[vcf-midatlantic] Working on a historical microprocessor exhibt

[David Riley]

On Feb 11, 2020, at 2:16 PM, connork--- via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
> 
> I also saw say the Jaws-11 chipset mentioned. It would be cool to show say a PDP 11/40 boardset, then a PDP 11/44 boardset then a Jaws-11 chip. Showing the progression of integration over one architecture!

This is another really interesting idea, also outside the scope of the "microprocessor" idea. J-11 is an interesting one, because it's a multi-chip package; does it really count as a microprocessor if the control store is external? Single package, multiple die (like Pentium Pro, or early multi-core CPUs later).  I think the F-11 is an interesting evolutionary step there as well; it's definitely miniaturized, there are microprocessor-like features, but the control store, MMU and the optional FP and CIS control stores are separate packages.  Definitely useful illustrations of the progression of an architecture!


- Dave