VAX 6000 series
The VAX 6000 series (originally named the VAX 6200 series) was a mid-range VAX line available in a wide scale of configurations, including large tightly-coupled multi-processors.
The CPUs, main memory and I/O adapters communicated via the XMI bus.
Early members of the VAX 6000 series did not have I/O peripherals which attached directly to the XMI bus; instead, they had an adaptor to a VAXBI bus, to which peripherals could be attached. When XMI peripherals appeared, the VAXBI bus and adaptor became optional.
Models
The first members of the VAX 6000 Model 200 series were announced in April 1988, as the 'VAX 6200'. The single processor system was the VAX 6210. Up to four processors could be installed to produce a VAX 6240.
The follow on VAX 6000 Model 300 series was announced in January 1989. These replaced the VAX 6200 processor (the KA62A CPU) with a faster variant, the KA62B CPU. In-cabinet upgrades were available. The VAX 6300 series, and all later members of the family, supported up to six processors in a system.
In July the VAX 6000 Model 400 series followed, the processor now being based on the Rigel chipset. The 400 notably added vector processing capability.
The next generation of in-cabinet upgrades was the VAX 6000 Model 500 series, based on the Mariah chipset. The VAX 6500 (and the VAX 6600) required additional signals and power. New systems shipped with upgraded cabinets; cabinet upgrade kits were available to retrofit older cabinets when upgrades were purchased.
The final member of the VAX 6000 series was the NVAX-based VAX 6000 Model 600 series. The with six processors installed this could reach 150 VUPs, and so could compete with the VAX 9440 for performance but at much lower cost.
Performance Comparison
| Series | Performance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 CPU | 2 CPUs | 3 CPUs | 4 CPUs | 5 CPUs | 6 CPUs | |
| VAX 6200 | 2.8 | 5.5 | 8.3 | 11.0 | — | — |
| VAX 6300 | 3.8 | 7.5 | 11.3 | 15.0 | 18.6 | 22.0 |
| VAX 6400 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 36 |
| VAX 6500 | 13.0 | 25.0 | 37.0 | 49.0 | 61.0 | 72.0 |
| VAX 6600 | 32.0 | 58.0 | 84.0 | 106.0 | 128.0 | 150 |
Further reading
- An Overview of the VAX 6200 Family of Systems, in CVAX-based Systems, Digital Technical Journal, Number 7 - issue which covers the then-named 6200 Family
- VAX 6000 Model 400 System, Digital Technical Journal, Volume 2 Number 2 - mostly devoted to the Model 400
External links
- 6200 - documentation at Bitsavers (minimal)
- VAX 6200 System Technical User’s Guide (EK–620AA–TM-001)
- VAX 6200 Options and Maintenance (EK-620AA-MG-001)
- VAX 6000 Series Owner’s Manual (EK–600EB–OM.002)
- VAX 6000 Platform Technical User’s Guide (EK–600EA–TM-001)
- VAX 6000 Series Vector Processor Owner’s Manual (EK–60VAA–OM–001)
- VAX 6000 Series Vector Processor Programmer’s Guide (EK–60VAA–PG–001)
| v • d • e VAX Computers and Operating Systems |
|---|
| VAX-11/7xx (including VAX 86x0) - VAX-11/780 • VAX-11/785 • VAX-11/750 • VAX-11/730 • VAX 8600 • VAX 8650
VAX 8000 series (excluding VAX 86x0, above) - VAX 82xx/83xx series • VAX 85xx/87xx/88xx series MicroVAXen (many types also come in VAXserver and VAXstation models) - MicroVAX I • MicroVAX II VAXstation Series - VAXstation I • VAXstation II Late Model VAXen - VAX 4000 series • VAX 6000 series • VAX 7000 series • VAX 9000 series • VAX 10000 series |
| Special Purpose VAXen - VAXft series • rtVAX series • Infoserver series
Clones - CM 1700 • TPA-11/580 |
