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

Cpu: KA820, V-11 (200ns), 8KB on chip cache Vup: 0.9
Tps: (?) Busses: 1 VAXBI, optional UNIBUS
Interfaces: Ethernet Memory: max 128MB ECC
Introduced: January 1986 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Cpu: KA825, V-11 (160ns), 8KB on chip cache Vup: 1.2
Tps: 10 Busses: 1 VAXBI, optional UNIBUS; max throughput 13.3MB/s
Interfaces: Ethernet Memory: max 128MB ECC
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: KA820 processor in a BA32 case. BI (either 12 or 24 slot). Optional Unibus with DWBUA adapter. Same as VAX 8200 with additional CPU
Cpu: Dual KA820, V-11 (200ns), 8KB on chip cache Vup: 1.7
Tps: (?) Busses: 1 VAXBI, optional UNIBUS
Interfaces: Ethernet Memory: max 128MB ECC
Introduced: January 1986 NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17 Notes: Dual processor version of VAX 8200
Cpu: KA825, V-11 (160ns), 8KB on chip cache Vup: 2.3
Tps: 18 Busses: 1 VAXBI, optional UNIBUS
Interfaces: Ethernet Memory: max 128MB ECC
Last updated: 2003-07-17 Notes: Same as VAX 8300 with additional CPU
Cpu: KA85, <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 3
Bus: NMI processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VAX 8550 with microcode adjusted to slow it down. Later microcode update removed NOPs and upgraded to VAX 8530.
Cpu: KA85, <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 4
Bus: NMI processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: VAX 8500 with updated microcode
Cpu: KA85, <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 6
Tps: 47 Bus: NMI processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O
Memory: Maximum 320MB Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Similar to VAX 8700, but in larger box and not upgradable to VAX 8800
Alias: VAX 11/790 Nickname: Venus
Cpu: KA86, <8600> (80ns), 16KB on chip cache Vup: 4.2
Tps: 33
Bus: 2 SBIs with 15 nexus slots each. Each slot can take a UBA (UNIBUS adapter), MBA (MASSBUS Adapter), or CI.
Memory: Maximum 256M (ECC) Introduced: 1984
NetBSD: Can run NetBSD Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Slower version of the VAX 8650 (11/795). Developed in Marlboro, in the building identified as LCG Was originally intended to be an 11/790 but renamed before launch.
Alias: VAX 11/795 Nickname: Morningstar
Cpu: KA865, <8650> (55ns), 16KB on chip cache Vup: 6.0
Tps: 47
Bus: 2 SBIs with 15 nexus slots each. Each slot can take a UBA (UNIBUS adapter), MBA (MASSBUS Adapter), or CI.
Memory: Maximum 256MB (ECC) NetBSD: Can run NetBSD
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Faster version of the VAX 8600 (11/790). The last VAX to be made bug-for-bug compatible with the VAX 11/780 /785. Was originally intended to be an 11/795 but renamed before launch.
Nickname: Nautilus Cpu: KA88, <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache
Vup: 6 Tps: 47
Bus: NMI processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: PRO console. Single processor VAX 8800, can be upgraded to 8800 Replaced with redesigned VAX 8810.
Nickname: Nautilus Cpu: Dual KA88, <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache
Vup: 12 Bus: NMI processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O
Introduced: January 1986 Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: PRO console. Dual processor VAX 8700. Replaced with redesigned 8820.
Cpu: (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 6.0
Tps: 47 Bus: PMI (updated NMI) processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O
Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: MicroVAX II console. Basically an 8550 processor in a bigger box with space for additional processors to make it into an 8820 or 8840
Cpu: Dual (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 11.0
Bus: PMI (updated NMI) processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Dual processor version of VAX 8810
Cpu: Triple (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 17.0
Bus: PMI (updated NMI) processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: Triple processor version of VAX 8810
Cpu: Quad (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 22.0
Bus: PMI (updated NMI) processor/memory backplane with VAXBI I/O Last updated: 2003-07-17
Notes: Quad processor version of VAX 8810
Cpu: Four (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 22.0
Last updated: 2003-07-18 Notes: System is two VAX 8820s connected together
Cpu: Four (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 24
Introduced: January 1987 Last updated: 2003-07-18
Notes: System is four VAX 8700s connected together
Cpu: Eight (?), <8800> (45ns), 64KB on chip cache Vup: 48
Memory: Maximum 4GB ECC Introduced: January 1987
Last updated: 2003-07-18 Notes: System is eight VAX 8700s connected together

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