[Info-vax] BOINC for VMS

[Keith Parris]

On 3/15/2012 1:12 AM, JF Mezei wrote:
> David Froble wrote:
>> Well, the way I remember it, Ken wanted to extend the VAX, not create a new RISC
>> processor.  Regardless, on his watch the Alpha got it's start.

Early on, engineers looked at the possibility of simplifying the VAX 
instruction set, to form a "RISC-y VAX" and this idea was called EVAX. 
It didn't turn out to be the path chosen, but left remnants of its name 
along the Alpha pathway.

On 3/15/2012 1:12 AM, JF Mezei wrote:
>   Olsen had chosen the VAX 9000 with ECL tech as the future and canned
> the other options which included new architecture (Cutler's pet project)
> and the nVAX.
>
> nVAX was close enough to completion that they finished it.

William Demmer felt CMOS technology would be the eventual winner over 
ECL, as CMOS got faster with each shrink. cVAX generations (which formed 
the basis for the VAX 6000 series as well as smaller boxes) continued 
alongside the VAX 9000.

nVAX wasn't cancelled. nVAX came later, shipping about the same time as 
Alpha shipped, and continuing in parallel for a while (forming the basis 
for the VAX 8000 series as well as smaller boxes).