Hardware Documentation - Machines DEC - VAX hardware reference

This is an (incomplete) list of Digital Equipment Corporation VAX computers and specifications. Compiled by abs@NetBSD.org with much help from port-vax@NetBSD.org users.

This is very much still a work in progress - many sections are little more than placeholders. Having said that, there should be enough here to prove useful.

BSD daemon

Nickname: LCN Cpu: (?), <730> (270ns)
Vup: 0.3 Bus: UNIBUS
Enclosure: (?) NetBSD: Cannot run NetBSD (As of 1.6.1)
Last updated: 2003-07-17 Notes: VAX 11/730 used same hardware in a larger case
Nickname: Nebula Cpu: KA730, <730> (270ns)
Vup: 0.3 Bus: UNIBUS
Enclosure: 26*47*66 cm (H*W*D), 45kg, 470W Introduced: April 1982
Image: VAX 11/730 NetBSD: Cannot run NetBSD (As of 1.6.1)
Last updated: 2003-07-17 Notes: VAX 11/725 used same hardware in a smaller case
Nickname: Comet Cpu: KA750, <750> (320ns), 4KB on chip cache
Vup: 0.65 Tps: 5
Bus: Up to 3 UNIBUSes, 2 MASSBUSes, and CI bus. Memory: Maximum 14MB
Enclosure: 106*73*76 cm (H*W*D), 182kg, 1700W Introduced: October 1980
Image: VAX 11/750 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-18
Nickname: Star Cpu: KA780, 78032 (200ns), 8KB on chip cache
Vup: 1.0 Tps: 8
Bus: SBI with 15 free nexus slots. Each slot can take a UBA (UNIBUS adapter), MBA (MASSBUS Adapter), or CI.
Memory: Maximum 512M (theoretical) Enclosure: 153*118*76 cm (H*W*D), 498kg, 6225W
Introduced: October 1977 Image: Vax 11/780
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: Earlier, slower version of the VAX 11/785. First VAX
Nickname: Atlas Cpu: Dual KA780, 78032 (200ns), 8KB on chip cache
Vup: 1.8
Bus: 2 SBIs with 15 nexus slots each. Each slot can take a UBA (UNIBUS adapter), MBA (MASSBUS Adapter), or CI. (?)
Introduced: 1982 NetBSD: Probably
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: ASMP dual CPU system comprising two VAX 11/780s connected via a (MA780?) 4Mb shared memory cabinet. Apparently faster when split back into two VAX 11/780s.
Nickname: VAXimus Cpu: (?) '780'
Vup: 3.5 Bus: UNIBUS, MASSBUS, and CI bus. (? Unknown numbers)
NetBSD: (?) Probably Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Custom-made for specific applications; probably no more than 10 ever produced 4 11/780s joined by MA780 multiport memory
Nickname: Superstar Cpu: KA785, <785> (133ns), 32KB on chip cache
Vup: 1.5
Bus: SBI with 15 free nexus slots. Each slot can take a UBA (UNIBUS adapter), MBA (MASSBUS Adapter), or CI.
Memory: Maximum 512M (theoretical) Enclosure: 153*118*76 cm (H*W*D), 498kg, 6225W
Introduced: April 1984 Image: VAX 11/785
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: Later, faster version of the VAX 11/780. The final machines in the 11/7x0 range would have been the 11/790 and 11/795, but were renamed the VAX 8600 and VAX 8650 respectively.
Nickname: (?) Cpu: Dual KA785 '780'
Vup: (?)
Bus: 2 SBIs with 15 nexus slots each. Each slot can take a UBA (UNIBUS adapter), MBA (MASSBUS Adapter), or CI. (?)
Memory: Maximum 512M (theoretical) (?) NetBSD: (?)
Last updated: 1998-01-28
Notes: If it existed at all, it was two VAX 11/785s connected in an ASMP system. May have been sighted in Australian Defence Department

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