GS80/GS160/GS320 Upgrades

1 GS80/GS160/GS320 Enhancements
1.1 System-wide improvements

1001-MHz EV68 CPU with 8MB cache

1224 MHz EV68 CPU with 16MB cache
System clock increased 7% (to 9ns)
New QBB backplane supports 8MB cache and IO performance enhancements

1.2 Change the system Clock

Existing system clock is 9.6ns; reliable operation now assured at 9ns
Opportunity for performance gain 1001 MHz
7% reduction in latency
7% increase in bandwidth

1.3 EV68 Processor

For maximum capability; 1001MHz/8MB cache
Requires new QBB backplanes and 9ns system clock

All CPUs in QBB must be EV68

Processor firmware adjusts capabilities to environment
Utilizes 4MB cache in old QBBs
Runs at 940MHz in systems with 9.6ns clock
Runs at 731MHz if EV67s are in same QBB

Improvements in physical packaging designed to improve reliability and availability. Use new connectors to ensure
a reliable and consistent connection with the system, also installing a module is virtually foolproof. Just line up the
module on these guide slots (point them out) and push it in
Support different speed CPUs in different building blocks. Unlike other systems, hot-swap and hot-add is done at
the component level, not at the subsystem level. This reduces the impact on the operating environment and also is
designed for better reliability and serviceability.

1.4 EV68 1224MHz Processor

For maximum capability; 1224MHz/16MB cache
Requires new QBB backplanes and 9ns system clock
All CPUs in QBB must be EV68
Processor firmware adjusts capabilities to environment
Utilizes 4MB cache in old QBBs
Utilizes 8MB cache in phase 1001 MHz QBBs
Runs at 1148MHz in systems with 9.6ns clock

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Runs at 731MHz if EV67s are in same QBB

GS80/GS160/GS320 Upgrades

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GS80/GS160/GS320 Upgrades

1.4.1 GS Series - CPU speeds, supported System clock speeds & B-Cache usage
Base on the system clock, QBB variant, operating system in use, and SMP variant the resulting system speed will be
as noted in the table below.
KN8*A-**
KN8*B*-**
KN8*C*-**

= 731Mhz CPU with 4Mb B-Cache

= 1001Mhz CPU with 8Mb B-Cache
= 1224Mhz CPU with 16Mb B-Cache

SMP Modules can be mixed with the various clocks with the following results
9.6 ns Clock
9.0 ns Clock
3X-KN8*A-**
731 Mhz
Not Allowed
(731Mhz Generation)
3X-KN8*B-**
940 Mhz
1001 Mhz
(1001Mhz Generation)
3X-KN8*C-**
1148 Mhz
1224 Mhz
(1224Mhz Generation) *
KN8*A/KN8*B in a QBB
731 Mhz
Not Allowed
KN8*A/KN8*C in a QBB **
731 Mhz
Not Allowed
KN8*B/KN8*C in a QBB
940 Mhz
1001 Mhz
KN8*A/KN8*B/KN8*C in a QBB**
731 Mhz
Not Allowed

* Note 1: Using a 3X-KN8*C-** (1224 MHZ) SMP in a 4MB QBB will restrict the processor speed to 940
Mhz even if no other CPU speeds are resident in that QBB.
**Note 2: OpenVMS will only support two SMP variants. These variants cannot be more than a generation
apart ie KN8*A/KN8*B or KN8*B/KN8*C

1.4.2 QBB & CPU Cache usage

Can be mixed and matched. Processor cache will be up to the smallest SMP processor cache (KN8*A-4MB,
KN8*B-8MB, KN8*C-16MB) installed in a QBB and also limited by the QBB maximum it is installed in (4MB,
8MB, 16MB). In other words the actual cache is the lowest of the either the QBB or the SMP processor.

Cache Works As Follows

3X-KN8*A-**
(731Mhz Generation)
3X-KN8*B-**
(1001Mhz Generation)
3X-KN8*C-**
(1224Mhz Generation)
KN8*A/KN8*B in a QBB
KN8*A/KN8*C in a QBB **
KN8*B/KN8*C in a QBB
KN8*A/KN8*B/KN8*C in a QBB**

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4 MB QBB
4

8 MB QBB
4

16 MB QBB
4

4*

16

4
4
4
4

4
4
8
4

4
4
8
4

GS80/GS160/GS320 Upgrades

* Note 1: Using a 3X-KN8*C-** (1224 MHZ) SMP in a 4MB QBB will restrict the processor speed to 940
Mhz even if no other CPU speeds are resident in that QBB.

**Note 2: OpenVMS will only support two SMP variants. These variants cannot be more than a generation
apart ie KN8*A/KN8*B or KN8*B/KN8*C

1.5 Tru64 Unix V5.1 (Yankee)

Support for mixed-speed, mixed-cache partitions
Two speeds are possible in 9.6 ns system
731 and 940 or 940 and 1224 MHz
Two speeds possible in 9.0 ns system
1001 and 1224 MHz
CPU On-line Add and Remove (OLAR)

1.6 Ev68 Performance comparison

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