MicroVAX II

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Mon Nov 25 20:17:00 2002

On Mon, 25 Nov 2002, Antonio Carlini wrote:

> > Which connector are you referring to? The KA630 and KA65x both use the
> > same console bulkhead, and in turn use the same two cables that
> > connect it. The KA630 and KA65x do of course use different memory
> > boards, but the ribbon cable that connects them is the same. Those are
> > the only 3 connectors that I can think of offhand, except for the Q/CD
> > bus connectors...
>
> The over-the-top connector in question is the one used to connect the
> memory cards to the CPU; sometimes also called the PMI connector.
>
> The KA630 one and the KA650 one(s) are different. The KA630 one does
> have some issue in a KA650 system, but I don't know exactly what the
> problem is. IIRC the KA630 one has three connectors (two mem boards max)
> so a four connector one (three memory boards) would be a KA65x one. (I
> don't have part numbers and a quick google didn't help).

Other than the number of connectors on the ribbon, the cable itself is the
same. Both are straight though cables, and I've successfully interchanged
them in another system I have just for grins.

The KA630 and KA65x *do* use different memory boards though, and I think
the connectors don't line up the same if you attempt to mismatch the cpu
and memory boards.

> > For some reason, they seem to not be getting clean power, so they are
> > not working properly. I won't know for sure until I get my scope
> > probes, but I expect to see lots of noise on the power supply output
> > that happens to power most of the chips on those boards.

And another update... I tried powering the system up again today, this
time with the console cable connected and ready to go the first time. The
system started its diagnostic tests like it did when it would initially go
though them, but hung sometime during test '6'. As a little experiment, I
may put the power supply out in the shop tonight, so it will be cool
tomorrow, and after it warms up just enough, I'll try powering it up again
to see if it will get a little further.

-Toth
Received on Mon Nov 25 2002 - 20:17:00 GMT