Difference between revisions of "PDP-8/E"

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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 '''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.
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The -8/E's KK8-E [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] consists of five [[DEC card form factor|quad]] boards (M8300 Major Registers, M8310 Register Control, M8320 Bus Loads, M8330 Timing Generator, M8560 [[Teletype]] Control); the MM8-E core memory that was standard on the -8/E consisted of sets of three quad boards (G227 X-Y Driver and Current Source, G104 Sense/Inhibit, H220 Memory Stack).
  
 
Options included:
 
Options included:
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* MP8-E Memory Parity
 
* MP8-E Memory Parity
 
* KD8-E [[OMNIBUS|Data Break]] Interface
 
* 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]]
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* KE8-E Extended Arithmetic Element (two quad boards), 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-P and FPP12-AP [[Floating point processor|Floating Point Processor]] (24+12 bits)
 
* FPP12-AE Double Precision option (FPP12-AP only, 60+12 bits)
 
* FPP12-AE Double Precision option (FPP12-AP only, 60+12 bits)

Revision as of 21:57, 24 February 2021


PDP-8/E
PDP-8'E FlorianSchäffer.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 (M8300 Major Registers, M8310 Register Control, M8320 Bus Loads, M8330 Timing Generator, M8560 Teletype Control); the MM8-E core memory that was standard on the -8/E consisted of sets of three quad boards (G227 X-Y Driver and Current Source, G104 Sense/Inhibit, H220 Memory Stack).

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 (two quad boards), 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.

Images

PDP-8/F at Hack42 in Arnhem, The Netherlands

PDP-8/M from Brian Stuart's collection

External links