Digital Equipment Digital Semiconductor 21164 Alpha Microprocessor User Manual

DigitalSemiconductor21164
AlphaMicroprocessorMotherboard

User’sManual

Order Number: EC–QLJLC–TE

Revision/Update Information: This document supersedes the

Alpha 21164 Microprocessor Motherboard
User’s Manual (EC–QLJLB–TE).

Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, Massachusetts

March 1996

Possession, use, or copying of the software described in this publication is authorized only
pursuant to a valid written license from Digital or an authorized sublicensor.

While Digital believes the information included in this publication is correct as of the date of
publication, it is subject to change without notice.

Digital Equipment Corporation makes no representations that the use of its products in the
manner described in this publication will not infringe on existing or future patent rights, nor do
the descriptions contained in this publication imply the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell
equipment or software in accordance with the description.

© Digital Equipment Corporation 1996.
All rights reserved.

Printed in U.S.A.
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OpenVMS, VAX, VAX DOCUMENT, VMS, the AlphaGeneration design mark, and the
DIGITAL logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.

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All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This document was prepared using VAX DOCUMENT Version 2.1.

Contents

About This Manual........................................... vii

1 Introduction to the EB164

1.1 System Components and Features........................ 1–1

1.1.1 Digital Semiconductor 21171 Core Logic Chipset .......... 1–1

1.1.2 Memory Subsystem ................................ 1–3

1.1.3 L3 Bcache Subsystem Overview ....................... 1–3

1.1.4 PCI Interface Overview . . ........................... 1–3

1.1.5 ISA Interface Overview . . ........................... 1–4

1.1.6 Miscellaneous Logic ................................ 1–4

1.1.7 Software Support .................................. 1–5

1.1.8 Component Layout ................................. 1–5

1.2 EB164 Summary . . ................................... 1–6

2 System Configuration and Connectors

2.1 Configuration Jumpers ................................. 2–1

2.2 EB164 Connectors . ................................... 2–8

3 Starting and Using the EB164

3.1 Hardware Requirements ............................... 3–1

3.2 Software Requirements ................................ 3–2

3.3 Hardware Configuration ............................... 3–2

3.4 Software Configuration ................................ 3–8

3.4.1 Starting Windows NT ARC Firmware .................. 3–9

3.4.2 Going to the Debug Monitor from Windows NT ARC

Firmware ........................................ 3–9

3.4.3 Returning to Windows NT ARC Firmware from the Debug

Monitor ......................................... 3–10

iii

4 Functional Description

4.1 PCI Interrupts and Arbitration . . ........................ 4–1

4.1.1 Interrupts ....................................... 4–1

4.1.2 Arbitration ....................................... 4–5

4.2 ISA Bus Devices...................................... 4–5

4.3 dc Power Distribution . ................................ 4–5

4.4 PCI Devices . ........................................ 4–7

4.5 Flash ROM. . ........................................ 4–8

4.5.1 Special ROM Header ............................... 4–8

4.5.2 Flash ROM Structure............................... 4–11

4.5.3 Flash ROM Access . ................................ 4–13

5 EB164 Requirements, Power, and Parameters

5.1 Power Requirements . . ................................ 5–1

5.2 Environmental Requirements . . . ........................ 5–2

5.3 Physical Board Parameters ............................. 5–2

A Supporting Vendor Products

A.1 Products Included .................................... A–1

A.2 Products Not Included . ................................ A–2

B Technical Support and Ordering Information

B.1 Obtaining Technical Support ............................ B–1

B.2 Ordering Digital Semiconductor Products . . ................ B–1

B.3 Ordering Digital Semiconductor Literature . ................ B–2

B.4 Ordering Third-Party Literature . ........................ B–3

Index

Figures

1–1 EB164 Functional Block Diagram ..................... 1–2

1–2 Board Component Layout . . . ........................ 1–6

2–1 EB164 Jumper Locations ............................ 2–2

2–2 Configuration Jumpers .............................. 2–3

2–3 EB164 Connector Locations . . ........................ 2–8

2–4 Detail of Header Connector J2 ........................ 2–9

iv

3–1 Fan/Heat Sink Assembly . ........................... 3–4

3–2 EB164 Power Connectors . ........................... 3–7

4–1 Interrupt Logic . ................................... 4–2

4–2 Interrupt and Interrupt Mask Registers ................ 4–5

4–3 dc Power Distribution . . . ........................... 4–6

4–4 Special Header Content . . ........................... 4–8

5–1 Board Component Layout ........................... 5–3

Tables

1–1 Main Memory Sizes ................................ 1–3

1–2 EB164 Features Summary ........................... 1–7

2–1 Configuration Jumper Position Descriptions . . . .......... 2–4

2–2 EB164 Connector Descriptions ........................ 2–10

4–1 EB164 System Interrupts ........................... 4–3

4–2 PCI-to-ISA SIO Bridge Interrupts . . ................... 4–4

4–3 Special Header Entry Descriptions . ................... 4–9

4–4 Flash ROM Image Selection .......................... 4–11

5–1 Power Supply dc Current Requirements ................ 5–1

5–2 Board Component List . . . ........................... 5–4

v

This manual describes Digital Semiconductor’s 21164 Alpha microprocessor
motherboard (EB164), a module for computing systems based on the 21164
Alpha microprocessor and the Digital Semiconductor 21171 chipset.

Audience

This manual is intended for users of the EB164 to assist them in installing the
EB164 and populating it with memory modules and peripheral cards.

Scope

This manual describes the features, configuration, and installation of the
EB164. This manual does not include specific bus specifications (for example,
PCI or ISA buses). Additional information is available in the appropriate
vendor and IEEE specifications. See Appendix B for information about how to
obtain additional technical support and how to order additional documentation.

Content

This manual contains the following chapters and appendixes:

• Chapter 1, Introduction to the EB164, is an overview of the EB164,

About This Manual

including its components, uses, and features.

• Chapter 2, System Configuration and Connectors, describes the user
environment configuration; board connectors and functions; jumper
functions; and identifies jumper and connector locations.

• Chapter 3, Starting and Using the EB164, lists additional hardware and
software requirements, provides information on how to configure the
hardware and software, and describes the motherboard startup procedures.

• Chapter 4, Functional Description, describes some of the functional
elements of the EB164, such as flash ROM contents, interrupt assignments,
and power distribution.

vii

• Chapter 5, EB164 Requirements, Power, and Parameters, describes the
EB164 power and environmental requirements, and identifies major board
components.

• Appendix A, Supporting Vendor Products, lists suggested vendor sources
for supporting components, such as, power supply, SIMMs, enclosure, and
so forth.

• Appendix B, Technical Support and Ordering Information, describes how to
obtain Digital Semiconductor information and technical support, and how
to order Digital Semiconductor products and associated literature.

Document Conventions

This section provides the conventions used in this document.

Caution: Cautions indicate potential damage to equipment or data.
Note: Notes provide additional information.
Numbering: All numbers are decimal or hexadecimal unless otherwise

indicated. In case of ambiguity, a subscript indicates the radix of nondecimal
numbers. For example, 19 is a decimal number, but 1916and 19A are
hexadecimal numbers.

Extents: Extents are specified by a single number, or a pair of numbers in
angle brackets (< > ) separated by a colon ( :) and are inclusive. For example,
bits <7:3> specify an extent including bits 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3. Multiple bit fields
are shown as extents.

Register Figures: Register figures have bit and field position numbering
starting at the right (low-order) and increasing to the left (high-order).

Signal Names: Signal names in text are printed in boldface lowercase type.
For example, ‘‘ . . . bits data<127:0> are delivered to the Bcache SIMM
connectors . . . ’’

viii

Introduction to the EB164

This chapter provides an overview of the EB164 motherboard and describes
the EB164, its components, features, and uses.

1.1 System Components and Features

The EB164 is implemented in industry-standard parts and uses a Digital
Semiconductor 21164 Alpha microprocessor (21164) running at 266, 300, or 333
MHz. The functional components are shown in Figure 1–1 and are introduced
in the following subsections.

1.1.1 Digital Semiconductor 21171 Core Logic Chipset

The 21164 is supported by the Digital Semiconductor 21171 (21171) chipset.
The 21171 consists of the following two application-specific integrated circuit
(ASIC) types:

• One copy of the 21171-CA control, I/O interface, and address chip (CIA)

provides the interface between the 21164, main memory (addressing and
control), and the peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus. It also
provides the data switch companion chips with control information to direct
the data flow.

1

• Four copies of the 21171-BA data switch chip (DSW) provide the memory

interface data path and route PCI data through the CIA chip.

The chipset includes the majority of functions required to develop a high­performance PC or workstation, requiring minimum discrete logic on the
module. It provides flexible and generic functions to allow its use in a wide
range of systems.

Introduction to the EB164 1–1

1.1 System Components and Features

Figure 1–1 EB164 Functional Block Diagram

Digital Semiconductor

21164 Alpha

Microprocessor

Support

− Oscillator

− Serial ROM

Index
Control

Bcache Tag

Data

Check

Address

Commands

19

10

128

16

37

Bcache
SIMM
Sockets (X2)

Digital Semiconductor

21171 Core Logic Chipset

Digital Semiconductor

Control

Digital Semiconductor

Control, I/O Interface,

and Address

21171−BA

Data Switch

(X4)

21171−CA

PCI−to−ISA

Bridge

Data

64

Flash ROM
Time−of−Year
Keyboard/Mouse

256

Data

DRAM
SIMM
Sockets
(X8)

Address/Control

3 Dedicated PCI Slots
2 Dedicated ISA Slots
1 Shared PCI/ISA Slot

1–2 Introduction to the EB164

Combination

Controller

2 IDE Devices
Diskette
Parallel Port
2 Serial Ports

MK−2306−01A

1.1.2 Memory Subsystem

The dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) provides 32MB to 512MB with
a 256-bit data bus. The memory is contained in one bank of eight commodity
single inline memory modules (SIMMs). Single- or double-sided SIMMs may
be used. Each SIMM is 36 bits wide, with 32 data bits and 4 check bits,
with 70 ns or less access. Table 1–1 lists the SIMM sizes supported and the
corresponding main memory size for 256-bit arrays.

Table 1–1 Main Memory Sizes

SIMM Size Eight SIMMs (256-Bit Array)

1M236 32MB
2M236 64MB
4M236 128MB
8M

2

36 256MB

16M236 512MB

All eight SIMM connectors (J3 through J10) must be populated. See Figure 2–3
and Table 2–2.

1.1 System Components and Features

1.1.3 L3 Bcache Subsystem Overview

The board-level external L3 backup cache (Bcache) subsystem supports
multiple cache sizes and access times. Cache sizes supported are 2MB with
Alpha cache SIMMs populated with 128K28 SRAMs, and 4MB and 8MB with
SIMMs populated with 512K28 SRAMs. Speeds of 6 ns to 15 ns can be used.

The EB164 has a 2MB 10-ns Bcache SIMM. See Appendix A for order
information.

1.1.4 PCI Interface Overview

The EB164 PCI interface is the main I/O bus for the majority of functions
(SCSI interface, graphics accelerator, and so on). The PCI interface provides a
selectable PCI speed between 25 MHz and 33 MHz (based on the 21164 clock
divisor). An onboard PCI-to-ISA bridge is provided through an Intel 82378ZB
Saturn I/O (SIO) chip.

The PCI bus has three dedicated PCI expansion slots (one 64-bit and two
32-bit) and one shared 64-bit PCI/ISA slot.

Introduction to the EB164 1–3

1.1 System Components and Features

1.1.5 ISA Interface Overview

The ISA bus has two dedicated slots and a third shared ISA/PCI slot. It
provides the following system support functions:

• Mouse and keyboard controller functions—provided by an Intel 8242 chip.

• An IDE interface, a diskette controller, two universal asynchronous
receiver–transmitters (UARTs) with full modem control, and a bidirectional
parallel port—provided by a National 87312 combination chip.

• A time-of-year (TOY) function—provided by a Dallas Semiconductor
DS1287 chip.

• Operating system support—provided by a 1MB flash ROM that contains
firmware and debug monitor code.

Users can develop code on a host system, and load software into the EB164
through a serial line, diskette, or Ethernet board. In addition, sectors of
the flash ROM can be programmed for application-specific purposes.

1.1.6 Miscellaneous Logic

The EB164 contains the following miscellaneous components:

• Clocks
A 26.66-MHz oscillator and phase-locked loop (PLL) clock generator provide

a clock source to the 21164 microprocessor and system.
A 14.3-MHz crystal and frequency generator provide a clock source for ISA

devices.

• Serial ROM
A Xilinx XC17128 serial ROM (SROM) contains initial code that is loaded

into the 21164 instruction cache (Icache) on power-up. A serial line
interface is also provided to allow direct connection to a terminal line for
debugging purposes.

• Programmable array logic (PAL) devices for the following functions:

One PAL for utility bus (Ubus) decoding
One PAL for interrupts
Two PAL devices for memory row address strobe (RAS) bank generation

and buffering

1–4 Introduction to the EB164

1.1.7 Software Support

Software support code, consisting of a debug monitor and Windows NT ARC
firmware is contained in a 1MB flash ROM. The monitor provides functions
that allow you to:

• Download files through serial and Ethernet ports and diskette.

• Load data from a ROM through the debug monitor.

• Examine and deposit the EB164 system registers, a few 21164 internal

processor registers (IPRs), and I/O mapped registers.

• Examine and modify DRAM and I/O mapped memory.

• Disassemble CPU instructions in memory.

• Transfer control to programs in memory.

• Perform native debugging operations, including breakpoints and single

stepping.

• Perform full source-level debugging operations by using DECladebug

software running on a host communicating through an Ethernet
connection.

1.1 System Components and Features

• Perform a memory image dump.

1.1.8 Component Layout

Figure 1–2 shows the EB164 board component layout and dimensions.

Introduction to the EB164 1–5

1.1 System Components and Features

Figure 1–2 Board Component Layout

1

33.15 cm
(13.05 in)

1

30.73 cm
(12.10 in)

11

13

12

7

8

1

34

5

6

9

2

10

14

1

16

19

18

17

20

21

1

15

1.2 EB164 Summary

The features of the EB164 are listed and described in Table 1–2.

1–6 Introduction to the EB164

MK−2306−32

Table 1–2 EB164 Features Summary

Characteristic Description
Operating Systems

1.2 EB164 Summary

Supported operating
systems

Microsoft Windows NT. For information on Digital UNIX
operating system support, see your local distributor or your
Digital sales representative.

System Characteristics

CPU and clock speed Digital Semiconductor 21164 Alpha microprocessor at 266,

300, or 333 MHz
CPU upgradable ZIF socket for 21164 upgrade
Instruction issue Up to 4 instructions issued per clock cycle
Word size 64 bits
Address size 40-bit physical address, 43-bit virtual address
Floating-point format VAX (F and G) and IEEE (S and T) data types
Memory (DRAM)

1

Minimum DRAM 32MB plus ECC

Maximum DRAM 512MB plus ECC
Memory (ROM) 1MB flash ROM
External L2 cache Configurable for 2MB, 4MB, 8MB (128-bit data)
Memory bus width 256 bits plus ECC
Performance metrics The EB164 performance is listed here:

21164 Bcache SPECint92 SPECfp92

266 MHZ 2MB, 10ns 300.6 417.4

300 MHZ 2MB, 10ns 335

(estimated)

460

(estimated)

333 MHZ 2MB, 10ns 365.2 518

Graphics

Graphics options Refer to the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List for

1

Minimum DRAM recommended: 32MB for Windows NT and Digital UNIX.

Windows NT to determine which graphics cards are

supported. See Section B.4 for information on how to obtain

the listing.

(continued on next page)

Introduction to the EB164 1–7

1.2 EB164 Summary

Table 1–2 (Cont.) EB164 Features Summary

Characteristic Description
Input/Output

Input device interfaces PS/2 style keyboard and mouse
Serial Two RS423-compatible (9-position) serial communications

Parallel One parallel (Centronics compatible) communications port
Bus options Total of 6 option slots
PCI bus Supports two 64-bit PCI options slots at 5V and two 32-bit

ISA bus Supports three 16-bit ISA option slots
IDE One IDE interface supporting up to 2 drives
Diskette One 82077-compatible diskette controller supporting up to 2

Environmental Characteristics (Operating)

Operating temperature 10°C to 40°C (50°F to 104°F)
Maximum rate of (dry

bulb) temperature
change

Relative humidity
Maximum wet bulb
Minimum dew point

EMC compliance Compliance certification is the responsibility of the system

Shock and vibration Passing of shock and vibration tests is dependent on the

ports

PCI option slots at 5V

drives with 1.44MB and 2.88MB formats

6

11°C/hour

10%–90% noncondensing
32°C (90°F)
2°C (36°F)

integrator. The EB164 was tested in industry-representative
enclosures to prove feasibility of emissions compliance.

method used to mount the system board, the design of the
enclosure, and how the enclosure is supported. Testing is
the responsibility of the system integrator.

2°C/hour (20°F/hour64°F/hour)

Physical Characteristics

Form factor Standard, full-size PC AT board
Width/depth 30.73 cm (12.10 in)233.15 cm (13.05 in)

1–8 Introduction to the EB164

System Configuration and Connectors

The EB164 uses jumpers to implement configuration parameters such
as variations in backup cache (Bcache) size, access timing, and speed, as
well as boot parameters. These jumpers must be configured for the user’s
environment. Onboard connectors are provided for the I/O interfaces, single
inline memory modules (SIMMs), and serial and parallel peripheral ports.

After the module is configured, power can be applied, and the debug monitor
can be run. The debug monitor and its commands are described in the Alpha
Microprocessors Evaluation Board Debug Monitor User’s Guide. Appendix B
provides information about other software design tools.

2.1 Configuration Jumpers

Figure 2–1 identifies the location of the software and hardware configuration
jumpers, and Table 2–1 provides descriptions. Figure 2–2 provides a detailed
view of the configuration jumpers and their function.

2

System Configuration and Connectors 2–1

2.1 Configuration Jumpers

Figure 2–1 EB164 Jumper Locations

1

1

J17

J16

J15

1

2–2 System Configuration and Connectors

J14

1

J1

MK−2306−30

Figure 2–2 Configuration Jumpers

J1

CONF4
CONF5

CONF6
CONF7
CONF8
CONF9
CONF10
CONF11
CONF12
CONF13
CONF14
CONF15

1

3

5

7

9

11

13

15

17

19

21

23

25

27

29

31

33

35

37

39

irq3
irq2
irq1
irq0
Reserved
BC_SIZE<2>
BC_SIZE<1>
BC_SIZE<0>
BC_SPEED<2>
BC_SPEED<1>
BC_SPEED<0>
Mini−Debugger
BOOT_OPTION
Reserved
BC_RD_FAST
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved

2.1 Configuration Jumpers

J17

J16

J15

J14

1

index22

2
3

1

index21

2
3

1

index20

2
3

1

Flash ROM
Write Protect/

2

Write Enable

3

MK−2306−04

System Configuration and Connectors 2–3

2.1 Configuration Jumpers

Table 2–1 Configuration Jumper Position Descriptions

Feature Jack/Jumper—Pins and Description

System clock
divisor

J1—1/2, —3/4, —5/6, —7/8

J1—1/2
(irq3)

In In Out Out 3
In Out In In 4
In Out In Out 5
In Out Out In 6
In Out Out Out 7
Out In In In 8

Out In In Out 9

Out In Out In 10

Out In Out Out 11
Out Out In In 12
Out Out In Out 13
Out Out Out In 14
Out Out Out Out 15

J1—3/4
(irq2)

Divisor 8 is used for 266 MHz.

Divisor 9 is used for 300 MHz.

Divisor 10 is used for 333 MHz.

J1—5/6
(irq1)

J1—7/8
(irq0) Ratio

2–4 System Configuration and Connectors

(continued on next page)

2.1 Configuration Jumpers

Table 2–1 (Cont.) Configuration Jumper Position Descriptions

Feature Jack/Jumper—Pins and Description

BC_SIZE<2:0> J1—11/12 (CONF4), —13/14 (CONF5), —15/16 (CONF6)

These jumpers allow the Bcache to emulate the sizes specified
in the following table. These jumpers are changed in conjunction
with the appropriate index jumpers J17, J16, and J15.

Bcache size–
index address bits
<22:20>

CONF4
Pins 11/12

CONF5
Pins 13/14

CONF6

Pins 15/16 Bcache

In In In Reserved
In In Out Reserved
In Out In Reserved
In Out Out 2MB (default)
Out In In 4MB
Out In Out 8MB
Out Out In Reserved
Out Out Out Reserved

J17, J16, J15

1

Jumper

2MB
(default) 4MB

2

8MB

2

J17 (index22) 2 to 3 2 to 3 1 to 2
J16 (index21) 2 to 3 1 to 2 1 to 2
J15 (index20) 1 to 2 1 to 2 1 to 2

1

SIMMs populated with 128K28 or 512K28 SRAMs

2

SIMMs populated with 512K28 SRAMs

(continued on next page)

System Configuration and Connectors 2–5