VAX 4000

Introduction
The VAX 4000 was a family of low-end minicomputers developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) using microprocessors implementing the VAX instruction set architecture (ISA). The VAX 4000 succeeded the MicroVAX family. It was the last family of low-end VAX systems, as the platform was discontinued by Compaq.

TECH Monitor on 11 June 1990, wrote the following article about DEC's VAX4000 family of computers:

"DEC PREPARES TO CHALLENGE AS/400 WITH VAX 4000s"
DEC is preparing to strengthen its mid-range offerings and give itself a convincing competitor for the IBM AS/400 with launch of a new VAX 4000 family, to be available from next month, according to Computerwoche. The top of the range VAX 4000 Model 300, with 8 VAX Units of Performance, VUPs – one VUP is the performance of the original VAX-11/780 – will take over from the MicroVAX 3800/3900 line, while the 5.5 VUP Model 210 is seen as a successor to the MicroVAX 3300 and 3400.

DEC has already listed the new computers on DEC’s US Electronic Store on-line ordering service, and several orders have already come through, the paper reckons. As for price, DEC reckons a basic configuration with 32Mb of memory will come in at around $92,000; DEC-watchers put the cost of a Model 300 with 32Mb, two Digital Storage System Interconnect controllers, Ethernet adapter and VMS license for up to 40 users at a cool $100,000.

All of the VAX 4000 machines will eventually support DEC’s 1Gb RF7X-DSSI disks. Analysts are interested in the new line not least because, as one of them puts it, they have around three times more computing power than the AS/400 – so they could not only offer a migration path from the 30,000 MicroVAX 3000s installed in the US, but also be a serious competitor for the AS/400.

Terry Shannon, a DEC specialist at International Data Corp, believes the forthcoming VAXes are based on a modified version of the CPU used in the VAX 6000 Model 400 processor, but limited expansion, input-output and mass storage options mean that, according to Shannon, the VAX 4000s will not encroach on VAX 6000 territory. The VAX 4000 was foreshadowed here in March – along with a VAX 6000 Model 500; it is not clear whether the new low-end machines will come out as VAX 4000s or MicroVAX 4000s.

VAX4000 Models and Performance Specifications

Model	CPU	Cycle Time (ns)	VUP	TPS	SpecMArk
100	KA52	14	24	125	31.1
100A	KA52	14	24	125	31.1
105	KA53	12	32	180	41.2
106A	KA54	10	48.7	215	n/a
108	KA57	10	38	225	n/a
200	KA660	35	5	40	5.6
215	KA670	28	8	60	9.2
300	KA670	28	8	60	9.2
400	KA675	16	16	95	22.3
500	KA680	14	24	125	41.1
500A	KA681	14	24	125	41.1
600	KA690	12	32	185	n/a
600A	KA691	12	32	185	n/a
700A	KA692	12	40	255	51.6
705A	KA694	9	45	280	n/a

VAX 4000 Model 300
The VAX 4000 Model 300, code-named Pele, was introduced on 9 July 1990 at DECworld in Boston, Massachusetts, replacing the MicroVAX 3800 and 3900 models. It used a time-sharing KA670-AA CPU module. The Model 300 could be upgraded to a Model 400, Model 500 or Model 600 by replacing the backplane, CPU and memory module(s).

VAX 4000 Model 300 - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1990 Code Name:: Pele CPU: KA670-AA CPU, a 35.71 MHz, Rigel chip set with a 128 KB external secondary cache protected by ECC built from 84ns static RAMs CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 28ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: one to four MS670-BA (32 MB) or MS670-CA (64 MB) memory modules for 32 to 256 MB of memory I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit DSSI: up to 4 internal RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 8 SpecMark: 9.2 TPS: 80 NOTES Usually shipped with a KZQSA SCSI controller, TK50 or TK70, occasionally a TF86. Can hold up to 4 internal DSSI disks (RF3x or RF7x series), or 3 if tape drive in frame. 256K firmware ROM. Most Q22-bus peripheral devices are supported, as long as a quad-height board doesn't use the Qbus on both halves. (The bottom half is an extension bus.) 7 slots are provided. Uses S-box cards, such as the CXA16 and KZQSA-SA, and RFxxE-AF series disks. Upgradeable to KA690 CPU (requires MS690 memory and backplane upgrade for early machines). BA440 enclosure.

VAX 4000 Model 200
VAX 4000 Model 200, code-named Spitfire, was introduced in January 1991 as replacement for the MicroVAX 3400. It was positioned beneath the VAX 4000 Model 300. It used the KA660 SOC CPU.

VAX 4000 Model 200 - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1991 Code Name:: Spitfire CPU: KA660-AA CPU at 28.57MHz, 6KByte cache on chip CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 35ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: 16 to 64MBytes I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: SGEC Ethernet on CPU board, AUI/BNC 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 5 SpecMark: 5.6 TPS: 40 NOTES Popular CPU upgrade for any earlier KA6x0 VAX. Fastest VAX that can be put on the Q-bus directly KA660 has attached 16MB of memory (MS650-BA).

VAX 4000 Model 500
The VAX 4000 Model 500, code-named Omega/N, was introduced on 30 October 1991, with availability in December 1991. It succeeded the VAX 4000 Model 300, but the older system remained available as a lower cost alternative.

VAX 4000 Model 500 - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1991 Code Name:: Omega/N CPU: KA680 CPU at 71.43MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 128 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 14ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MBytes (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MBytes (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 24 TPS: 125

VAX 4000 Model 100
The VAX 4000 Model 100, code-named Cheetah-Q, is an entry-level VAX 4000 system introduced on 7 July 1992.

VAX 4000 Model 100 - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: 1992 Code Name:: Cheetah-Q CPU: KA52 CPU module containing a 72 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 8KB cache on chip and 128 KB of external tertiary cache CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 14ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: 128MBytes I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit DSSI: (Max 8.5MB/s) SCSI: (NCR-53C94) PERFORMANCE VUPS: 24 SpecMark: 31.1 TPS: 125

VAX 4000 Model 400
The VAX 4000 Model 400, code-named Slow-mega, was a distributed server, positioned as a mid-range VAX 4000 system, introduced on 7 July 1992.

VAX 4000 Model 400 - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1992 Code Name:: Slow-mega CPU: KA675 CPU module containing a 63MHz NVAX microprocessor with uCode patch changes to slow it down beyond the cycle scaling. 8KB on chip cache with 128 KB of external tertiary cache CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 16ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MBytes (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MBytes (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: SGEC Ethernet on CPU board, 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 16 SpecMark: 22.3 TPS: 95

VAX 4000 Model 600
The VAX 4000 Model 600, code-named Omega/N+, was a distributed server, positioned as a high-end VAX 4000 system, introduced on 7 July 1992. It used the KA690 CPU module containing an 83 MHz (12 ns) NVAX microprocessor with and 512 KB of external tertiary cache.

VAX 4000 Model 600 - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: 1992 Code Name:: Slow-mega CPU: KA690 CPU module containing an 83MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KBytes on chip cache and 512KBytes of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 12ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: ? I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 32 TPS: 185

VAX 4000 Model 100A
The VAX 4000 Model 100A, code-named Cheetah-Q, was introduced on 12 October 1993.

VAX 4000 Model 100A - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: 1993 Code Name:: Cheetah-Q CPU: KA52 CPU module containing a 72 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB cache on chip and 128 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 14ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: 128MBytes I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: Ethernet on CPU board, 10MBit DSSI: (Max 8.5MB/s) SCSI: NCR-53C94 PERFORMANCE VUPS: 24 SpecMark: 31.1 TPS: 125

VAX 4000 Model 500A
The VAX 4000 Model 500A, code-named Omega/N, was introduced on 12 October 1993.

VAX 4000 Model 500A - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1993 Code Name:: Omega/N CPU: KA681 CPU module containing a 71.43 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10 KB on chip cache and 128 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 14ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 24 SpecMark: 41.1 TPS: 125

VAX 4000 Model 600A
The VAX 4000 Model 600A, code-named Omega/N+, was introduced on 12 October 1993.

VAX 4000 Model 600A - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1993 Code Name:: Omega/N+ CPU: KA691 CPU module containing an 83MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 512 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 12ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: SGEC Ethernet on CPU board 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 32 SpecMark: 41.1 TPS: 185

VAX 4000 Model 700A
The VAX 4000 Model 700A, code-named Legacy, was introduced on 12 October 1993.

VAX 4000 Model 700A - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1993 Code Name:: OLegacy CPU: KA692 83MHz CPU module containing a 100MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 2 MB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 12ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: SGEC Ethernet on CPU board, 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 40 SpecMark: 51.6 TPS: 255

VAX 4000 Model 105A
The VAX 4000 Model 105, code named Cheetah-Q+, was introduced on 12 April 1994.

VAX 4000 Model 105A - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: 1994 Code Name:: Cheetah-Q+ CPU: KA53 83MHz CPU module containing an NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 128 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 12ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: 128MBytes I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit DSSI: Max 8.5MB/s SCSI: (NCR-53C94) PERFORMANCE VUPS: 32 SpecMark: 41.2 TPS: 180

VAX 4000 Model 505A
The VAX 4000 Model 505A, code-named Omega/N+, was introduced in late August 1994. It used an 83 MHz (12 ns) NVAX microprocessor with 512 KB of external tertiary cache.

VAX 4000 Model 505A - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1994 Code Name:: Cheetah-Q+ CPU: KA690 83 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10 KB on chip cache and 512 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 12ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: SGEC Ethernet on CPU board, 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 32 TPS: 185

VAX 4000 Model 705A
The VAX 4000 Model 705A, code-named Legacy+, was introduced in late August 1994. It used the

VAX 4000 Model 705A - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1994 Code Name:: Legacy+ CPU: KA694 CPU module containing a 111.12 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 2 MB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 9ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: From 16 MB (one MS690-AA board) to 512 MB (4 MS690-DA boards of 128 MB each, -BA=32MB, -CA=64MB) I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: SGEC Ethernet on CPU board, 10MBit DSSI: 2 DSSI (max throughput 16MB/s) PERFORMANCE VUPS: 45 TPS: 280

VAX 4000 Model 106A
The VAX 4000 Model 106A, code-named "Cheetah-Q++" was replaced by the VAX 4000 Model 108.

VAX 4000 Model 106A - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: ? Code Name:: Cheetah++ CPU: KA54 CPU module containing a 100 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 512 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 10ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: 128 MBytes I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit DSSI: DSSI (max throughput 8MB/s) PERFORMANCE VUPS: 48.7 TPS: 215

VAX 4000 Model 108
In 1995, Digital announced the Catamount project, which was responsible for producing the VAX 4000 Model 108. Digital added new functionality into the product set, including an increased memory capacity by a factor of four. Engineers increased the memory capacity in response to customer requests for more memory to meet prior increases in CPU performance. The Catamount products were designed to be both rack mountable and used on the desktop. The focus was lowering the customer cost of ownership and allowing customers to take advantage of lower cost memory and storage technology.

The VAX 4000 Model 108, code-named "Cheetah-Q++", was introduced on 8 October 1996 to replace the VAX 4000 Model 106A. It was discontinued on 30 September 2000, with the last systems shipped on 31 December 2000. It supported up to 256 Mb of memory with SIMMs using an industry standard form factor, double that of the previous model. The change from a proprietary SIMM to an industry standard SIMM was to lower costs, which also included reducing the size of the enclosure and more provisions for disks.

VAX 4000 Model 108 - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: 1996 Code Name:: Cheetah-Q++ CPU: KA57 CPU module containing a 100 MHz NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache and 512 KB of external tertiary cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 10ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: 512 MBytes I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: 38 TPS: 225

VAX 4000 Model 50
The VAX 4000 Model 50, code-named VAXbrick, was an upgrade for MicroVAX 3x00 or VAX 4000 Model 200.

VAX 4000 Model 50 - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: ? Code Name:: VAXbrick CPU: KA600 CPU module containing a NVAX microprocessor. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: ? MEMORY Maximum Memory: ? I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit DSSI: up to 7 RF series disks PERFORMANCE VUPS: ?

VAXstation 4000 VLC
The VAXstation 4000 VLC (Very Low Cost), aka VAXstation 4000 M30, was an entry-level workstation introduced on 30 October 1991. It was code named PVAX2/VLC. It has an AMD79c30 for ISDN and telephone-grade audio. The connections for an internal speaker are there, but it's not built in.

VAXstation 4000 VLC - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1991 Code Name:: PVAX2/VLC CPU: KA48 CPU module containing a 25 MHz SOC microprocessor with 6KB on chip cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 40 MEMORY Maximum Memory: 8 to 24 MB of memory, using the MS40-BA SIMM, which was a low-height standard 72-pin 80ns memory module with parity I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit SCSI: 1 internal low profile disk and external SCSI bus. PERFORMANCE VUPS: 6 SpecMark: 6.2

VAXstation 4000 Model 60
The VAXstation 4000 Model 60, code named PMariah, was announced on 30 October 1991 and became available on 25 November 1991. It was the first VAX system to use the TURBOchannel interconnect. The upgrade path was to the VAXstation 4000 Model 96.

VAXstation 4000 Model 60 - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1991 Code Name:: PMariah CPU: KA46 55MHz CPU module containing a Mariah chip set operating at 55 MHz with 2KB on chip cache and 256 KB of external cache. CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 18ns MEMORY Maximum Memory: It supported 8 to 104 MB of memory, with SIMMs installed in pairs. SIMMs used were the 4 MB MS44L-AA and the 16 MB MS44-DA, which both had parity. I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: BNC 10MBit TURBOChannel SCSI PERFORMANCE VUPS: 12 SpecMark: 12 TPS: 95

VAXstation 4000 Model 90
The VAXstation 4000 Model 90, code named "Cougar" was a further development of the VAXstation 4000 Model 60. Development of the VAXstation 4000 Model 90 began in mid-1991. The workstation used the KA49-A CPU module containing a NVAX microprocessor. The NVAX had a 64-bit data bus to the NMC (NVAX Memory Controller) two gate array. The system module contained eight SIMM slots, and the workstation supported 16 to 128 MB of memory with parity. 16 MB MS44L-BC and 64 MB MS44-DC memory kits were used to populate the SIMM slots. Each memory kit contained four SIMMs with capacities of 4 MB and 16 MB respectively.

The VAXstation 4000 Model 90 supported 3D graphics hardware, the SPXg and SPXgt options. These modules had their own connector on the system module. I/O was based around the NCA, a gate array which implemented an input/output adapter. The I/O subsystem had two independent 32-bit buses that communicated with the I/O and graphics options available. One of the buses interfaced to a TURBOchannel slot, the firmware contained within ROMs and the graphics options. The other bus interfaced to the Ethernet and EDAL controllers. EDAL was a 16-bit general-purpose bus for I/O. The EDAL controller consisted of a CEAC (CDAL-to-EDAL Chip) and a SQWF chip.

Ethernet was provided by the SGEC (Second-Generation Ethernet Controller) chip. SCSI was provided by the NCR 53C94, which connected to the EDAL bus. Serial lines were provided by a DC7085 quad UART. The four serial lines were used for the keyboard, mouse, modem and printer/console. A 64-entry FIFO queue was provided for all four serial lines and was implemented by a small external SRAM. Voice-quality sound was provided by an AMD Am79C30. The VAXstation 4000 Model 90 could be upgraded to a VAXstation 4000 Model 96.

VAXstation 4000 Model 90 - SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Date Introduced: 1991 Code Name:: Cougar CPU: KA49-A CPU module containing a NVAX microprocessor operating at 74.43 MHz. with a 10KB on chip cache and 256 KB external secondary cache CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 14 MEMORY Maximum Memory: 128MBytes using 16MByte MS44L-BC and 64MByte MS44-DC memory kits I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit TURBOChannel SCSI PERFORMANCE VUPS: 40 SpecMark: 32.8 TPS: 125

VAXstation 4000 Model 90A
The VAXstation 4000 Model 90A, code named Cougar+, was a faster version of the Model 90. The upgrade path was to the VAXstation 4000 Model 96.

VAXstation 4000 Model 90A - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: ? Code Name:: Cougar+ CPU: KA49-A CPU module containing a NVAX microprocessor operating at 83 MHz with 10KB on chip cache and 256KB external cache CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 12 MEMORY Maximum Memory: 128MBytes using 16MByte MS44L-BC and 64MByte MS44-DC memory kits I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit TURBOChannel SCSI PERFORMANCE SpecMark: 38.5 TPS: 125

VAXstation 4000 Model 96
The VAXstation 4000 Model 96, code named Cougar++, was a faster version of the Model 90A. It was discontinued on 30 September 1999, with the last shipments concluding on 31 December 1999.

VAXstation 4000 Model 96 - SPECIFICATIONS
CPU Date Introduced: ? Code Name:: Cougar+ CPU: KA49-C 100 MHz CPU module containing a NVAX microprocessor with 10KB on chip cache CPU Technology: CMOS CPU Cycle Time: 10 MEMORY Maximum Memory: Minimum 16MB, Maximum 128MB I/O INTERFACES Ethernet: 10MBit SCSI PERFORMANCE VUPS: 48.7 SpecMark: 45.6 TPS: 190

Sources:

• wikipedia.org