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AlphaServer

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AlphaServer
Company typeProduct line
IndustryComputer servers
PredecessorDigital Equipment Corporation
Founded1994
SuccessorItanium-based platforms (HP)
ProductsServer computers based on DEC Alpha 64-bit microprocessor architecture
OwnerDigital Equipment Corporation, later Compaq, then HP

AlphaServer represents a line of server computers introduced in 1994 by Digital Equipment Corporation, with subsequent stewardship by Compaq and HP. These servers were constructed around the DEC Alpha 64-bit microprocessor architecture and were compatible with operating systems including Tru64 UNIX, OpenVMS, MEDITECH MAGIC, and early iterations of Windows NT (utilizing AlphaBIOS ARC firmware). Additionally, users experimented with alternative systems such as Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and FreeBSD on these machines.

The AlphaStation workstation series also utilized the Alpha processor.

Some models were rebranded as Digital Servers, featuring white chassis, aimed specifically at the Windows NT server segment:

  • Digital Server 3300/3305: a rebranded AlphaServer 800
  • Digital Server 5300/5305: a rebranded AlphaServer 1200
  • Digital Server 7300/7305/7310: a rebranded AlphaServer 4100

HP transitioned away from systems based on Alpha-, MIPS-, and PA-RISC processors in favor of Itanium-based platforms. The last AlphaServers were discontinued from general sales on 27 April 2007, with upgrades and accessory availability ending on 25 April 2008. HP Services continued support through 2008 for models such as the DS15A, DS25, ES45, ES47, ES80, and GS1280; these systems are currently unsupported.

Models

Presented below in order of release are key AlphaServer models:

Avanti Family

Model Code name CPUs CPU MHz B-cache Chipset Max. Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
200 4/100 Mustang 1 21064
(EV4) 		100 512 KB 21071 8 to 384 MB 1 PCI
1 or 2 PCI/ISA
1 ISA 		Desktop ? ?
4/166 166 ? ?
4/233 21064A
(EV45) 		233 ? ?
400 4/166 Mustang S 1 21064
(EV4) 		166 512 KB 21071 8 to 384 MB
(6x72-pin SIMMs, 3 banks) 		2 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
3 ISA 		Mini-tower ? ?
4/233 21064A
(EV45) 		233 ? ?
300 4/266 Melmac 1 21064A
(EV45) 		266 2 MB 21072 512 MB
(8x72-pin SIMMs, 2 banks) 		1 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
1 ISA 		Desktop
or rackmount 		?

Sable Family

Model Code name # of
CPUs 		CPU CPU
MHz 		B-cache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure Introduced Discontinued
2100 4/200 Sable Between one and four 21064
(EV4) 		200 1 MB per CPU ? Up to 2 GB
(or up to 1 GB with four CPUs) 		Three PCI slots,
eight EISA slots 		Pedestal or rack-mount chassis ?

?

' 4/233 ' Sable45 ' 21064A (EV45) ' 233 ' 1 MB per CPU
' 4/275 ' 275 ' 4 MB per CPU
' 5/250 ' Gamma-Sable ' 21164 (EV5) ' 250 ' 4 MB per CPU
' 5/300 ' 291
' 5/375 ' 21164A (EV56) ' 375 ' 4 MB per CPU
' 2000 ' 4/200 ' Demi-Sable' ' One or two ' ' '21064' (EV4)' ' '190' ' '1 MB per CPU' ' '640 MB' ' Three PCI slots, seven EISA slots, one PCI/EISA slot ' ' Pedestal ' ' ?' ' ?'
' '4/233' ' Demi-Sable45' ' '21064A' (EV45)' ' '233' ' '1 MB per CPU' ' '1 GB'
' '4/275'
' '5/250' ' Demi-Gamma' ' '21164' (EV5)' ' '250'
' '5/300'
' '5/375' ' '21164A' (EV56)'

Initially launched as the Digital 2100, the AlphaServer 2100 later adopted the AlphaServer branding.

Mikasa Series

Model Code Name CPU Count Processor Processor Speed (MHz) B-cache Chipset Memory Capacity Expansion Slots Case Type Launch Date End of Production
rowspan=4 1000 4/200 Mikasa 1 Alpha 21064 (EV4) 200 2 MB 21071 512 MB 2 PCI,
1 PCI/EISA,
7 EISA slots 		Pedestal or rackmount ? ?
4/233 rowspan=2 Mikasa+ rowspan=2 Alpha 21064 (EV45) 233 21071 ? 1995 ?
4/266 266 21071 1 GB (20×72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks) ? ?
5/300 Mikasa-Pinnacle Alpha 21164 (EV5) 300 ? ? ?

Noritake Series

Model Code Name CPU Count Processor Model Processor Speed (MHz) B-cache Size Chipset Model Memory Configuration Expansion Options Chassis Type Release Date Discontinuation Date
rowspan=6 1000A 4/233 rowspan=2 Noritake 1 Alpha 21064 (EV45) 233 2 MB 21071Template:Ref 1 GB
(20×72-pin SIMMs, 4 banks)Template:Ref 		7 PCI
2 ISA slots 		Pedestal
or rackmount 		? ?
4/266 266 21071Template:Ref ? ?
5/300 rowspan=2 Noritake-Pinnacle rowspan=2 Alpha 21164 (EV5) 300 ? ? ?
5/333 333 21171Template:Ref ? ?
5/400 rowspan=2 Noritake-Primo rowspan=2 Alpha 21164 (EV56) 400 21171Template:Ref ?
'5/500' '500' '8 MB' '?' '1997-04-14'[1] '?'
'rowspan=3' 800 '5/333' 'rowspan=3' Corelle 'rowspan=3' 1 'rowspan=3' Alpha 21164 (EV56) '333' 'rowspan=3' 2 MB '21171Template:Ref' 'rowspan=3' 2 GB
(8× ECC EDO DIMMs, 2 banks)Template:Ref' 		'rowspan=3' 3 PCI
2 EISA
1 PCI-X/EISATemplate:Ref' 		'rowspan=3' Mini-tower (convertible to rackmount)' 'rowspan=2' '1997-04-14'[1]
'5/400' '400' '21171Template:Ref' '?' '?'
'5/500' '500' '21171Template:Ref' '1997-10-27'[2] '?'

Rawhide Series

Model Code Name Number of CPUs Processor Processor Speed (MHz) B-cache per CPU Chipset Memory Capacity Expansion Slots Case Style Release Date End of Production
'rowspan=5' 4000 '5/300' 'rowspan=5' Wrangler/Durango 'rowspan=5' Up to two CPUs 'Alpha 21164'
(EV5) 		'300' '2 MB' '?' 'rowspan=5' 4 GB 'rowspan=5' 8–16 PCI slots
(including three shared PCI/EISA) 		'rowspan=5' Pedestal or rackmount chassis 'rowspan=2' '1996-09-04'[3] '?'
'5/400' 'rowspan=4' '21164A'
(EV56) 		'400' '4 MB' '?' '?'
'5/466' '466' '4 MB' '?' '?' '?'
'5/533' '533' '4 MB' "1997-10-27"[2] "?"
"5/600" "600" "8 MB" "?" "?" "?"
"rowspan=6" 4100 "5/300E" "rowspan=6" Dodge "rowspan=6" Up to four CPUs "rowspan=2" '21164'
(EV5) 		"300" "None" "rowspan=6" Custom chipset "rowspan=6" Memory ranging from 32 MB to 8 GB "rowspan=6" Five PCI and three PCI/EISA slots "rowspan=6" Pedestal or rackmount enclosure "?" "?"
"5/300" "300" "2 MB" "?" "?"
"5/400" "rowspan=4" '21164A'
(EV56) 		"400" "rowspan=3" "4 MB" "?" "?"
"5/466" "466" "?" "?"
"5/533" "533" "?" "?"
"5/600" "600" "8 MB" "?"
1200 "5/400" Tincup Up to two CPUs '21164A'
(EV56) 		"400" "4 MB per processor" "?" Four GB memory Four PCI-X, one PCI, one PCI-X/EISA slots Pedestal case '1997-10-27'[2]

'"?

"5/533" "533"

'"?' '"?'


Turbolaser Series

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Lynx Series

Model Codename CPU Count Processor CPU Speed
(MHz) 		Secondary Cache / CPU Chipset RAM Capacity Expansion Slots Form Factor Launch Date End of Production
8200 5/300 TurboLaser 2 to 6 CPUs EV5 300 MHz 4 MB Custom
ASICs 		12 GB 132 PCI slots,
8 EISA slots 		Rack 1995-04-11 ?
5/350 350 MHz ? ?
5/440 EV56 437 MHz 4 MB ? ?
5/625 612 MHz ? ?
8400 5/300 TurboLaser max CPUs up to 12
(later expanded to 14) 		EV5 300 MHz 4 MB Custom
ASICs 		28 GB 144 PCI,
8 EISA,
XMI 		Cabinet 1995-04-11 ?
5/350 350 MHz ? ?
5/440 EV56 437 MHz 4 MB {

?

Model Codename Number of CPUs Processor CPU Frequency
(MHz) 		Secondary Cache Chipset Memory Expansion Options Chassis Release Date Discontinued Date
'Demi-Lynx (EV45),
Demi-Gamma-Lynx (EV5)' 		'Up to two' 'EV45, EV5 or EV56' '233, 250, 275, 300, 375, 400' '?' '?' '?' '?' 'Pedestal' '?' '?'
'4/275' 'Lynx' 'Up to 4 CPUs' '21064A
(EV45)' 		'275 MHz' '4 MB' '?' '2 GB, 1 GB for 4 CPU models' '8 PCI,
3 EISA slots' 		'Pedestal' '?' '?'
'5/250' 'Gamma-Lynx' '21164
(EV5)' 		'250 MHz' '4 MB' '?' '?' '?'
'5/300' 'Gamma-Lynx' '21164
(EV5)' 		'300 MHz' '?' '?' '?'
'5/375' 'Gamma-Lynx' '21164
(EV5)' 		'375 MHz' '8 MB' '?' '?' '?'

Tsunami Series

Model Codename CPU Quantity Processor Type Clock Speed
(MHz) 		Secondary Cache Size Chipset Model RAM Size Expansion Slots Available Case Type Market Release Date Production End Date
DS10 6/466 WebBrick Single CPU EV6 processor 466 MHz 2 MB cache 21272 (Tsunami chipset) 2 GB RAM capacity 3 PCI-X slots,
1 PCI slot available 		desktop form factor 1999-05-10 launch date {

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Titan Series

Model Codename CPU Count Processor CPU Speed
(MHz) 		B-cache Size Chipset Memory Capacity Expansion Slots Form Factor Launch Date End of Life
DS15 68/1000 HyperBrick 1 EV68CB 1000 2 MB ? 4 GB 4 PCI-X slots at 33 MHz or
2 PCI-X slots at 66 MHz 		Tower 2003-10-20 2007-04-27
DS25 68/1000 Granite Up to 2 processors EV68CB 1000 8 MB ? 16 GB 6 PCI-X slots Tower or 5U Rack 2002-08-04 ?
ES45 68/1000 and 68/1250 variants Privateer Up to 4 CPUs EV68CB processor series 1000 and 1250 MHz options 8 MB and 16 MB B-cache sizes respectively ? Maximum memory up to 32 GB depending on configuration Up to 10 PCI-X expansion slots depending on setup Pedestal, 8U Rack, or tower chassis options available ? ?

Wildfire Series

Model Name Codename Processor Quantity CPU Type Clock Speed (MHz) B-cache Capacity Chipset Type Maximum Memory Expansion Capabilities Enclosure Type Release Date Retirement Date
GS80 Wildfire family Model 4 supports 2–4 CPUs
Model 8 supports 2–8 CPUs 		Alpha 21264 (EV67) 731 4 MB Custom chipset design Up to 64 GB memory capacity Supports up to sixteen PCI-X buses at 33 MHz with a total of fifty-six slots Rack-mounted system 2000-05-16 ?

Alpha 21264 (EV68CB)

1001 MHz

4 or 8 MB cache

1224 MHz

4, 8, or 16 MB cache

2002-08-04

rowspan=3|'GS160'

rowspan=3|'Wildfire'

rowspan=3|'Model 8 supports 2–8 CPUs
Model16 supports up to16 CPUs'

21264 (EV67)

731 MHz

4 MB cache

Custom chipset

Up to128 GB memory

33 MHz PCI-X with support for up to32 buses and112 slots

Rack-mounted

2000-05-16

?

21264C (EV68CB)

1001 MHz

4 or 8 MB cache

?

?

1224 MHz

4,8, or16 MB cache

2002-08-04

?

rowspan=3|'GS320'

rowspan=3|'Wildfire'

rowspan=3|'Model24 supports up to24 CPUs
Model32 supports up to32 CPUs'

21264A (EV67)

731 MHz

4 MB cache

Custom chipset design

Up to256 GB memory capacity

33 MHz PCI-X supporting up to64 buses and224 slots total

Rack-mounted systems

2000-05-16

?

21264C (EV68CB)

1001 MHz

4 or 8 MB cache

?

?

1224 MHz

4,8, or16 MB cache

2002-08-04

?

AlphaServer SC Series

Model Designation Codename Number of Processors CPU Type CPU Clock Speed (MHz) B-cache Size Chipset Model Maximum Memory per Node Expansion Slots Available System Enclosure Type Market Introduction Date Discontinuation Date
SC20 68/833 Unknown codename Ranges from 8 up to 256 processors Alpha 21264B
EV68AL variant 		833 MHz 2 MB cache size Unknown chipset details Up to 2 GB per node memory capacity Contains two PCI-X expansion slots Rack-mounted systems Released on May 2, 2002 ?
SC40 models (67/667 and 68/833) Sierra codename for both models Supports between 64 and 512 processors total Alpha CPUs:

21264A (EV67) at 667 MHz and
21264B (EV68AL) at833 MHz respectively             | 667 and833 MHz CPU speeds respectively             | Both feature an8 MB B-cache size             | Chipset information not specified             | Maximum memory capacity is24 GB per node             | Includes10 PCI-X expansion slots each             | Rack enclosure design             | Introduced November17,1999             | ?

'SC45' model with designation68/1250' 'Sierra' codename' 'Processor count ranges from16 up to4096' 'Uses Alpha21264C processor, EV68CB variant' 'CPU speed clocked at1250 MHz' 'Includes a16 MB B-cache' 'Chipset details unspecified' 'Maximum memory per node is32 GB' 'Equipped with10 PCI-X expansion slots' 'Mounted in racks' 'Introduction date unspecified' 'Discontinuation date unknown'

The AlphaServer SC series was designed as a supercomputer architecture composed of individual nodes such as DS20L, ES40, or ES45 units assembled within rack enclosures. These nodes were interconnected utilizing a Quadrics elan3 high-speed network, intended for demanding technical computing workloads. Notably, the AlphaServer SC45 achieved the rank of sixth fastest supercomputer worldwide as recently as November of2004.

Marvel Family

Model Code name # of
CPUs 		CPU CPU MHz Scache Chipset Memory Expansion Enclosure CPU Drawers Introduced Discontinued
ES47 Unknown 1 to 2 Alpha 21364
(EV7) 		1000
1150 		1.75 MB Unknown Maximum 16 GB 1 Accelerated Graphics Port
5 PCI/PCI-X slots 		Tower n/a 2003-01-20 2007-04-27
1 to 4 Up to 32 GB Up to 4 Accelerated Graphics Port
Up to 32 PCI/PCI-X slots 		Rack 1 to 2
2-CPU drawers

Initially, the AlphaServer GS1280 supported up to sixteen processors, but by October 2003, this capacity expanded to sixty-four CPUs. Additionally, the memory allocation per processor was increased to eight gigabytes.

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CNET-1997-04-14
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CNET-1997-10-27
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CNET-1996-09-04
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