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AlphaStation



 
 
AlphaStation was the name given to a series of computer workstations, produced from 1994 onwards by Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation

Digital Equipment Corporation was a pioneering United States company in the computer industry. It is often referred to within the computing industry as DEC ....
, and latterly by Compaq
Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation was an United States personal computer company founded in 1982, and is now a brand name of Hewlett-Packard Company....
 and HP
Hewlett-Packard

The Hewlett-Packard Company , commonly referred to as HP, is a technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States....
. As the name suggests, the AlphaStations were based on the DEC Alpha
DEC Alpha

Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, was a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations....
 64-bit
64-bit

64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1960s and in RISC-based computer workstation and Server s since the early 1990s. In 2003 they were introduced to the mainstream personal computer arena, in the form of the x86-64 and 64-bit PowerPC processor architectures....
 microprocessor
Microprocessor

A microprocessor incorporates most or all of the functions of a central processing unit on a single integrated circuit . The first microprocessors emerged in the early 1970s and were used for electronic calculators, using Binary-coded decimal arithmetic on 4-bit Word ....
. Supported operating systems for AlphaStations comprise Tru64 UNIX
Tru64 UNIX

Tru64 UNIX is a 64-bit UNIX operating system for the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture , currently owned by Hewlett-Packard . Previously, Tru64 UNIX was a product of Compaq, and before that, Digital Equipment Corporation , where it was known as Digital UNIX ....
 (formerly Digital UNIX), OpenVMS
OpenVMS

OpenVMS , previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or VMS, is the name of a high-end computer server operating system that runs on the VAX and DEC Alpha families of computers, developed by Digital Equipment Corporation of Maynard, Massachusetts, Massachusetts , and most recently on Hewlett-Packard systems built around the In...
 and Windows NT
Windows NT

Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was originally designed to be a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix....
 (with AlphaBIOS ARC
Advanced RISC Computing

Advanced RISC Computing is a specification promulgated by a defunct consortium of computer manufacturers , setting forth a standard MIPS Technologies RISC-based computer Computer hardware and firmware environment....
 firmware) .

Other Alpha workstations produced by DEC include the DEC 2000 AXP (DECpc AXP 150)
DEC 2000 AXP

The DECpc AXP 150, code-named Jensen, is an entry-level workstation developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation. Introduced on 25 May 1993, the DECpc AXP 150 was the first Alpha-based system to support the Windows NT operating system and the basis for the DEC 2000 AXP entry-level servers....
, the DEC 3000 AXP
DEC 3000 AXP

DEC 3000 AXP was the name given to a series of computer workstations and server computers, produced from 1992 to around 1995 by Digital Equipment Corporation....
, the Alpha XL line (a member of the Alcor Family), the Digital Personal Workstation
Digital Personal Workstation

The Digital Personal Workstation is a family of entry-level to mid-range Workstation developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation ....
 a-Series and au-Series (codename Miata) and the Multia
DEC Multia

The Multia, later re-branded the Universal Desktop Box, was a line of desktop computers introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation on 7 November 1994....
 VX40/41/42.








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Encyclopedia


AlphaStation was the name given to a series of computer workstations, produced from 1994 onwards by Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation

Digital Equipment Corporation was a pioneering United States company in the computer industry. It is often referred to within the computing industry as DEC ....
, and latterly by Compaq
Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation was an United States personal computer company founded in 1982, and is now a brand name of Hewlett-Packard Company....
 and HP
Hewlett-Packard

The Hewlett-Packard Company , commonly referred to as HP, is a technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States....
. As the name suggests, the AlphaStations were based on the DEC Alpha
DEC Alpha

Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, was a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations....
 64-bit
64-bit

64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1960s and in RISC-based computer workstation and Server s since the early 1990s. In 2003 they were introduced to the mainstream personal computer arena, in the form of the x86-64 and 64-bit PowerPC processor architectures....
 microprocessor
Microprocessor

A microprocessor incorporates most or all of the functions of a central processing unit on a single integrated circuit . The first microprocessors emerged in the early 1970s and were used for electronic calculators, using Binary-coded decimal arithmetic on 4-bit Word ....
. Supported operating systems for AlphaStations comprise Tru64 UNIX
Tru64 UNIX

Tru64 UNIX is a 64-bit UNIX operating system for the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture , currently owned by Hewlett-Packard . Previously, Tru64 UNIX was a product of Compaq, and before that, Digital Equipment Corporation , where it was known as Digital UNIX ....
 (formerly Digital UNIX), OpenVMS
OpenVMS

OpenVMS , previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or VMS, is the name of a high-end computer server operating system that runs on the VAX and DEC Alpha families of computers, developed by Digital Equipment Corporation of Maynard, Massachusetts, Massachusetts , and most recently on Hewlett-Packard systems built around the In...
 and Windows NT
Windows NT

Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was originally designed to be a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix....
 (with AlphaBIOS ARC
Advanced RISC Computing

Advanced RISC Computing is a specification promulgated by a defunct consortium of computer manufacturers , setting forth a standard MIPS Technologies RISC-based computer Computer hardware and firmware environment....
 firmware) .

Other Alpha workstations produced by DEC include the DEC 2000 AXP (DECpc AXP 150)
DEC 2000 AXP

The DECpc AXP 150, code-named Jensen, is an entry-level workstation developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation. Introduced on 25 May 1993, the DECpc AXP 150 was the first Alpha-based system to support the Windows NT operating system and the basis for the DEC 2000 AXP entry-level servers....
, the DEC 3000 AXP
DEC 3000 AXP

DEC 3000 AXP was the name given to a series of computer workstations and server computers, produced from 1992 to around 1995 by Digital Equipment Corporation....
, the Alpha XL line (a member of the Alcor Family), the Digital Personal Workstation
Digital Personal Workstation

The Digital Personal Workstation is a family of entry-level to mid-range Workstation developed and manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation ....
 a-Series and au-Series (codename Miata) and the Multia
DEC Multia

The Multia, later re-branded the Universal Desktop Box, was a line of desktop computers introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation on 7 November 1994....
 VX40/41/42.

Models


From the XP900 onwards, all AlphaStation models were simply workstation configurations of the corresponding AlphaServer model.

Avanti Family


Model Code name # of
CPUs
CPU CPU
MHz
B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
200 4/100 Mustang 1 21064
Alpha 21064

The Alpha 21064, introduced as the DECchip 21064 and known also by its code name, EV4, is a microprocessor developed and Semiconductor device fabrication by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV4)
100 512 KB 21071 8 to 384 MB 1 PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect

The PCI Local Bus , or Conventional PCI, is a computer bus for attaching computer hardware in a computer. These devices can take either the form of an integrated circuit fitted onto the motherboard itself, called a planar device in the PCI specification or an expansion card that fits into a socket....
 
1 or 2 PCI/ISA
Industry Standard Architecture

Industry Standard Architecture was a computer bus standard for IBM compatible computers....
 
1 ISA
Desktop 1995-02-23 ?
200 4/166 166 1994-11-03 ?
200 4/233 Mustang+ 21064A
Alpha 21064

The Alpha 21064, introduced as the DECchip 21064 and known also by its code name, EV4, is a microprocessor developed and Semiconductor device fabrication by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 (EV45)
233 ?
205 4/xxx LX3 1 21064A
(EV45)
133 to 333 ? ? ? ? Desktop ? ?
250 4/266 M3 1 21064A
(EV45)
266 2 MB 21072 32 to 512 MB 1 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
1 ISA
Desktop 1995-04-03 ?
255/233 LX3+ 1 21064A
(EV45)
233 1 MB 21072 32 to 512 MB 2 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
1 ISA
Desktop 1996-03-06 ?
255/300 300 ?
400 4/166 Chinet 1 21064
(EV4)
166 512 KB 21071 8 to 384 MB 2 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
3 ISA
Tower 1995-02-23 ?
400 4/233 Avanti 21064A
(EV45)
233 1994-11-03 ?
400 4/266 266 ? ?
400 4/300 300 ? ?


Alcor Family


Model Code name # of
CPUs
CPU CPU
MHz
B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
500/266 Maverick 1 21164
Alpha 21164

The Alpha 21164, also known by its code name, EV5, is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV5)
266 2 MB 21171 32 to 512 MB 1 33 MHz PCI-X
3 PCI
Desktop 1996-03-06 ?
500/333 333 ?
500/400 Bret 21164A
Alpha 21164

The Alpha 21164, also known by its code name, EV5, is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV56)
400 21172 32 MB to 1 GB ?
500/500 500 8 MB 1996-08-06 ?
600 5/266 Alcor 1 21164
(EV5)
266 2 or 4 MB 21171 32 MB to 1 GB 3 33 MHz PCI-X
PCI-X

PCI-X is a computer bus and expansion card standard that enhanced the PCI Local Bus for higher bandwidth demanded by Server . It is a double-wide version of PCI, running at up to four times the clock speed, but is otherwise similar in electrical implementation and uses the same protocol....
 
1 PCI
1 PCI/EISA
Extended Industry Standard Architecture

The Extended Industry Standard Architecture is a bus standard for IBM compatible computers. It was announced in late 1988 by IBM PC compatible vendors as a counter to IBM's use of its Proprietary software MicroChannel Architecture in its IBM Personal System/2 series....
 
3 EISA
Pedestal 1995-08-02 ?
600 5/300 300 ?
600 5/333 333 4 MB ? ?


Noritake and Rawhide Family


Model Code name # of
CPUs
CPU CPU
MHz
B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
Noritake Family
600A 5/500 Alcor-Primo 1 21164A
(EV56)
500 8 MB ? 32 MB to 1 GB 7 PCI
2 EISA
Pedestal ? ?
Rawhide Family
1200 DaVinci Up to 2 21164A
(EV56)
400 4 MB ? 512 MB to 2 GB 5 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
Pedestal ? ?
533 ? ? ?


Tsunami Family


Model Code name # of
CPUs
CPU CPU
MHz
B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
DS10
VS10
XP900
WebBrick 1 21264
Alpha 21264

The Alpha 21264 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV6)
466 2 MB 21272 256 MB to 2 GB
100 MHz SDRAM
SDRAM

SDRAM refers to synchronous dynamic random access memory, a term that is used to describe dynamic random access memory that has a synchronous interface....
3 PCI-X
1 PCI
Desktop ? ?
21264A
Alpha 21264

The Alpha 21264 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV67)
600 ? ?
DS20E Goldrack 1, 2 21264A
(EV67)
667 8 MB
(DDR)
21272 512 MB to 4 GB 5 PCI-X
1 PCI-X/ISA
Tower ? ?
21264B
(EV68AL)
833 ? ?
ES40 Clipper 1, 2, 3, 4 21264A
(EV67)
667 8 MB
(DDR)
21272 512 MB to 32 GB
100 MHz SDRAM
6 or 10 PCI-X Pedestal ? ?
21264B
Alpha 21264

The Alpha 21264 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV68AL)
833 ? ?
XP1000 Monet 1 21264
(EV6)
500 4 MB 21272 256 MB to 2 GB 2 PCI-X
2 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
Tower 1999-02-01 ?
Brisbane 21264A
(EV67)
667 ? ?


Titan and Marvel Family


Model Code name # of
CPUs
CPU CPU
MHz
B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
Titan Family
DS15A HyperBrick II 1 21264C
Alpha 21264

The Alpha 21264 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by Digital Equipment Corporation that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV68CB)
1000 2 MB ? 512 MB to 4 GB
133 MHz SDRAM
4 33 MHz PCI-X
2 66 MHz PCI-X
Desktop ? ?
DS25 Granite 1, 2 21264C
(EV68CB)
1000 8 MB
(DDR)
? 512 MB to 16 GB 4 66 MHz PCI-X
2 33 MHz PCI-X
Tower ? ?
Marvel Family
ES47 Marvel 2P 21364
Alpha 21364

The Alpha 21364, code-named "Marvel", also known as EV7, is a microprocessor developed by Compaq that implemented the DEC Alpha instruction set architecture ....
 
(EV7)
1000 1.75 MB On-die 512 MB to 16 GB
RDRAM
RDRAM

Direct Rambus DRAM or DRDRAM is a type of synchronous DRAM, designed by the Rambus Corporation....
1 2× AGP
Accelerated Graphics Port

The Accelerated Graphics Port is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a :Category:Graphics cards to a computer's motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics....
 
1 133 MHz PCI-X
4 66 MHz PCI-X
Tower ? ?


A variant of the AlphaStation 1200 was also sold as the Digital Ultimate Workstation 533au².
Some systems had one of the microprocessors deactivated, which may be reactivated with a license upgrade.


External links