VAX 11/785 as a workstation :-)

From: Tim Crawley <timc_at_lexicon.net>
Date: Thu Aug 2 18:45:25 2001

I don't know if I could afford to run an 11/785 as a workstation. The
power bill would be HUGE. As it is, to power up my 11/785 I have to
run extention cords to 3 seperate power circuits in the house (no, I don't
have 3 phase power connected at home).

> Sridhar wrote:
>
> > What I would like to see would be an XMI video card, so someone (ahem)
> > could use DECsystem 5800-series, VAX 6000-series, and VAX/DEC
7000-series
> > as workstations. That would be truly a sight to behold. Plus XMI is
> > fast.
>
> well, it may be fast, but I consider a workstation that
> measures less than 5x7x2.5 feet, weighs less than 3/4 ton,
> and consumes less than 7 kW, and whose original list
> price is less than 500 k$ an impractical thing. After all,
> microprocessors have no place on the market and who would
> ever want a computer in their home? :-)
>
> cheers,
> -Gunther
>
> PS: has anyone ever manufactured an XMI video interface?
>
>
> > > Last night I was browsing the UNIBUS/PDP-11 field guide on the
> > > Web before I went to sleep. Then I dreamed of a VAX 11/785 with
> > > an UNIBUS extension cabinet full of cards. Included was a 3, 4,
> > > 5, or so card-set that together comprises a video interface. Hook
> > > up a composite monitor or RGB monitor and there you have it:
> > >
> > > A VAX 11/785 as a workstation!
> > >
> > > Write a driver for X11R6 for it and off we go. Has anybody ever
> > > seen those UNIBUS video monitor adapter sets? I suppose they
> > > were meant for PDP-11s, but I think running them with a VAX
> > > would be way cooler. Might not be possible, and certainly would
> > > involve some serious fiddling. But in a machine that has 10 or
> > > more cards for just the CPU, a 4 board video adapter would be
> > > the appropriate thing, wouldn't it? :-)
> > >
> > > cheers,
> > > -Gunther
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
Received on Thu Aug 02 2001 - 18:45:25 BST