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PA-RISC information - since 1999

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

System buses

Memory

Expansion slots

Storage

External ports

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

Articles

ROM update

There is an firmware update available for the B-Class with the latest version 6.1:

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