COMPAQ AlphaServer / AlphaStation DS10 ("TSUNAMI" )

 
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General Technical Information

HOSTNAME BLUEBERRY2
SYSTEM CPU DEC ALPHA "EV6" 21264 @466 MHz
CACHE (2nd and 1st D/I) 2 MB, 64 KB / 64 KB
RAM  512 MB, Non-standard ECC DIMMs, 200 pin (Max. 2 GB)
DATA BUS WIDTH 64 bit
IDE BUS 2 x EIDE (16.6 MB/s)
SCSI BUS
 1 x U160 Adaptec 29160LP SCSI adapter
OPTION BUS Standard PCI, 64 bit PCI
GRAPHICS Matrox Millennium II PCI 4 MB video RAM, MGA-2164W chip, 1920x1440 @75Hz max. resolution for 24-plane.
HARD DISK DRIVE 9 GB IBM U2W SCSI 7.2K RPM
CD-ROM DRIVE 32x IDE CD-ROM
NETWORK 2 x DE500 100BaseT (onboard)
AUDIO N/A
OS Alpha Core 1 (Fedora Core 3 for ALPHA)
YEAR 1999
SPEED about 900 VAX MIPS
POWER CONSUMPTION (MAX. / MEASURED)
 330 W / 159 W
COMMENTS The EV6 generation of ALPHA computers are noticably faster than the previous generations.
ESTIMATED PRICE '99 $4,500

History and other comments

In June 2008, I purchased this machine from Helsinki. It was an incomplete barebone system without original PSU. I have adapted a used PSU from a Dual PIII PC server to this box, so it's now in working order.

To do this, use another PSU in a DS10, you need to find a PSU that can provide enough current for +3.3V and +5V, and make a pin adapter suitable to convert the pins from the normal / extended ATX connector to the non-standard DEC DS10 power connectors. A normal ATX PSU has enough total power (e.g. 300-350 W) however these are not suitable if the DC output ratings are too low for +3.3V or +5V. The original PSU in the DS10 has the following ratings:

DC OUTPUT
+  5.0V
 40.0A
+  3.3V
 35.0A
+12.0V
 11.0A
- 12.0V
 0.5A
+  5VS
 1.0A

I presume that a fully loaded 617 MHz DS10 with 4 x PCI cards, 3 x high-end disks may come close to these ratings, however if you have a 466 MHz system, like mine, with only one or two disks, you don't need the full 40 A / 35 A. This DS10 seems to work fine, no problems with stability, using my 330 W PIII PSU with lower ratings ( 30 A / 25 A).

You may see on the below picture that the PC PSU is bigger than the original one (non-standard size), but it fits in the box pretty well, all things considered:


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Last updated:  29-7-2008