system including a chassis, power supply and backplane; in the latter form, there was a list of different configurations.

Eternal links