El Electronika BK es una serie de computadoras domésticas soviéticas sin ventilador compatibles con PDP-11 de 16 bits desarrolladas bajo la marca Electronika por NPO Scientific Center, el principal equipo de diseño de microcomputadoras soviético en ese momento. También fue el predecesor de los micros más potentes UKNC y DVK .
Desarrollador | Centro científico NPO |
---|---|
Fabricante | Electronika |
Tipo | Computador de casa |
Fecha de lanzamiento | 1984 |
Precio de lanzamiento | 600–650 rublos |
Interrumpido | 1993 |
Sistema operativo | FOCAL (lenguaje de programación) , Vilnius BASIC (ROM integrada), OS BK-11 , ANDOS , etc. |
UPC | K1801VM1 a 3 MHz (BK-0010), a 4,6 MHz (BK-0011), a 4 MHz (BK-0011M) |
Memoria | 32 KiB |
Descripción general
Lanzados por primera vez en 1984 (desarrollados en 1983), se basan en el К1801ВМ1 (CPU soviética compatible con LSI-11 ) y fueron el único diseño de computadora doméstico "oficial" [1] soviético en producción en masa.
Se vendieron por alrededor de 600 a 650 rublos . Esto era caro, [2] pero marginalmente asequible, por lo que se convirtieron en uno de los modelos de computadora doméstica más populares en la Unión Soviética, a pesar de que tenían numerosos problemas. Más tarde, en la década de 1990, su potente CPU y su diseño sencillo y fácil de programar los hicieron populares como máquinas de demostración . BK ( БК ) es una abreviatura rusa de "бытовой компьютер" - computadora doméstica (o doméstica). Las máquinas también se utilizaron durante un corto tiempo como cajas registradoras , por ejemplo, en los grandes almacenes GUM .
Aunque BK-0010 era una de las PC soviéticas más baratas, y en velocidad (así como en memoria, gráficos, etc.) difiere poco de los modelos simples de 8 bits, fue una de las primeras computadoras domésticas completamente de 16 bits en el mundo [ disputado ] (a diferencia de la TI-99 / 4A , BK tenía controladores con el mismo ancho de bus de datos). El Intellivision usó una CPU muy similar, completamente de 16 bits, el General Instrument CP1600 , y con el Componente de Teclado o las expansiones ECS, se convirtió en una computadora doméstica completamente de 16 bits. IBM PC y PCjr eran computadoras de 8/16 bits, ya que su CPU 8088 tiene un bus de datos de 8 bits y un bus interno de 16 bits.
Software
La serie BK era esencialmente una máquina básica, sin periféricos ni herramientas de desarrollo. El único software disponible en el lanzamiento (excepto el firmware ROM ) fue una cinta magnética incluida con varios ejemplos de programación (tanto para BASIC como para FOCAL ) y varias pruebas. El firmware de la ROM incluye un programa simple para ingresar códigos de máquina, intérpretes BÁSICOS y FOCAL.
Si bien el BK era algo compatible con microcomputadoras DVK de modelo profesional más grandes y costosas y minicomputadoras industriales como la serie SM EVM , su memoria de 32 KiB, de la cual solo 16 KiB estaban generalmente disponibles para los programadores (un modo de memoria extendida admitía 28 KiB, pero salida de video limitada a una cuarta parte de la pantalla) generalmente impedía el uso directo de software para las máquinas más potentes. El DVK se convirtió en una plataforma de desarrollo popular para el software BK, y cuando la memoria BK se amplió posteriormente a 128 KiB, la mayoría del software DVK se pudo utilizar directamente con cambios mínimos.
Los desarrolladores de Homebrew rápidamente llenaron este nicho, portando varias herramientas de desarrollo de DVK y UKNC . Esto llevó a una explosión del software casero, desde editores de texto y bases de datos hasta sistemas operativos y juegos . La mayoría de los propietarios de BK expandieron la RAM incorporada a al menos 64 KiB, lo que no solo permitió una migración de software más fácil desde sistemas más "adultos", sino que como estas actualizaciones a menudo incluían controladores de unidades de disquete , crear un sistema operativo de disco propio se convirtió en una especie de deporte competitivo en la escena BK. Las comunidades de juegos y demostraciones también florecieron, ya que sus gráficos anémicos se compensaron con una CPU potente.
Uno de los sistemas operativos era ANDOS , aunque oficialmente la computadora se envió con OS BK-11 , una modificación de RT-11 .
Hardware
La máquina se basa en una potente CPU K1801VM1 de un solo chip (por el momento) de 16 bits, con frecuencia de reloj de 3 MHz. [3] Es casi perfectamente compatible con la línea LSI-11 de Digital Equipment Corporation , aunque carece de EIS y otras extensiones de conjuntos de instrucciones. El fabricante también copió de cerca la arquitectura interna del PDP-11. Cada modelo tiene una ranura para tarjeta libre que es eléctricamente, pero no mecánicamente, compatible con Q-Bus . Las primeras versiones tienen DRAM integrada de 32 KiB , la mitad de la cual se utilizó como memoria de video . Eso se extiende a 128 KiB en modelos posteriores, con memoria de video extendida a dos páginas de 16 KiB.
La salida de video en todos los modelos es proporcionada por el K1801VP1-037 VDC , un chip bastante espartano. En realidad, es un ULA estándar de 600 puertas con un programa VDC que permite dos modos de video gráfico, alta resolución (512 × 256, monocromo) y baja resolución (256 × 256, 4 colores) y desplazamiento vertical de hardware compatible . Los modelos posteriores tienen 16 conjuntos de 4 colores cableados seleccionables de una paleta de 64 colores . No admite modos de texto, pero simula dos a través de rutinas de BIOS : 32 × 25 y 64 × 25. Algunos sistemas operativos como ANDOS han logrado generar texto en modo 80 × 25 al mostrar documentos importados de IBM PC, colocando caracteres de manera más densa. La salida se realiza a través de dos conectores DIN de 5 pines separados para un televisor monocromo o un televisor / monitor en color. El sonido en todos los modelos se realiza inicialmente a través de un contador programable simple conectado a un altavoz piezoeléctrico integrado . Más tarde, el Instrumento General AY-3-8910 se convirtió en una popular adición al mercado de accesorios.
All models also has a 16-bit universal parallel port with separate input and output buses for connecting peripherals such as printers (Eastern Bloc printers used the incompatible ИРПР interface instead of the more popular Centronics port, so Centronics printers needed an adapter), mice or Covox DACs for sound output, and tape recorder port for data storage. Later models includes a manufacturer-supplied floppy drive controller (that can be plugged into a Q-Bus slot) by default. It was available for earlier models as an aftermarket part, but homebrew ones (that also often extends rather anemic 16K memory of original BK) are more popular. A cottage industry for such peripherals and mods flourished.
Versions
Electronika BK-0010
Электроника БК-0010 is the first model (originally released in 1983, the serial production since mid-1984). It has a pseudo-membrane keyboard (an array of mechanical microswitches without keycaps, covered by flexible overlay), 32 KiB RAM, 8 KiB ROM with BIOS (chip K1801RE2-017), 8 KiB ROM with FOCAL interpreter (K1801RE2-018), 8 KiB ROM with debugger (K1801RE2-019) and one free ROM slot, and its CPU is clocked at 3 MHz. A tape recorder is used for data storage in the factory configuration.
This model was criticized for its uncomfortable keyboard – while mechanical in nature, lack of keycaps lead to the same unsatisfactory tactile response, that was seen as unacceptable when the machine was used in home or educational settings, although such keyboard could be easily sealed completely, so this version found widespread use as an industrial controller. Other points of criticism included the archaic FOCAL programming language supplied by default and the complete lack of peripherals and software. While all hardware was well documented and easy to work with, the machine was delivered without any programming tools.
Electronika BK-0010.01
The follow-up version, БК-0010.01 (sometimes referred to as -0010-01), is essentially the same machine, but with a conventional full-travel keyboard and a Vilnius BASIC p-code compiler in the ROM, correcting the weakest points of its predecessor. While the BASIC dialect used is quite powerful and well-optimized (it is actually a somewhat scaled-down clone of MSX BASIC), the keyboard is a mixed blessing. While it is much more comfortable to work with, its quality left much to be desired, and the keys were prone to sticking, significant bounce and wore quickly, though a model with a further improved keyboard became available later. The FOCAL interpreter was not dropped but instead shipped on an external ROM cartridge that could be inserted into the Q-Bus slot.
Electronika BK-0010Sh
Электроника БК-0010Ш is a model intended specially for school use. It can be either the −0010 or −0010.01 model but was supplied with a special current loop network adapter rated at 19200 bps, which can be inserted into the Q-Bus slot. Based on ULA chip K1801VP1-035 (and later on K1801VP1-065), the adapter is compatible to DEC DL-11 and KL-11 serial interfaces, but without modem control bits. It also includes a monitor (usually a modified Yunost' compact TV), since in school setting it couldn't be expected to be connected to household TV.
Electronika BK-0011
BK-0011 was released in 1989. It has 128 KiB of RAM divided into 16 KiB pages, its CPU is clocked at 4 MHz by default; it includes a newer version of BASIC in ROM and 16 selectable video palettes, which were almost universally criticized by users for their odd color combinations. It has a floppy controller, but the drive was still sold separately.
Electronika BK-0011M
Some changes in the BK-0011, while minor, made it incompatible with earlier -0010 models. In particular, it can not load 0010 programs from a cassette tape. Even if it could have loaded them, crucial subsystems, such as sound, are still incompatible. Public outcry forced the manufacturer to redesign the machine, restoring compatibility with earlier models. The resulting model, the BK-0011M, quickly went into production, and most BK-0011 series computers are actually BK-0011Ms. Since the modifications were minor, most of the handful of -0011 models that made it to market were upgraded to -0011M models by enthusiasts.
Mods
It was not uncommon among owners to install one or two mechanical switches that made using the computer more convenient. Some of the common mods were:
- Reset button. Programs often hung. Also, some games did not have a properly implemented Exit function. Without this button, the computer had to be reset by power cycling, which eventually led to a worn out power switch on the external power supply. The reset interrupt can be caught by the operating system, so under such systems (for example, ANDOS, MK-DOS), the reset button exits to the OS's file manager.
- Pause switch. This switch activated hardware suspension of instruction execution in the processor. The pause switch was useful for pausing games, most of which did not have a pause key. A few games, however, did not behave gracefully after being returned from suspension, because the programmable hardware timer built into the processor chip is still running while the instruction execution was suspended. The BK also has a software key combination for pause.
- Clock speed switch ("turbo" switch). This changes the processor clock speed from the standard 3 MHz (BK-0010* series) to 4 or 6 MHz, or from the standard 4 MHz (BK-0011* series) to 3 or 6 MHz. Not all processor samples work reliably at 6 MHz; the possibility of such overclocking has to be determined experimentally for each sample. Switching the clock speed changes the pace of dynamic games. The turbo switch usually has to be installed together with the pause switch, because the simplest circuit for switching the clock speed produces bad shapes in the clock signal due to contact bounce when the mechanical switch was flipped, running the risk of hanging the software execution unless the processor is in the suspended state.
- Sound on/off switch, or sound volume knob, which adjusts the volume level of the internal piezoelectric speaker using a potentiometer. At this same time as adding this, the modder can replace the speaker with a louder one.
These modifications are relatively simple and can be carried out by users who knew how to handle a soldering iron. Most of the people in the program sales cottage industry can also do the mods for a small fee. Enthusiasts also managed to connect more advanced devices to BK series computers: they developed a hard disk controller, and 2.5" HDDs were successfully used with BK computers. Other popular enhancements are AY-3-8912 sound chips and Covox Speech Thing.
Emuladores
There are various software emulators of BK for modern IBM PC compatible computers. An emulator is able to run at a much higher speed than the original BK.
There are also fairly complete re-implementations of the BK for FPGA-based systems, such as the MiST.[4]
Ver también
- Heathkit H11
Referencias
- ^ Government approved and accounted for in economic planning
- ^ The average Soviet wage was about 150 rubles per month at the time.
- ^ It is relatively easy to overclock the CPU, but slow DRAM made overclocking difficult. The most popular "turbo" speed is 5 MHz.
- ^ "BK0011M (USSR retro home computer) core for MiST board". 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
enlaces externos
- Electronika BK0010(-01) & BK0011(M) USSR PC [PDP-11]
- BK0010 Russian computer emul. v1.6 w/src
- Archive software and documentation for Soviet computers UK-NC, DVK and BK0010.