PA-RISC Computers
Overview
Many different PA-RISC computers were produced from the Eighties to the early-2000s. The majority were developed by HP under its HP 9000 range of servers, workstations and mainframes. Later additions were Integrity rp and rx servers, where PA-RISC and Itanium converged on the HP lineup.
Learn more on the History of the HP 9000 PA-RISC Series for details of the various HP 9000 series as well on the PA-RISC Timeline for the release dates of HP computers and software.
Workstations
Desktop
PA-RISC computers were sold in many different, then popular desktop formats, from rather small 712, 715 and B-Class to the heavy and powerful 735 and C-Class workstations.
Mini-Tower
PA-RISC mini-tower workstations, mostly used for 64-bit technical design and engineering.
Itanium
HP produced three Itanium workstations before dropping Unix workstations completely, making these the last and probably fastest HP-UX workstations (that also run Windows!).
| Model | CPU | Cache | RAM | Design | Expansion | Operating systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i2000 | 1-2 Itanium 733-800 MHz |
varies | 16 GB | 82460GX | PCI, AGP | HP-UX, Linux, FreeBSD, Windows |
| zx2000 | Itanium 2 900 MHz-1.5 GHz |
varies | 8 GB | zx1 | PCI-X, AGP | HP-UX, Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, OpenVMS |
| zx6000 | Itanium 2 900 MHz-1.5 GHz |
varies | 24 GB | zx1 | PCI-X, AGP | HP-UX, Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, OpenVMS |
Portable
Three portable PA-RISC workstations were produced for mobile measurement and control by third-party vendors. The RDI and SAIC designs are based on HP 9000/712 and C132L workstations designs.
| Model | CPU | Cache | RAM | Design | Expansion | Operating systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDI PrecisionBook 132 | PA-7300LC 132 MHz |
128 KB L1 (1 MB L2) |
512 MB | LASI | Cardbus | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| RDI PrecisionBook 160 | PA-7300LC 160 MHz |
128 KB L1 (1 MB L2) |
512 MB | LASI | Cardbus | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| RDI PrecisionBook 180 | PA-7300LC 180 MHz |
128 KB L1 (1 MB L2) |
512 MB | LASI | Cardbus | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| SAIC Galaxy 1100 | PA-7100LC 60 MHz |
64 KB | 128 MB | LASI | PCMCIA | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| SAIC Galaxy 1100 | PA-7100LC 80 MHz |
256 KB | 128 MB | LASI | PCMCIA | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| Hitachi 3050RX/100C | Hitachi PA/50L | 12 KB | 80 MB | Other | HI-UX/WE2 (Hitachi) |
Servers
700 Series
The HP 9000/700 workstation line also featured server systems in many 32 and 64-bit designs, from smaller towers in D-Class/E-Class to to deskside or cabinet systems in the K-Class.
800 Series
The HP 9000/800 were the original 32-bit PA-RISC servers with distinct architecture and heavy cases.
| Model | CPU | Cache | RAM | Design | Expansion | Operating systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 808 | PCX | 32 KB | 32 MB | SPI | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| 815 | PCX | 32 KB | 56 MB | SPI | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| 822 | NS-2 25 MHz |
32 KB | 128 MB | SIU | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| 825 | NS-1 25 MHz |
16 KB | 96/112 MB | SIU | CIO | HP-UX |
| 832 | NS-2 30 MHz |
128 KB | 128 MB | SIU | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| 834 835 |
NS-1 30 MHz |
128 KB | 96/112 MB | SIU | CIO | HP-UX, HPBSD, Mach 3/UX, Chorus |
| 840 | TS-1 8 MHz |
128 KB | 96/112 MB | CTB | CIO | HP-UX |
| 842 | PCX 32 MHz |
1 MB | ? MB | SPI | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| 845 | NS-2 27.5 MHz |
256 KB | 96/112 MB | SIU | CIO | HP-UX |
| 850 | NS-1 27.5 MHz |
128 KB | 256 MB | SIU | CIO | HP-UX |
| 852 | PCX 50 MHz |
1 MB | ? MB | SPI | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| 855 | NS-2 27.5 MHz |
256 KB | 256 MB | SIU | CIO | HP-UX |
| 860 | NS-2 27.5 MHz |
1 MB | 256 MB | SIU | CIO | HP-UX |
| 865 | PCX 50 MHz |
768 KB | 512 MB | SPI | CIO | HP-UX |
| E25 | PA-7100LC 48 MHz |
64 KB | 512 MB | LASI | HP-PB | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD |
| E35 | PA-7100LC 64 MHz |
256 KB | 512 MB | LASI | HP-PB | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD |
| E45 | PA-7100LC 80 MHz |
256 KB | 512 MB | LASI | HP-PB | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD |
| E55 | PA-7100LC 96 MHz |
1 MB | 512 MB | LASI | HP-PB | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD |
| F10 | PA-7000 32 MHz |
96 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| F20 | PA-7000 48 MHz |
128 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| F30 | PA-7000 48 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| G30 | PA-7000 48 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| G40 | PA-7100 64 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| G50 | PA-7100 96 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| G60 | PA-7100 96 MHz |
2 MB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| G70 | 1-2 PA-7100 96 MHz |
4 MB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| H20 | PA-7000 48 MHz |
128 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| H30 | PA-7000 48 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| H40 | PA-7100 64 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| H50 | PA-7100 96 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| H60 | PA-7100 96 MHz |
2 MB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| H70 | 1-2 PA-7100 96 MHz |
4 MB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| I30 | PA-7000 48 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| I40 | PA-7100 64 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| I50 | PA-7100 96 MHz |
512 KB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| I60 | PA-7100 96 MHz |
2 MB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| I70 | 1-2 PA-7100 96 MHz |
4 MB | 768 MB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
rp Series
PA-RISC servers were called rp series around the turn of the century, almost all 64-bit rack systems.
| Model | 19″ | CPU | Cache | RAM | Design | Expansion | Operating systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A180 | 2U | PA-7300LC 180 MHz |
128 KB | 2 GB | LASI | GSC, PCI | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| A180C | 2U | PA-7300LC 180 MHz |
128 KB L1 1 MB L2 |
2 GB | LASI | GSC, PCI | HP-UX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD |
| A400 rp2400 rp2430 rp2405 |
2U | PA-8x001 (up to -6X) |
depends | 2 GB | Astro | PCI | HP-UX, Linux |
| A500 rp2450 rp2470 rp2405 |
2U | 1-2 PA-8x001 (up to -7X) |
depends | 8 GB | Astro | PCI | HP-UX, Linux |
| rp3410 | 2U | PA-8800 800 MHz |
3 MB L1 32 MB L2 |
6 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux |
| rp3440 | 2U | 1-2 PA-8800 PA-8900 800 MHz-1.0 GHz |
3 MB L1 32 MB L2 64 MB L2 |
32 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux |
| rp4410 | 4U | 1-2 PA-8800 PA-8900 800 MHz-1.0 GHz |
3 MB L1 32 MB L2 64 MB L2 |
128 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX |
| rp4440 | 4U | 1-4 PA-8800 PA-8900 800 MHz-1.0 GHz |
3 MB L1 32 MB L2 64 MB L2 |
128 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX |
| L1000 rp5400 |
7U | 1-2 PA-8x001 (up to -5X) |
depends | 8 GB | Astro | PCI | HP-UX, Linux |
| L1500 rp5430 |
7U | 1-2 PA-8x001 (up to -8X) |
depends | 8 GB | Stretch | PCI | HP-UX |
| L2000 rp5450 |
7U | 1-4 PA-8x001 (up to -5X) |
depends | 16 GB | Astro | PCI | HP-UX, Linux |
| L3000 rp5470 |
7U | 1-4 PA-8x001 (up to -8X) |
depends | 16 GB | Stretch | PCI | HP-UX, Linux |
| N4000 rp7400 |
10U | 1-8 PA-8x001 (up to -7X) |
depends | 32 GB | Stretch | PCI | HP-UX, Linux |
| N4000 rp7405 |
10U | 2-8 PA-8x001 (-6X and greater) |
depends | 64 GB | Cell | PCI | HP-UX |
| N4000 rp7410 |
10U | 2-8 PA-8x001 (-6X and greater) |
depends | 64 GB | Cell | PCI | HP-UX |
| rp7420 | 10U | 1-8 PA-8800 900 MHz-1.0 GHz |
3 MB L1 32 MB L2 |
64 GB | Cell | PCI | HP-UX |
| rp7440 | 10U | 1-8 PA-8900 1.? GHz |
3 MB L1 64 MB L2 |
128 GB | Cell | PCI-X | HP-UX |
| rp8400 rp8410 |
17U | 2-16 PA-8x001 | depends | 64 GB | Cell | PCI | HP-UX |
| rp8420 | 17U | 1-16 PA-8800 PA-8900 900 MHz-1.1 GHz |
3 MB L1 32 MB L2 64 MB L2 |
256 GB | sx1000 | PCI-X | HP-UX |
| rp8440 | 17U | 1-16 PA-8900 1.1 GHz |
3 MB L1 64 MB L2 |
256 GB | sx2000 | PCI-X | HP-UX |
-
Different processors possible, denoted by suffix
-36: PA-8500 -44: PA-8500 -5X: PA-8600 -6X: PA-8700 -7X: PA-8700 -8X: PA-8700 -9X: PA-8800
rx Series
HP also released a line of Itanium-based servers in the rack-mountable Integrity rx line.
| Model | 19″ | CPU | Cache | RAM | Design | Expansion | Operating systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rx1600 rx1600-2 |
1U | 1-2 Itanium 2 1.0 GHz |
varies | 16 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx1620 | 1U | 1-2 Itanium 2 1.3-1.6 GHz |
varies | 16 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx2600 rx2600-2 |
2U | 1-2 Itanium 2 1.0-1.5 GHz |
varies | 24 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx2620 | 2U | 1-2 Itanium 2 1.3-1.6 GHz |
varies | 32 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx2660 | 2U | 1-2 Itanium 2 1.4-1.6 GHz |
varies | 32 GB | zx2 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx3600 | 4U | 1-2 Itanium 2 1.4-1.6 GHz |
varies | 192 GB | zx2 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx4610 | 7U | 2-4 Itanium 733-800 MHz |
varies | 64 GB | zx1 | PCI | HP-UX, Linux, Windows |
| rx4640 rx4640-8 |
4U | 1-4 Itanium 2 1.1-1.6 GHz |
varies | 64 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx5670 rx5670-4 |
7U | 1-4 Itanium 2 1.3-1.5 GHz |
varies | 96 GB | zx1 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx6600 | 7U | 1-4 Itanium 2 1.4-1.6 GHz |
varies | 192 GB | zx2 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx7620 rx7620-16 |
10U | 2-8 Itanium 2 1.1-1.5 GHz |
varies | 64 GB | SX1000 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx7640 rx7640-16 |
10U | 2-8 Itanium 2 1.4-1.6 GHz |
varies | 256 GB | SX2000 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx8620 rx8620-32 |
17U | 2-16 Itanium 2 1.1-1.6 GHz |
varies | 256 GB | SX1000 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx8640 rx8640-32 |
17U | 2-16 Itanium 2 1.4-1.6 GHz |
varies | 512 GB | SX2000 | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux, Windows, OpenVMS |
| rx9610 | rack | 4-16 Itanium 733-800 MHz |
varies | 128 GB | AzuzA | PCI-X | HP-UX |
Mainframe
These are large enterprise servers for computing and large databases, with a large range of expansion, CPUs, memory and storage. Mostly multi-processor, some could be clustered also.
| Model | CPU | Cache | RAM | Design | Expansion | Operating systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 870 | 1-4 PCX 50 MHz |
1 MB | 1 GB | SPI | CIO | HP-UX |
| 890 | 1-4 PA-7000? 60 MHz |
4 MB | 2.0 GB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| T500 | 1-12 PA-7100 90 MHz |
2 MB | 3.75 GB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| T520 | 1-14 PA-7150 120 MHz |
2 MB | 3.75 GB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| T600 | 1-12 PA-8000 180 MHz |
2 MB L1 8 MB L2 |
3.75 GB | Viper | HP-PB | HP-UX |
| V2200 | 4-16 PA-8200 200 MHz |
4 MB | 16 GB | HyperPlane | PCI | HP-UX |
| V2250 | 4-16 PA-8200 240 MHz |
4 MB | 16 GB | HyperPlane | PCI | HP-UX |
| V2500 | 2-32 PA-8500 440 MHz |
1.5 MB | 32 GB | HyperPlane | PCI | HP-UX |
| V2500 Cluster |
4-128 PA-8500 440 MHz |
1.5 MB | 128 GB | HyperPlane | PCI | HP-UX |
| V2600 | 2-32 PA-8600 552 MHz |
1.5 MB | 32 GB | HyperPlane | PCI | HP-UX |
| V2600 Cluster |
4-128 PA-8600 552 MHz |
1.5 MB | 128 GB | HyperPlane | PCI | HP-UX |
| Convex SPP1000/CD |
2-16 PA-7100 100 MHz |
2 MB | 4 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1000/XA |
2-8 PA-7100 100 MHz |
2 MB | 2 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1000/XA Cluster |
8-128 PA-7100 100 MHz |
2 MB | 32 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1200/CD |
2-16 PA-7200 120 MHz |
512 KB | 4 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1200/XA |
2-8 PA-7200 120 MHz |
512 KB | 2 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1200/XA Cluster |
8-128 PA-7200 120 MHz |
512 KB | 32 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1600/CD |
2-16 PA-7200 120 MHz |
2 MB | 4 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1600/XA |
2-8 PA-7200 120 MHz |
2 MB | 2 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| Convex SPP1600/XA Cluster |
8-128 PA-7200 120 MHz |
2 MB | 32 GB | Crossbar | SBus | SPP-UX |
| HP/Convex SPP2000 S-Class |
4-16 PA-8000 180 MHz |
2 MB | 16 GB | Crossbar | PCI | SPP-UX |
| HP/Convex SPP2000 X-Class Cluster |
8-512 PA-8000 180 MHz |
2 MB | 512 GB | Crossbar | PCI | SPP-UX |
| Superdome Legacy white |
1-64 PA-8x00 | varies | 1TB | Cell | PCI-X | HP-UX, Linux |
| Superdome sx1000 black |
1-64
PA-8800 PA-8900 Itanium 2 |
varies | 2TB | SX1000 | PCI X, PCIeX | HP-UX, Linux Windows, OpenVMS |
| Superdome sx2000 black |
1-64
PA-8900 Itanium 2 |
varies | 2TB | SX2000 | PCI X, PCIeX | HP-UX, Linux Windows, OpenVMS |
| Stratus Continuum 400 |
4-8 PA-8500 PA-8600 |
1.5 MB | 8 GB | Continuum | 12 PCI | HP-UX, FTX |
| Stratus Continuum 600 |
4-8 PA-7100 PA-8600 |
0.5-2 MB | 128 - 4 GB |
Continuum | 6 slots | VOS, FTX |
| Stratus Continuum 1200 |
4-16 PA-7100 PA-8600 |
0.5-2 MB | 512 - 4 GB |
Continuum | 12-18 slots | VOS, FTX |
VME boards
Integrated PA-RISC systems on VME boards, based on HP 9000/715 and B-Class workstations, used for medical, industrial and military data measurement and real time control.
Third party
A small circle of third-party vendors sold PA-RISC Third Party Systems, primarily in Japan by Hitachi, Mitsubishi, NEC and OKI. All members of the PRO Precision RISC organization, founded by HP to promote its PA-RISC platform. Some were own-designs, while some systems were rebranded HP 9000 sold as OEM.