Difference between revisions of "PDP-10 Memory Bus"

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#Redirect [[PDP-10#Busses]]
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[[Image:KBusQCLatched.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Memory bus Quick Latch connector (in latched position)]]
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The '''PDP-10 Memory Bus''', the [[main memory]] [[bus]] of the [[PDP-10]], existed in three generations. (There were likewise three generations of [[PDP-10 memories|memory systems]] to attach to them.)
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The first two were the so-called 'external memory bus', in KA (18-bit [[address]]) and KI (22-bit) forms (for the [[KA10]], and [[KI10]] and early [[KL10]], respectively), although they also had minor [[protocol]] differences.
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The last was the 'internal memory bus', the '''S-Bus'''. (For the later KL10s, a later version of the S-Bus, the '''X-Bus''', differed only in the [[logic family]] it interfaced to).
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The differences between the two external bus types required a [[KI10-M Memory Bus Adapter]] if KA-type units were to be attached to a KI10. Similarly, KI-type units could be attached to the S-Bus using a [[DMA20 Memory Bus Adapter]].
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For [[Direct Memory Access|DMA]], [[mass storage]] peripherals connected directly to memories (PDP-10 memories are generally [[multi-port memory|multi-port]]).
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==Physical form==
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On the KA10, all the busses were physically instantiated as cables with a pair of [[DEC card form factor|dual]] width [[printed circuit board|PCBs]] at each end, which plugged into slots in a standard DEC [[backplane]]; these later became the CJ connectors.
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On the KI10, and KL10s with an external memory bus, the memory bus cables ended in a large QuickLatch connector; these connectors were also used on the CPU end of I/O bus cables of those machines.
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==External links==
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* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp10/KL10/EK-108OU-PD-002_KL10-Based_Physical_Description_Mar77.pdf EK-108OU-PD-002], "KL10-Based Physical Description" - has images of CJ dual card connectors and QuickLatch connectors, pp. 69-70
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[[Category: PDP-10s]]

Revision as of 03:22, 23 October 2022

Memory bus Quick Latch connector (in latched position)

The PDP-10 Memory Bus, the main memory bus of the PDP-10, existed in three generations. (There were likewise three generations of memory systems to attach to them.)

The first two were the so-called 'external memory bus', in KA (18-bit address) and KI (22-bit) forms (for the KA10, and KI10 and early KL10, respectively), although they also had minor protocol differences.

The last was the 'internal memory bus', the S-Bus. (For the later KL10s, a later version of the S-Bus, the X-Bus, differed only in the logic family it interfaced to).

The differences between the two external bus types required a KI10-M Memory Bus Adapter if KA-type units were to be attached to a KI10. Similarly, KI-type units could be attached to the S-Bus using a DMA20 Memory Bus Adapter.

For DMA, mass storage peripherals connected directly to memories (PDP-10 memories are generally multi-port).

Physical form

On the KA10, all the busses were physically instantiated as cables with a pair of dual width PCBs at each end, which plugged into slots in a standard DEC backplane; these later became the CJ connectors.

On the KI10, and KL10s with an external memory bus, the memory bus cables ended in a large QuickLatch connector; these connectors were also used on the CPU end of I/O bus cables of those machines.

External links

  • EK-108OU-PD-002, "KL10-Based Physical Description" - has images of CJ dual card connectors and QuickLatch connectors, pp. 69-70