Difference between revisions of "PDP-8/E"

From Computer History Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (+cat)
(Move PDP-9/E design story here)
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
 
| image = PDP 8 e Trondheim.jpg
 
| image = PDP 8 e Trondheim.jpg
 
| caption = PDP-8/E front panel
 
| 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 = 1970
 
| year introduced = 1970
 
| form factor = [[minicomputer]]
 
| form factor = [[minicomputer]]
Line 14: Line 13:
 
| design type = [[clock]]ed random [[logic]]
 
| design type = [[clock]]ed random [[logic]]
 
| clock speed = 385KHz
 
| clock speed = 385KHz
 +
<!--
 +
| ram = Maximum of 32 kwords in eight 4 kword banks
 +
-->
 
| memory speed = 1.2 μseconds
 
| memory speed = 1.2 μseconds
 
| bus arch = [[OMNIBUS]]
 
| bus arch = [[OMNIBUS]]
Line 20: Line 22:
 
| predecessor = [[PDP-8/I]]
 
| predecessor = [[PDP-8/I]]
 
| successor = [[PDP-8/A]]
 
| successor = [[PDP-8/A]]
 +
| price = US$5K (CPU and 4KW memory)
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''PDP-8/E''' was an improved model in the [[PDP-8]] line, and introduced the [[OMNIBUS]] for interfacing to [[device controller]]s.
+
The '''PDP-8/E''' was an improved model in the [[PDP-8 family|PDP-8 line]], and introduced the [[OMNIBUS]] for interfacing to [[device controller]]s.
  
The '''PDP-8/F''' was a cost-reduced version of the -8/E with the same [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] and [[main memory]], but only a single OMNIBUS [[backplane]]. The '''PDP-8/M''' is the [[Original Equipment Manufacturer|OEM]] version of the PDP-8/F.
+
The '''PDP-8/F''' was a cost-reduced version of the -8/E with the same [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] and [[core memory|core]] [[main memory]], but only a single OMNIBUS [[backplane]]. The '''PDP-8/M''' is the [[Original Equipment Manufacturer|OEM]] version of the PDP-8/F.
  
The -8/E's KK8-E [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] consists of five [[DEC card form factor|quad]] boards; the MM8-E [[core memory]] that was standard on the -8/E consisted of sets of three quad boards.
+
The -8/E's KK8-E [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] consists of five [[DEC card form factor|quad]] boards; the MM8-E core memory that was standard on the -8/E consisted of sets of three quad boards.
  
 
Options included:
 
Options included:
Line 33: Line 36:
 
* KM8-E Memory Extension and Time-Share Option, which was needed to support more than 4K [[word]]s of memory, and allowed the computer to operate in either Executive Mode or User Mode
 
* KM8-E Memory Extension and Time-Share Option, which was needed to support more than 4K [[word]]s of memory, and allowed the computer to operate in either Executive Mode or User Mode
 
* MP8-E Memory Parity
 
* MP8-E Memory Parity
 +
* KD8-E [[OMNIBUS|Data Break]] Interface
 
* KE8-E Extended Arithmetic Element, which supported [[hardware]] integer multiplication and division, one-[[bit]] double-word shifts, and [[normalization]]
 
* KE8-E Extended Arithmetic Element, which supported [[hardware]] integer multiplication and division, one-[[bit]] double-word shifts, and [[normalization]]
 +
* FPP12-P and FPP12-AP [[Floating point processor|Floating Point Processor]] (24+12 bits)
 +
* FPP12-AE Double Precision option (FPP12-AP only, 60+12 bits)
  
 
It could perform an addition to the [[accumulator]] in 2.6 μseconds, and a 12 by 12 bit multiplication with 24 bit result in 40 μseconds, using the math extension hardware.
 
It could perform an addition to the [[accumulator]] in 2.6 μseconds, and a 12 by 12 bit multiplication with 24 bit result in 40 μseconds, using the math extension hardware.
  
 
The -8/M could be supplied with either a KC8-M Operator's Console, or a KC8-ML Programmer's Console, the latter being basically identical to the KC8-EA Programmer's Console of the basic -8/E.
 
The -8/M could be supplied with either a KC8-M Operator's Console, or a KC8-ML Programmer's Console, the latter being basically identical to the KC8-EA Programmer's Console of the basic -8/E.
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
 +
* [https://ethw.org/First-Hand:PDP-8/E_OMNIBUS_Ride First-Hand:PDP-8/E OMNIBUS Ride] - PDP-8/E Design Story
  
 
{{Nav PDP-8}}
 
{{Nav PDP-8}}
  
 
[[Category: PDP-8s]]
 
[[Category: PDP-8s]]

Revision as of 13:21, 7 April 2019


PDP-8/E
PDP 8 e Trondheim.jpg
PDP-8/E front panel
Manufacturer: DEC
Architecture: PDP-8
Year Introduced: 1970
Form Factor: minicomputer
Word Size: 12
Logic Type: TTL
Design Type: clocked random logic
Clock Speed: 385KHz
Memory Speed: 1.2 μseconds
Physical Address Size: 32KW (requires optional KM8-E)
Virtual Address Size: 4KW
Memory Management: bank selection, CPU mode
Bus Architecture: OMNIBUS
Operating System: OS/8, TSS/8
Predecessor(s): PDP-8/I
Successor(s): PDP-8/A
Price: US$5K (CPU and 4KW memory)


The PDP-8/E was an improved model in the PDP-8 line, and introduced the OMNIBUS for interfacing to device controllers.

The PDP-8/F was a cost-reduced version of the -8/E with the same CPU and core main memory, but only a single OMNIBUS backplane. The PDP-8/M is the OEM version of the PDP-8/F.

The -8/E's KK8-E CPU consists of five quad boards; the MM8-E core memory that was standard on the -8/E consisted of sets of three quad boards.

Options included:

  • KA8-E Positive I/O Bus Interface, to allow use of older PDP-8 devices
  • KM8-E Memory Extension and Time-Share Option, which was needed to support more than 4K words of memory, and allowed the computer to operate in either Executive Mode or User Mode
  • MP8-E Memory Parity
  • KD8-E Data Break Interface
  • KE8-E Extended Arithmetic Element, which supported hardware integer multiplication and division, one-bit double-word shifts, and normalization
  • FPP12-P and FPP12-AP Floating Point Processor (24+12 bits)
  • FPP12-AE Double Precision option (FPP12-AP only, 60+12 bits)

It could perform an addition to the accumulator in 2.6 μseconds, and a 12 by 12 bit multiplication with 24 bit result in 40 μseconds, using the math extension hardware.

The -8/M could be supplied with either a KC8-M Operator's Console, or a KC8-ML Programmer's Console, the latter being basically identical to the KC8-EA Programmer's Console of the basic -8/E.

External links