DEC Multia
| Industry | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 16, 1957 |
| Headquarters | Maynard, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Multia (Universal Desktop Box) desktop computers |
The Multia, which was later renamed the Universal Desktop Box, represented a series of desktop computers introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation on November 7, 1994. This product line was unique in offering either an Alpha AXP or an Intel Pentium processor, with most components being interchangeable except for the CPU and backplane. Both variants were primarily aimed at business users operating Windows NT.
Designed with a compact chassis, the Multia had limited expansion capabilities and suffered from restricted airflow, increasing the risk of overheating and potential hardware malfunction. To mitigate this, users commonly placed the system in a vertical orientation to enhance ventilation, although careful environmental control remained necessary.
Hardware specifications
The Alpha versions of the Multia were powered by either an Alpha 21066 or an Alpha 21066A CPU running at 166 MHz and 233 MHz respectively. These systems came with 16 or 24 MB of RAM as standard, officially supporting expansion up to 128 MB but practically capable of accommodating up to 256 MB. The entry-level Alpha 21066 featured a narrower (64-bit) and slower bus compared to the Alpha 21064, resulting in performance roughly equivalent to a 100 MHz Pentium in integer operations, while excelling in floating-point calculations. However, limited memory capacity constrained overall workstation efficiency. The Alpha models incorporated the TGA (DEC 21030) graphics adapter.
Both the Alpha and Intel variants shared several key peripherals: a SCSI host adapter, DEC 21040 Ethernet controller, two PCMCIA slots, dual RS-232 serial ports, a bidirectional parallel port, hard drives ranging from 340 MB to 1.6 GB available in either 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SCSI or ATA formats, PS/2 keyboard and mouse connectors, and a PCI slot on models equipped with 2.5-inch drives.
Models
The Multia lineup consisted of:
- Alpha Multia (code-named QuickSilver):
- VX40: equipped with a 166 MHz 21066 processor, optional floppy drive and external SCSI
- VX41: initially a 166 MHz 21066 with upgrade capability to a 233 MHz 21066A
- VX42: featuring a 233 MHz 21066A processor
- Intel Multia (code-named Minerva):
- VX51: powered by a 100 MHz Pentium (P54)
In 1996, Digital released the Alpha Multia without pre-installed Windows NT under the new name "Universal Desktop Box" ("UDB"). Its competitive pricing made Alpha AXP-based machines accessible to enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. The Multia/UDB supported Windows NT for Alpha up through Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6; although Windows 2000 was never officially launched for Alpha platforms, its beta version operated on the Multia. Additionally, both Linux and NetBSD were compatible. The system could also be configured to run Digital UNIX and OpenVMS, albeit with some restrictions and these options were initially disabled on this cost-effective model.
Alpha-based Multias utilized the ARC firmware console for Windows NT, while also providing access to the SRM firmware. Conversely, Intel-based Multias relied on BIOS firmware.