Post AQb2Fcsofor8LKA5L6 by skanman@qoto.org
 (DIR) More posts by skanman@qoto.org
 (DIR) Post #AQYwyXqxEYHljUPH4C by true_mxp@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T11:04:53Z
       
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       It just occurred to me that instead of buying a radiator I could have brought my HP 9000 C200 #workstation. It probably heats just as well… (Downside: it’s loud, like, really loud.)
       
 (DIR) Post #AQYwyYUeqw2picyyx6 by true_mxp@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T11:22:20Z
       
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       Starting jet fighter.
       
 (DIR) Post #AQYwyZ1Gtg8HLmF1mq by skanman@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T11:38:23Z
       
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       @true_mxp ah.. the Rolls Royce powered 8086.I wonder why "hey, spool up the beast" as a phrase never caught on
       
 (DIR) Post #AQYxujzuEtFyC4LMw4 by true_mxp@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T11:48:54Z
       
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       @skanman The PA-8200 processor was code-named “Vulcan.” Very fitting!
       
 (DIR) Post #AQZ6b2vd2lfyhe1iNc by skanman@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T13:26:11Z
       
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       @true_mxp oooh those chips were almost 64-bit... Not very common.. usually for special use.
       
 (DIR) Post #AQZ8zV8zzRE74R4M3U by true_mxp@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T13:53:00Z
       
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       @skanman  Not just almost :-)
       
 (DIR) Post #AQZAD23F3MB6qhONkG by skanman@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T14:06:40Z
       
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       @true_mxp they could execute 64-bit code, but the chip wasn't natively 64, it could natively do 40 I think, and used extensions to preprocess 64 instructions into executable code. I'm not a 100% sure. But I know it's extended instruction set was magical for scaling, it's a monster for it's time.
       
 (DIR) Post #AQZHltNC0fQbkTIH8C by true_mxp@qoto.org
       2022-12-13T15:31:22Z
       
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       @skanman I think it’s only one of the address buses that was only 40 bits wide. But I’m no expert either ;-)
       
 (DIR) Post #AQaWLb4r6T8Hwkb1gO by skanman@qoto.org
       2022-12-14T05:49:27Z
       
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       @true_mxp I'm just guessing you have one which makes me way more of an expert than me. I've worked with some uncommon machines before, but never one of those. What was primarily run on it?
       
 (DIR) Post #AQarDSEmBUnJFbC9po by true_mxp@qoto.org
       2022-12-14T09:43:18Z
       
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       @skanman Thanks :-) Wikipedia says on the PA-8000 (which also applies to the PA-8200): “The external interface is the Runway bus, a 64-bit address and data multiplexed bus. The PA-8000 uses a 40-bit physical address, thus it is able to address 1 TB of physical memory.”HP 9000 (later branded “Visualize”) workstations were designed to run HP-UX. The C200 can run either version 10.20 (32 bit) or 11.x (64 bit). Good overview: https://www.openpa.net/systems/hp-visualize_c200_c240_c360.html.
       
 (DIR) Post #AQb2Fcsofor8LKA5L6 by skanman@qoto.org
       2022-12-14T11:46:54Z
       
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       @true_mxp Wow look at that!.. full 64-bit. I bet those machines could crunch back in the day.. I see where my confusion came in. The only exotic chips I played with were from Alpha Digital, and some Power PCs. But you know what's a shame? Later in life I got into Unix / Linux but all those exotic computers only had NT or 2000. There were some slick OS's I wanted to play with but never got the chance.