PDP9.co.uk http://pdp9.co.uk Charting the history and preservation of DEC PDP-9 computers Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:51:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 PDP-9 console arrives http://pdp9.co.uk/2009/07/16/pdp-9-console-arrives/ http://pdp9.co.uk/2009/07/16/pdp-9-console-arrives/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:48:39 +0000 Toby Russell http://pdp9.co.uk/?p=7 I’ve finally taken possession of the PDP-9 console I’ve been saving for for the last few months. It didn’t come cheap, but for such a unique item I was prepared to dig deep. My plan now is to rebuild a replica rack and hook up a simh emulator to the console. I will avoid making any modifications to the console so its left in original condition.

Along with the console, I’m also look at the feasibility of hooking up a TU55 drive, a paper tape drive and a deflection monitor
Along with the console I also aquired a set of 5 ex-PDP-12 backplanes and numerous flip chips so in the long term I am toying with the idea of building a TTL 18-bit processor. Whilst still not a true PDP-9 it would be an interesting exercise and a good bit more authentic than running an emulator.

Next steps are to start to draw up plans for the rack.

]]> http://pdp9.co.uk/2009/07/16/pdp-9-console-arrives/feed/ 1 What is a PDP-9? http://pdp9.co.uk/2009/04/13/what-is-a-pdp-9/ http://pdp9.co.uk/2009/04/13/what-is-a-pdp-9/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:41:16 +0000 Toby Russell http://pdp9.co.uk/?p=3 pdp9-bw.jpgIntroduction

Introduced in 1966, the PDP-9 was a 18 bit minicomputer built by Digital (DEC). The machine was a successor to the PDP-7 minicomputer, which it was upwardly compatible with and had roughly double the performance of the earlier machine. The machine could address up to 32KW of core memory.

The PDP-9 was one of the first small/medium sized computers to feature a keyboard/monitor system (a rudimentary for of operating system) which ran on the DECtape storage system.

The PDP-9/L, a compact and lower cost version of the PDP-9 was introduced in 1968. Of the 450 PDP-9s produced, 40 were PDP-9/Ls.

The PDP-9 was replaced by the TTL based PDP-15 in 1969.

Options and Peripherals

Option Description Capacity
CPU and memory PDP-9 4KW – 32KW
CPU options KE09A EAE, extended arithmetic element
KG09A memory extension control
KP09A power fail detection
KX09A memory protection control
Console KSR-33 Teletype
Additional terminals LT09 and KSR-33 Teletypes 1-4 lines
Paper tape PC09A paper tape reader and punch
Real time clock integral
Line printer Type 647E line printer (sixbit ASCII)
LP09 line printer (sevenbit ASCII)
DECtape TC02/TU55 DECtape 148KW
Disk RF09/RS09 fixed head disk 2.1MW
RB09 fixed head disk 1MW
Magnetic tape TC59 magnetic tape (9 track only)
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