DEC VAX 9000
System
| Company: | DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) |
| Introduction: | 1989 |
| Maximum memory size: | 512MB |
| Maximum number of CPUs: | 4 |
| has artefact: | DEC VAX 9000 MCU (Multi-Chip Unit) |
| has artefact: | DEC VAX 9000 Commemorative hologram |
| has artefact: | DEC VAX 9000 Desk organizer |
| has artefact: | DEC VAX 9000 Roll of "Product of the Year" stickers |
| System class: | Supercomputer |
The VAX 9000 (codename "Aquarius" for the water-cooled variant or "Aridus" for the air-cooled variant) was an ECL implementation of the VAX architecture, positioned as a mainframe, or, with the optional vector processors installed, as a supercomputer, supporting up to 4 processors.
DEC VAX 9000 MCU (Multi-Chip Unit)
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The CPU was implemented with 13 of these MCU's; each MCU contains a number of Motorola ECL macrocell arrays; the optional vector processor occupied 3 more MCA's. All 16 MCU's plugged into a 4 x 4 MCU planar module, measuring 63.5cm (25") on each side. The macro-cell arrays are put on a High-Density Signal Carrier (HDSC), built using wafer-fab technology, and consisting of 9 copper layers (4 power, 5 signal), separated by thin polyimide layers, and laminated onto a copper/nickel baseplate.
The chip in the center of the MCU is the clock distribution chip; surrounding it are 7 macrocell arrays, and 9 RAM chips. The pin fins on the back indicate that this module came from an air-cooled ("Aridus") system. A water-cooled MCU would have had attachment sites for water hoses here.
DEC VAX 9000 Commemorative hologram
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This hologram has been attached to an HDSC; on the back of the HDSC, the copper/nickel baseplate can be seen, with its characteristic chip site cutouts.
DEC VAX 9000 Desk organizer
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DEC VAX 9000 Roll of "Product of the Year" stickers
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