healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote:
But, is there
any way that a regular PDP-11/73 could see this memory
and use it in some manner?
I really doubt it. It would probably be easier to
build up a memory board
from scratch. Unless I'm mistaken the MicroVAX II doesn't even talk to the
Q-Bus to access this board, it's all done via the ribbon cable that connects
the RAM to the CPU.
Jerome Fine replies:
I assumed that is the case since the uVAX II supports 16 MBytes while the
Qbus is only 22 bits which means the maximum is 4 MBytes. I was
just hoping (dreaming more like) that it might be possible to use a
simple controller to drive the board and use all 8 MBytes as a RAM disk.
OTOH, if I'm wrong, I wouldn't mind knowing
about it, I've got at least a
couple of these boards around myself.
It would be amazing at that - a uVAX II memory board for a now no longer
available new computer (I hear that no more new VAXs are being sold whereas
it is still possible to buy a new PDP-11) being converted since there are so
many available for use as a RAM disk for the older PDP-11.
Otherwise...
I don't expect that anyone will want it, but if so, can I swap it for a regular
PDP-11 Qbus memory of 4 MBytes?
Good luck :^)
Just thought that someone might have an old uVAX I with a 4 MByte memory
and I could probably toss in a uVAX II CPU as well. I probably have a better
chance of winning a lottery.
On a more serious note, just think of what those 8 MByte boards used to cost
when DEC first sold them - I guess that was not serious after all.
Sincerely yours,
Jerome Fine