Difference between revisions of "PDP-15"
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| | logic type = [[Transistor-transistor logic|TTL]] [[Integrated circuit|IC]]s | | logic type = [[Transistor-transistor logic|TTL]] [[Integrated circuit|IC]]s | ||
| <!--| design type =  asynchronous with hardware subroutines  --> | <!--| design type =  asynchronous with hardware subroutines  --> | ||
| − | |  | + | | instruction speed = 1.6 μsec (basic) | 
| | memory speed = 0.8 μsec | | memory speed = 0.8 μsec | ||
| | memory mgmt = bounds register; [[base and bounds]] pair (both optional) | | memory mgmt = bounds register; [[base and bounds]] pair (both optional) | ||
Revision as of 00:21, 9 August 2022
| PDP-15 | |
| Manufacturer: | Digital Equipment Corporation | 
|---|---|
| Year First Shipped: | February, 1970 | 
| Form Factor: | minicomputer | 
| Word Size: | 18 bits | 
| Logic Type: | TTL ICs | 
| Instruction Speed: | 1.6 μsec (basic) | 
| Memory Speed: | 0.8 μsec | 
| Physical Address Size: | 17 bits (128K words) | 
| Virtual Address Size: | 12 bits (direct), 15 bits (indirect), 17 bits (indexed) | 
| Memory Management: | bounds register; base and bounds pair (both optional) | 
| Operating System: | DECsys, Keyboard Monitor System, Foreground/Background System, DOS-15, XVM/DOS, XVM/RSX, XVM/MUMPS, Advanced Monitor System | 
| Predecessor(s): | PDP-9 | 
| Successor(s): | None | 
The PDP-15 was DEC's last 18-bit computer, and the only one implemented using integrated circuits. Its principal intended use was for real-time systems. A variety of models were offered, from the PDP-15/10 (with 4K words of main memory), to the PDP-15/40 (with 24K words, and two disks).
Instructions had a 4-bit opcode, one bit of indirect, and one of indexing. It was a load-store architecture, with a single accumulator. There were several other specialized registers, including an 'Index Register', and a 'Limit Register' for loop control.
Both multiply/divide and floating point support were hardware options (the former being standard on all but the lowest model). The FP15 floating point unit was a complete separate processor, but shared the instruction set space with the basic CPU.
KM15 memory management included a boundary register to set the boundary between protected and un-protected memory, and two modes for the CPU. A memory relocation option, the KT15, with a base and bounds register pair, was also available.
A large range of peripherals were available, including DECtape (via the TC15 controller), fixed-head disk (RS09 disk via the RF15 controller), and RP02 large disk (RP15 controller).
Later models supported an interface (the UNICHANNEL-15, UC15) to a satellite PDP-11 (usually a PDP-11/05), through which other PDP-11-native peripherals could be supported, including DMA directly into the PDP-15's memory through the MX15-B Memory Multiplexer. These sometimes used the UNIBUS adaption for 18-bit mode, where the two parity lines were recycled into 2 extra data lines.
Further reading
(All available online through BitSavers.)
- "PDP-15 Systems Reference Manual"
- "PDP-15 Systems User's Handbook: Volume I - Processor"
- "PDP-15 Systems User's Handbook: Volume II - Peripherals"

