Difference between revisions of "MSV11-R memory module"

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(Note definitely PMI; +warning)
(prints now available)
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'''''NOTE:''''' As a PMI card, it uses the [[CD interconnect]]; it can therefore ''only'' be plugged into a [[QBUS#Backplanes|Q/CD backplane]]. Plugging an MSV11-R card into a regular [[QBUS#Backplanes|Q/Q backplane]] will '''damage''' the MSV11-R.
 
'''''NOTE:''''' As a PMI card, it uses the [[CD interconnect]]; it can therefore ''only'' be plugged into a [[QBUS#Backplanes|Q/CD backplane]]. Plugging an MSV11-R card into a regular [[QBUS#Backplanes|Q/Q backplane]] will '''damage''' the MSV11-R.
  
The MSV111-RA (M7358-A) holds 1 MByte when fully populated with 256K DRAMs [[integrated circuit|chips]].<!--, or 512 Kbytes when half-populated (the only partially-filled configuration allowed). --> The memory is arranged as 2 banks, each 16 data bits (1 [[PDP-11]] [[word]]) wide, with 2 additional bits for [[parity]] (1 per [[byte]]). It is a [[QBUS#Variable address size|Q22]] card. <!-- and supports block mode. -->
+
The MSV111-RA (M7358-A) holds 1 MByte when fully populated with 256K DRAM [[integrated circuit|chips]]. The memory is arranged as 2 banks, each 16 data bits (1 [[PDP-11]] [[word]]) wide, with 2 additional bits for [[parity]] (1 per [[byte]]). In theory, it could support being half-populated (512 Kbytes), with only one bank; there is a jumper, W1, which seems to support this configuration, but no documentation for it. It is not clear if [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] ever sold that configuration.
 +
 
 +
It is a [[QBUS#Variable address size|Q22]] card, and apparently supports block mode.
  
 
==Configuration==
 
==Configuration==
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A single 8-position [[Dual Inline Package|DIP]] switch configures the card:
 
A single 8-position [[Dual Inline Package|DIP]] switch configures the card:
  
* Switches S1-S2 select the 22-bit starting address;
+
* Switches S1-S2 sets bits 21-20 of the 22-bit starting [[address]];
* Switches S3-S4 must always be OFF;
+
* DEC documentation asserts that switches S3-S4 must always be off; however they seem to be functional (although perhaps only for the single bank configuration), and set bits 19-18;
 
* Switches S5-S8 select the CSR address.
 
* Switches S5-S8 select the CSR address.
  
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==Technical information==
 
==Technical information==
  
As far as is known, there are no copies of the engineering drawings extant for the MSV11-R.<!--However, some technical information, enough to [[repairing un-documented MOS memory boards|repair boards with faulty DRAM chips]], has been gathered on it, and that is made available here.
+
A copy of the engineering drawings for the MSV11-R has recently been discovered, in a set of [[PDP-11/84]] engineering drawings (see link below).
As described above, each board has 2 banks in the array of DRAM chips; with 256K chips, each bank is thus 512KB. <!-- (Note that when writing data, the MSV11-R sends a 'write' [[signal]] to ''all'' the banks, and selects the one to ''actually'' use by use of the RAS signal. It's not certain why DEC did this, but since there is no explicit 'read' signal to the chip, and likely the outputs from all the banks are [[wire-OR]]'d together, use of RAS to select the desired bank works for read as well as write.)
+
As described above, each board has 2 banks in the array of DRAM chips; with 256K chips, each bank is thus 512KB. <!-- (Note that when writing data, the MSV11-R sends a 'write' [[signal]] to ''all'' the banks, and selects the one to ''actually'' use by use of the RAS signal. It's not certain why DEC did this, but since there is no explicit 'read' signal to the chip, and likely the outputs from all the banks are [[wire-OR]]'d together, use of RAS to select the desired bank works for read as well as write.)-->
The chips in each bank run across the board (when it is oriented with the chip side facing the viewer, with the metal edging holding the handles at the top). Bit 0 (value 1) is on the left hand edge of the array; bit 15 (value 0100000) is on the right, with the two parity bits in the middle. The banks run down the board from the metal handle edge; bank 0 is next to the handles, and bank 7 is down near the contact fingers.
+
The chips in each bank run across the board (when it is oriented with the chip side facing the viewer, with the metal edging holding the handles at the top). Bit 0 (value 1) of the even byte of the low bank is on the right hand edge of the top row of the array; bit 15 (value 0100000), the top bit of the odd byte, is toward the left hand side of the second row. The two parity bits are on the extreme left hand edge. The high bank is in the third and fourth rows down the board from the metal handle edge.<!-- The full table is:
Thus, for example, bit 0 of bank 0 is in chip E197. The full table is:
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Bit !! Bank 0 !! Bank 1 !! Bank 2 !! Bank 3 !! Bank 4 !! Bank 5 !! Bank 6 !! Bank 7
 
! Bit !! Bank 0 !! Bank 1 !! Bank 2 !! Bank 3 !! Bank 4 !! Bank 5 !! Bank 6 !! Bank 7
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* ''MSV11-R User Guide'', EK-MSV1R-UG
 
* ''MSV11-R User Guide'', EK-MSV1R-UG
 
<!--* ''MSV11-R Field Maintenance Printset'' (MP-0 - not online) -->
 
<!--* ''MSV11-R Field Maintenance Printset'' (MP-0 - not online) -->
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
 +
* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp11/1184/MP-02015-01_11-84_Maintenance_Print_Set_198412.pdf PDP-11/84 Maintenance Print Set] - Contains MSV11-R engineering drawings
  
 
{{PDP-11}}
 
{{PDP-11}}
  
 
[[Category: QBUS Memories]]
 
[[Category: QBUS Memories]]

Revision as of 21:20, 13 December 2020

MSV11-R card

The MSV11-R (M7458) is a quad-height QBUS/PMI DRAM main memory card.

NOTE: As a PMI card, it uses the CD interconnect; it can therefore only be plugged into a Q/CD backplane. Plugging an MSV11-R card into a regular Q/Q backplane will damage the MSV11-R.

The MSV111-RA (M7358-A) holds 1 MByte when fully populated with 256K DRAM chips. The memory is arranged as 2 banks, each 16 data bits (1 PDP-11 word) wide, with 2 additional bits for parity (1 per byte). In theory, it could support being half-populated (512 Kbytes), with only one bank; there is a jumper, W1, which seems to support this configuration, but no documentation for it. It is not clear if DEC ever sold that configuration.

It is a Q22 card, and apparently supports block mode.

Configuration

A single 8-position DIP switch configures the card:

  • Switches S1-S2 sets bits 21-20 of the 22-bit starting address;
  • DEC documentation asserts that switches S3-S4 must always be off; however they seem to be functional (although perhaps only for the single bank configuration), and set bits 19-18;
  • Switches S5-S8 select the CSR address.
S1 S2 Staring Address
OFF OFF 00000000 (0 MB)
OFF ON 04000000 (1 MB)
ON OFF 10000000 (2 MB)
ON ON 14000000 (3 MB)

Control Register

Each board has a single control register, which can be configured in the range 17772100-17772136.

S5 S6 S7 S8 CSR Address
ON ON ON ON 17772100
ON ON ON OFF 17772102
ON ON OFF ON 17772104
ON ON OFF OFF 17772106
ON OFF ON ON 17772110
ON OFF ON OFF 17772112
ON OFF OFF ON 17772114
ON OFF OFF OFF 17772116
OFF ON ON ON 17772120
OFF ON ON OFF 17772122
OFF ON OFF ON 17772124
OFF ON OFF OFF 17772126
OFF OFF ON ON 17772130
OFF OFF ON OFF 17772132
OFF OFF OFF ON 17772134
OFF OFF OFF OFF 17772136

Technical information

A copy of the engineering drawings for the MSV11-R has recently been discovered, in a set of PDP-11/84 engineering drawings (see link below). As described above, each board has 2 banks in the array of DRAM chips; with 256K chips, each bank is thus 512KB. The chips in each bank run across the board (when it is oriented with the chip side facing the viewer, with the metal edging holding the handles at the top). Bit 0 (value 1) of the even byte of the low bank is on the right hand edge of the top row of the array; bit 15 (value 0100000), the top bit of the odd byte, is toward the left hand side of the second row. The two parity bits are on the extreme left hand edge. The high bank is in the third and fourth rows down the board from the metal handle edge. The following 256K DRAM chips have been observed to be used: MB81256-15 (Fujitsu).

Further reading

  • MSV11-R User Guide, EK-MSV1R-UG

External links