HP Visualize B132L, B160L, B180L
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1996-1997 |
| Period | Maturity (III) |
| CPU | 1 PA-7300LC 132-180 MHz |
| Cache | 128 KB L1 1 MB L2 |
| RAM | 1.5 GB |
| Design | LASI |
| Drives | 2 SCSI 1 FD |
| Expansion | 1 GSC/PCI 1 GSC/PCI/EISA |
| Bandwidth | Mem 423 MB/s (B132L) Mem 427 MB/s (B160L) I/O 132 MB/s (B132L) I/O 160 MB/s (B160L) I/O 144 MB/s (B180L) |
| I/O | 10E 100E (+-models) EVC 2 SCSI 2 serial 2 PS/2 HIL audio |
The HP Visualize B-Class B132L, B160L and B180L were entry-level HP 9000 PA-RISC workstations introduced in 1997. Based on 32-bit PA-RISC processors, they were the successors to the popular 715 Unix workstations with improved performance and I/O options. The B-Class were developed together with the C-Class workstations C132L/C160L, having similar design but more integrated functionality on the mainboard and fewer expansion options to minimize cost.
| Model | Number | Introduced | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| B132L | 9000/778 | 1996 | $10,480 |
| B160L | 9000/778 | 1996 | $16,480 |
| B180L | 9000/778 | 1997 | $16,500 |
The +-models B132L+ and B180L+ had faster Ultra-Wide SE SCSI and 100 Mbit Ethernet instead of Fast-Wide HVD SCSI and 10 Mbit Ethernet. These computers were widely available in the late-2000s after Unix-based CAD/CAE was phased out widely in the industry and these workstations had solid support in open source operating systems.
System architecture
Processors
| Model | CPU | Speed | L1 Cache | L2 Cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B132L | PA-7300LC | 132 MHz | 64/64 KB on-chip | 1 MB off-chip optional |
| B132L+ | PA-7300LC | 132 MHz | 64/64 KB on-chip | 1 MB off-chip optional |
| B160L | PA-7300LC | 160 MHz | 64/64 KB on-chip | 1 MB off-chip optional |
| B180L+ | PA-7300LC | 180 MHz | 64/64 KB on-chip | 1 MB off-chip optional |
The external L2 cache SRAM is optional and installed in two DIMM slots next to the CPU socket with modules of equal size. Usually, systems come with two 512 KB modules ≡ 1 MB L2.
Chipset
- LASI chipset
- Phantom PseudoBC GSC+ port
- NCR 53C710 8-bit single-ended SCSI-2
- B132L, B160L NCR 53C720 16-bit Fast-Wide high-voltage differential (HVD) SCSI-2
- B132L+, B180L+ Symbios Logic 53C875 16-bit Ultra-Wide SCSI-2 controller
- B132L+, B180L+ DEC 21142/43 (Tulip) Fast-Ethernet controller
- Intel 82596CA 10 Mbit Ethernet controller
- Harmony CD/DAT quality 16-bit stereo audio
- Wax EISA bridge
- Dino GSC-to-PCI bridge
- Visualize-EG (
Graffiti
) graphics with 2MB frame buffer memory - Other I/O (serial, parallel, Floppy)
System buses
- GSC general system-level I/O bus
- B132L and B132L+: 33 MHz 132 MB/s
- B160L: 40 MHz 160 MB/s
- B180L+: 36 MHz 144 MB/s
- EISA additional expansion I/O bus
- PCI-32/33 high-performance device I/O bus
- SCSI-2 Fast-Narrow single-ended bus
- B132L, B160L SCSI-2 Fast-Wide high-voltage differential main storage I/O bus
- B132L+, B180L+ SCSI-2 Ultra-Wide single-ended main storage I/O bus
Memory
- 72-pin ECC SIMMs, 60ns or faster
- Six slots for 16-256 MB modules
- 32 MB to 1.5 GB supported
Expansion slots
- B132L, B160L:
- One slot for a GSC (EISA formfactor) or PCI 32-bit/33 MHz, 3.3 V card
- One slot for a GSC (EISA formfactor) or PCI 32-bit/33 MHz, 3.3 V or EISA card
- B132L+, B180L+:
- One slot for a GSC (EISA formfactor) or PCI 32-bit/33 MHz, 5 V card
- One slot for a GSC (EISA formfactor) or PCI 32-bit/33 MHz, 5 V or EISA card
Storage
- SCSI half-height 3.5″ 68-pin hard drive, either Fast-Wide high-voltage differential (on B132L, B160L) or Ultra-Wide SE (on +-models)
- 3.5″ Floppy drive
- SCSI half-heigth 5.25″ 50-pin SE drive, Fast-Narrow SE SCSI, externally accessible
External ports
- SCSI-2 50-pin Fast-Narrow single-ended
- B132L, B160L 68-pin HD SCSI-2 Fast-Wide high-voltage differential
- B132L+, B180L+ SCSI-3 68-pin Ultra-Wide single-ended
- Two serial RS232C DB9
- Parallel DB25
- B132L, B160L Ethernet RJ45
- B132L+, B180L+ Fast Ethernet RJ45
- Ethernet AUI 15-pin
- EVC graphics port, that needs a special HP adapter cable to convert to VGA
- Two PS/2 connectors for keyboard & mouse
- Four phone jacks (microphone, headphones, line-in and line-out)
Operating systems
Benchmarks
| Model | SPEC95, int | SPEC95, fp | SPEC95 rate, int |
SPEC95 rate, fp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B132 | 6.45 | 6.70 | 58.1 | 60.3 |
| B132+ | 6.84 | 7.17 | 61.5 | 64.6 |
| B160L | 7.75 | 7.56 | 69.7 | 68.1 |
| B180L+ | 9.22 | 9.43 | 83.0 | 84.8 |
Dimensions
| Height | Width | Depth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 116mm | 445mm | 452mm | 18kg |
References
Manuals
- Model B132L/B132L+/B160L/B180L Owner’s Guide (.pdf) Hewlett Packard, A4190-90023, September 1997
- Service Handbook B Class Model B132L/B132L+/B160L/B180L (.pdf) Hewlett Packard, A4190-90041, October 1997
Articles
- A Low-Cost Workstation with Enhanced Performance and I/O Capabilities (.pdf) Scott P. Allan et al (June 1997: Hewlett-Packard Journal)
ROM update
There is an firmware update available for the B-Class with the latest version 6.1:
- PF_CB1X0061.txt has details about the contents and installation of the patch.
- CB1X0061.frm contains the patch.
- Both hosted at the PA-RISC Linux FTP server