Digital AXPpci33 Alpha PC Motherboard OEM Design Gude

This "Digital AXPpci 33 Alpha PC Motherboard OEM Design Guide" provides comprehensive reference, configuration, and installation information for system integrators working with the Digital AXPpci 33 Alpha PC motherboard.

Key Features and Components:

• Processor: Features DECchip 21066 family Alpha RISC microprocessors (66 MHz to 233 MHz) in a ZIF socket, designed for upgrades.
• Memory: Supports up to 256 MB of ECC protected DRAM using 70 ns, 36-bit SIMMs (installed in pairs). It also includes 512 KB flash ROM for firmware and configurable external cache (0, 256 KB, or 1 MB).
• I/O: The Baby-AT form factor board offers a range of expansion slots, including three 32-bit/33 MHz PCI slots (one short, two long, with one shared with ISA) and five ISA slots (three short, two long). Integrated interfaces include SCSI-2 (NCR 53C810 controller), IDE (for Windows NT only), floppy, two serial (RS-423), one parallel (Centronics), and keyboard/mouse connectors (AT or PS/2 style).
• Configuration: Various onboard jumpers allow for configuring cache speed, CPU clock frequency, Halt/Reset functions, IDE DMA, SROM boot options, and SCSI termination.

Environmental and Operational Data:

• The guide details cooling requirements, including heatsink recommendations and maximum case temperatures for different CPU variants.
• It specifies DC power input, power sequencing, and POWER GOOD signal characteristics.
• ESD and EMC considerations are addressed, emphasizing the system integrator's responsibility for enclosure design and compliance testing.
• Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) data is provided for different configurations.

Installation and Software Support:

• It includes antistatic precautions and detailed installation instructions for heatsinks, SIMMs, and cache SRAMs.
• The motherboard supports two console subsystems: ARC firmware for Windows NT (menu-driven) and SRM firmware for Digital UNIX (command-line), with descriptions of console commands.
• Operating system installation notes are provided for Windows NT (requiring a FAT system partition and arcinst.exe utility) and Digital UNIX. Minimum memory recommendations are 16 MB for Windows NT and 32 MB for Digital UNIX.