Difference between revisions of "PDP-8/A"
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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 | + | | caption = PDP-8/A-400 |
| − | | caption = PDP-8/ | + | | manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] |
| − | | | + | | 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 = | + | | clock speed = 666KHz |
| − | | memory speed = | + | <!-- |
| + | | 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 | + | * KM8-A Extended Option - main memory extension, [[time-sharing]] control, [[bootstrap]] [[read-only memory|ROM]], etc |
| + | * DKC8-AA - [[front panel]] control, [[real-time clock]], [[asynchronous serial line]] interface, [[parallel port]], etc | ||
* [[FPP8/A Floating Point Processor]] | * [[FPP8/A Floating Point Processor]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | 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 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 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 13:11, 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:
- KM8-A Extended Option - main memory extension, time-sharing control, bootstrap ROM, etc
- DKC8-AA - front panel control, real-time clock, asynchronous serial line interface, parallel port, etc
- FPP8/A Floating Point Processor
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
- PDP-8/A - documentation at Bitsavers
- PDP-8/A Miniprocessor Users Manual (EK-8A002-MM-002)
- PDP-8 Summary of Models and Options - What is a PDP-8/A?
| v • d • e PDP-8 Computers, Software and Peripherals |
|---|
| PDP-8s: PDP-5 • PDP-8 • LINC-8 • PDP-8/S • PDP-8/I • PDP-8/L • PDP-12 • PDP-8/E • PDP-8/F • PDP-8/M • PDP-8/A
Workstations: VT78 Also: PDP-8 family • PDP-8 architecture • PDP-8 Memory Extension units |
