28 May
2016
28 May
'16
10:02 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mike Ross
Sent: 28 May 2016 14:04
To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts <cctech at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: Mystery IBM processor
On Sat, May 28, 2016 at 11:40 PM, Dave Wade <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com>
wrote:
looks
like a 3090 chip but I thought those were withdrawn before the date code
of "90xx".
The pricing is miss-leading. That price is taken from here:-
https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP3084.html
For Universities there was a standard discount of 40% so at most they paid was $5.22M
In addition, it was common practice for IBM to loan Universities a new machine for
evaluation.
Typically, you could have it for a year so long as you paid the maintenance and software
costs.
At the end of a year you then had the option to buy, or return it.
If you choose to buy it, it was by then of course, a year old and no longer a leading edge
new machine...
.. so you would actually pay the second hand price, less your 40% discount...
As far as I know only one University in the UK sent one back, and that was Queens
University, Belfast.
Dave
G4UGM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctech [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mike
> Ross
> Sent: 28 May 2016 11:29
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts <cctech at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Mystery IBM processor
>
> On May 28, 2016 9:51 PM, <malcolm at avitech.com.au> wrote:
> >
> > Just wondering if anyone can help us to identify a rather large IBM
> > processor assembly. It weighs around 60 pounds.
> >
> > The frame has a P/N of 34F5089. The frame houses 9 modules, 6 of
> > which are installed. The module we removed for inspection has a P/N of
34F0615.
>
> Definitely IBM mainframe. The individual square alloy lumps are what
> are called MCMs - Multi Chip Modules. Insides are dozens of individual ECL
ICs.
Water
cooling heatsinks would have been bolted to the front side in life.
Can't remember what IBM called the entire assembly. 1980s, probably a
3080 or 3090 but don't quote me on that.
I believe the modules are called TCM's or Thermal Conduction Modules. It
I thought the ES/9000 follow on had a re-designed chip with multiple rows of
pins
like this...
Module-ES
-9000-Mainframe-Microprocessor-/182138577581
but when I look at the IBM web pages:-
http://www-
03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP9000.
html
it says only the high end machines have the new TCM so I think it may be a
TCM
from an entry level ES/9000 machine...
TCM! That's what I was looking for. If you think your collection is getting out of
hand Jim Austin has *half* of a 3084.... shows how the CPU assembly fits into
the machine:
http://www.computermuseum.org.uk/fixed_pages/IBM3084.html
Mike
http://www.corestore.org
'No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother.
Not for millions, not for glory, not for fame.
For one person, in the dark, where no one will ever know or see.'