I don't know if the front console on the early
UNIBUS machines works without
any memory on the UNIBUS - I'm too lazy to check. I have this vague memory that
they do, though.
The front console on the '45 indeed does run just fine with no UNIBUS (or FASTBUS)
memory in the machine. Its is entirely implemented/mediated by CPU microcode and CPU
internal state registers.
--FritzM.