Artifact Details

Title

Alpha PC prototype main system unit

Catalog Number

X1720.99A

Type

Physical object

Description

Donor note: I am shipping you today one of the prototype Alpha PC's, developed by David Conroy. This system was developed in 1991-92 to demonstrate that Alpha systems did not require large elaborate enclosures, or special interfaces, but could in fact be built using standard PC components. Eventually, this design would be made into a product as the Alpha AXP 150 and would be the forerunner of all low cost Alpha workstations. The system was internally code named 'Beta' and was sometimes fondly known as the 'PDP-64', because of its simplicity. Dave designed it without ASIC's of any kind. It ran Digital UNIX. I do not know whether this system works or not. If you want more information, Dave Conroy works at WebTV here in the valley.

Date

1991

Manufacturer

Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)

Place Manufactured

U.S.

Identifying Numbers

Model number "Alpha, Alpha AXP 150"

Dimensions

4 x 16 5/8 x 16 in.

Category

Digital computer/personal computer/desktop

Credit

Gift of Bob Supnik

Lot Number

X1720.99A