13 Aug
2005
13 Aug
'05
10:59 a.m.
I am doing a little basement cleaning and pitching some things. Was tossing
an HP frequency analyzer that was in bad shape and decided to pop the cover
and grab the cpu board (the cpu board is a 21MX M-series). Also got 64k
memory & controller :)
My question is two fold -first, what's necessary to use this M series board
as a regular processor. I see the base instruction set on the bottom plus
two additional non-standard microcode cards. I can just remove those, but
didn't know if any changes to the M series board were required. Second,
there is a board I've never seen before mounted under the mainboard on the
opposite end of the microcode. The board is labled "booster board" and is
about 1/2 the size of the main cpu board. I would normally think this was
just a specific board to the frequency analyzer, but, I think I've heard Bob
Shannon talk about this booster board before in more general terms. Should I
keep the booster board?
Jay West
14 Aug
14 Aug
6:55 a.m.
I've seen several E-series CPU's fitted with a 'Booster Microcode' board.
The board I'm describing here is just about half the size of the CPU board.
Despite its name, it does not hold microcode ROM's. It does have a series
of 74S181 ALU chips and other logic that expands the data paths and ALU
of the main CPU.
This board appears to have evolved from the FFT processor options that would
plug into I/O slots. This configuration it often found in HP's vibration
control
and vibration analyzer systems, where there were also microcode ROM's
installed to drive this thing.
I've never found documentation to described the booster microcode board
itself, nor the instructions added by the microcode that drives these
things.
(It does seem that there is more than one set of microcode ROM's installed
with this board).
In an E-series machine, this board and its additional microcode can be
removed
to return the CPU to a 'stock' configuration. Terry Newton's 21MX was just
such a customized processor that was re-configured into a 'stock' E series
box
with DMS and FFP for HP-IPL/OS development.
On an M-series I suspect things are a little different, as the M-series CPU
lacks
the mircoprogrammable processor port used to drive this thing (at least
that's
how its cabled up on HP's vibration control systems). I'm not sure how the
extra bits of the booster board get mapped into the mircoengine of the M
series.
I also don't know if your board is exactly the same as the one used on the E
series, but I'd guess its not, due to the lack of the MPP port.
In any case, the E-series version of this board is fairly common, I probably
have 4 or 5 extras, as well as a complete CPU with all the cables and ROM's.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay West" <jwest at classiccmp.org>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 1:59 PM
Subject: HP21MX booster board?
I am doing a little basement cleaning and pitching some
things. Was tossing
an HP frequency analyzer that was in bad shape and decided to pop the cover
and grab the cpu board (the cpu board is a 21MX M-series). Also got 64k
memory & controller :)
My question is two fold -first, what's necessary to use this M series
board as a regular processor. I see the base instruction set on the bottom
plus two additional non-standard microcode cards. I can just remove those,
but didn't know if any changes to the M series board were required.
Second, there is a board I've never seen before mounted under the
mainboard on the opposite end of the microcode. The board is labled
"booster board" and is about 1/2 the size of the main cpu board. I would
normally think this was just a specific board to the frequency analyzer,
but, I think I've heard Bob Shannon talk about this booster board before
in more general terms. Should I keep the booster board?
Jay West
8:52 a.m.
New subject: cy7c265 proms etc.
WCN Supplies in Southampton has the following for sale :
CY7C263 15PC 28 PIN DIL 50p each.
CY7C263 20PC 24 PIN DIL ?1 ea.
CY7C265 15WC 28 PIN DIL ?1 ea.
CY7C277 30WC 28 PIN DIL ?1 ea.
CY7C287 45WC 28 PIN DIL ?1 ea.
Seems a lot cheaper than on the net, - in their latest flyer.
email : info at wcnsupplies.fsnet.co.uk if interested.
Datasheet
http://www.chipcatalog.com/Datasheet/AFDE812169D457F75D2F1BF6EF3657D6.htm
Geoff.
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6:09 p.m.
Bob wrote...
The board I'm describing here is just about half
the size of the CPU
board.
Despite its name, it does not hold microcode ROM's. It does have a series
of 74S181 ALU chips and other logic that expands the data paths and ALU
of the main CPU.
Yup, same board I've got here, including about five
181's.
In an E-series machine, this board and its additional
microcode can be
removed to return the CPU to a 'stock' configuration.
I figured the
microcode and booster board needed to be removed (as well as
the custom loader ROMS) ;) I wasn't sure if there was any customizations
directly to the mainboard. I'll power this one up and run it through a full
diagnostic set to see if it works. If so, nice to have a spare for my M
series machines.
I'm not sure how the
extra bits of the booster board get mapped into the mircoengine of the M
series.
The M series booster board connects to the M series mainboard via the front
panel connector (J1). That part I remember for sure. There was also a board
in the I/O cage marked "05443-60031 MOIB interface". I THINK the ribbon
cable went from this board went to a board in the front area, perhaps the
booster board. I didn't pay that close of attention figuring I'd not be
using it. There was also an odd HP-IB board. 15420A. This went in the I/O
card cage and had an HP-IB connector on the back that protruded through the
case. I'm asuming it wouldn't be usable for a "normal" HP-IB interface.
In any case, the E-series version of this board is
fairly common, I
probably
have 4 or 5 extras, as well as a complete CPU with all the cables and
ROM's.
Ok, I'll probably strip the 15420A, MOIB interface, and MOIB board
for
parts. At the very least I want the 1820-0956 chips!
Jay
7070
days inactive
7072
days old
3 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
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bshannon＠tiac.net -
geoffreythomas＠onetel.com -
jwest＠classiccmp.org