Siemens PCD family
The Siemens PCD family was a line of AT -compatible personal computers that Siemens manufactured and sold from 1986 before it was finally replaced by the Scenic Pro product line in 1996.
During the production time of the first generation, the office PC department of Siemens merged with Nixdorf to form Siemens-Nixdorf .
Naming
The name is derived from the “forefather” Siemens PC-D , which however was not completely AT-compatible. As a result, the names of almost all models began with PCD; the only exceptions were the models with EISA bus and MCA bus introduced in 1990/91 , whose model names began with PCE and PCM, while PCD was used exclusively for models with ISA bus. With the disappearance of these bus architectures, the distinction by name was also given up, and devices with the VESA or PCI bus systems introduced later again bore the designation PCD.
The number after the hyphen indicates the processor generation: 2 for models with an Intel 80286 processor, 3 for models with an Intel 80386 processor, 4 for models with an Intel 80486 processor, 5 for models with a Pentium processor and 6 for models with a Pentium Pro -Processor.
The following letter denoted the form factor, except for the “original” PCD-2 and its successor PCD-3.
This was followed by, each optional:
- Code letters for sub-variants, such as “C” for laptops with color screens
- a more precise designation of the processor variant, for example “sx” or “sl”
- separated by a slash: the clock frequency of the processor (this part was missing from the type designation on the front of the housing), or PCI for PCI systems
To designate devices with the same form factor but different processor generations, the processor generation was replaced by “x” in the first generations (for example: PCD-xM), in the third generation it was omitted (for example: PCD-H).
First generation
The first generation of the line relied on the slot CPU concept: the processor and all mainboard components were installed on a standard plug-in card. This was plugged into a plate assembly that was connected to the power supply and made contact with the rest of the plug-in cards. This enabled very compact housing shapes and simplified processor upgrades. In the first models, parallel and serial interfaces were still housed on separate expansion boards; a parallel interface and two serial interfaces were integrated on later 80286 CPU boards and all CPU boards of subsequent processor generations. These boards also had connectors for a piggyback assembly that could be plugged into a hard disk controller or graphics controller without occupying a slot.
The graphics controller D391 was installed in the first models, which could be operated in two modes: in Hercules mode, a resolution of 720 × 350 pixels was possible, in CGA mode the usual CGA resolutions were 640 × 200 monochrome or 320 × 200 4-color supported. As with the PC-D, this could be switched to positive mode using the supplied software, in which black text was displayed on a white background.
Later models were also available with an EGA graphic controller.
From 1990 onwards, only a VGA graphics card was offered.
PCD-2 and PCD-3
The PCD-2 was the first completely AT-compatible computer from Siemens. It was manufactured and sold by Siemens from 1986 and from 1990 with outside help from Computerelektronik Dresden GmbH (formerly Robotron ) until 1990. When the product was launched, it was equipped with a 286 processor with twelve megahertz and later also an 80287 coprocessor .
A 5¼ "drive from TEAC for floppy disks with 1.2 MB was available as removable medium. A Winchester hard disk with 20 MB or 40 MB was installed on which the MS-DOS operating system was installed. In addition, MS-Windows and GW- Basic is delivered preinstalled with 1 MB RAM.
A key switch on the front panel was used to lock the keyboard and prevent the system from starting.
The case had been taken over from the PC-D and adapted, which had some disadvantages. The plug-in cards were installed in two cages, which had to be removed in order to exchange the respective card.
The price for this device was DM 11,680 when it was launched, and five years later it was still DM 7,390.
The successor model Siemens PCD-3 was presented in 1989. This had an Intel 80386 processor.
PCD-2T / 3T / 4T, PCE-4T
The T-model was a big tower, which was designed for maximum expandability. It offered eight slots for expansion cards as well as seven slots for 5¼ ″ drives, four of which were operable. As in the PCD-2, the keyboard could be locked with a key switch and a system start prevented; In the case of the T systems, the housing, including the drive cover, was also mechanically locked.
The T-systems also used the slot CPU standard; However, the plate assembly was so compatible with the Baby AT form factor that the devices could also be upgraded with standard mainboards from third-party manufacturers.
PCD-2L / 2M / 3M / 4M
The M model was a compact desktop PC. It offered three free slots for expansion cards as well as three slots for 3.5 ″ drives, two of which can be operated. The M systems also had a key switch with keyboard and boat lock and mechanical locking of the housing, but no drive cover. An external 5¼ ″ drive was offered as an accessory.
The PCD-2L was an inexpensive variant of the PCD-2M without a hard disk, but with otherwise the same technical data.
PCD-2P / 3Psx
Siemens brought the “portable” version of the PCD-2 onto the market in 1988 as its first notebook. It had a 10.5 "monochrome LCD with CGA graphics and a resolution of 640 × 200 pixels, which offered a resolution of 80 × 25 characters in text mode. The screen had a double joint to bring it to the desired working position the Intel 16-bit processor 80C286 with 12 MHz; the coprocessor 80C287 could be retrofitted. Furthermore, 1 MB RAM (expandable up to 5 MB) and a hard disk with either 20 or 40 MB were installed. The device had an internal 3½ "floppy disk drive and an AT keyboard with 79 keys. A parallel output ( Centronics ), a serial output with the RS-232C standard, a nine-pin CRT - RGB color monitor connection, a connection for an external floppy disk drive, the system bus and a keyboard connection were available as interfaces. It was delivered preinstalled initially with MS-DOS 3.21, from 1989 with MS-DOS 3.3. The device weighed just under 5 kg and had a built-in handle. A battery pack was optionally available, which could be plugged into the back of the device.
The device was manufactured in the USA and was identical to the Zenith SupersPORT 286.
A later, externally identical variant was the PCD-3Psx. This had an Intel 80386 SX processor with 16 MHz clock frequency, 2 MB RAM and a hard disk with either 40 or 100 MB.
Both devices were replaced by the PCD-2N / PCD-3Nsx models at the end of 1990.
Second generation
The second generation devices came onto the market from 1990/91 and complemented the first generation, most of which remained on the market. The devices had some security features that were only partially available in the first generation: all had drive covers, and the key switch mechanically locked these and the housing. In addition, devices could be assigned boot and BIOS passwords and the serial and parallel interfaces could be locked. These devices were only offered with a VGA graphic controller.
PCD-2B / 3Bsx
The B systems were compact desktops that took up six centimeters less space than the M systems and also had a lockable drive cover. The graphics controller was implemented as a piggyback module on the CPU board, so that two free ISA slots were available. There were two 3.5 ″ bays for drives.
PCD-3Rsx / 4Rsx, PCM-3Dsx
The R systems were mini towers that could optionally be set up as desktops. For this, the drive cage could be installed rotated by 90 degrees. Bays for 5¼ ″ drives were available.
PCD-2N / 3Nsx
The two devices came onto the market at the end of 1990 as successors to the PCD-2P / PCD-3Psx. The main feature was the significantly reduced form factor, and the devices also had a VGA display.
PCD-3Nsl / 3NCsl / 4Nsl / 4NCsl
These devices replaced the PCD-xN series. They were equipped with an 80386sl or 80486sl processor. For the first time, these devices had a trackball that was attached above the keyboard. The 80486 models were also equipped with a PCMCIA type I / II slot. The PCD-xNC models had color displays, but the diagonal of 8.4 ″ was somewhat smaller than the 10 ″ of the models with a monochrome display.
Third generation
The third generation used motherboards in LPX format , which was also used by some other manufacturers. With this form factor, there is only one slot for a riser card on the mainboard , on which the slots for expansion cards are located. The mainboard has a cover through which most of the connections for components that are present on the mainboard are led to the outside. Connections for keyboard and mouse, parallel and serial interfaces and in most cases also a VGA graphics adapter were integrated on the mainboard. With the LPX format, Siemens Nixdorf also introduced PS / 2 connections for keyboard and mouse. Later models of this generation had power management functions for the first time, in which the power switch on the housing was replaced by a button and the device could be switched off via software after it had been shut down (for which, however, proprietary drivers were still required). With the KBPC P keyboard, these devices could even be switched on via the keyboard.
With this generation, Siemens Nixdorf also introduced the Scenic product line as a sister line to the PCD models. Both product lines had similar models, but the Scenic series was intended primarily to appeal to SOHO customers, while the PCD models were marketed for enterprise use.
PCD-4H / 5H / 6H
The PCD-H was a desktop device, which had five slots for expansion boards and a total of four slots for drives (two of them as 5¼ "bays, both operable, and another as an operable 3½" bay).
PCD-4L / 5L
The PCD-4L and PCD-5L continued the line of compact desktops. They had two free slots, one of which could accommodate either PCI or ISA boards, and two slots for 3½ ″ drives.
PCD-5T / 5TG
The T models were midi towers and positioned as group servers or workstations. The PCD-5T was available as a multiprocessor system.
PCE-5S / 5Smp
The S models were equipped with an EISA / VL bus. The Big Tower PCE-5S had 9 slots for additional modules and a total of 10 slots for drives, and a Fast-SCSI-2 controller was integrated on the mainboard. The twin tower PCE-5Smp could be equipped with up to four processors and had 14 slots for drives.
PCD-4NL
The PCD-4NL was positioned as a compact subnotebook. It was offered with a VGA color or grayscale display; the dimensions were 36 (with color display 39) × 269 × 199 mm with a weight of just over 2 kg. An external floppy disk drive was available as an accessory.
PCD-4ND / 5ND
The PCD-4ND was offered either with a VGA color or grayscale display; the PCD-5ND was only available with a color display. The integrated floppy disk drive could be exchanged for a second battery. A docking station or the more compact station box (which could also accommodate ISA expansion modules) was available for both devices.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Live on Tour: The new notebooks, personal computers, personal workstations and servers. 1996
- ^ A b c d e Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG (Hrsg.): The personal computer. Technical data, order numbers, prices . Paderborn / Munich June 1991.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG (Ed.): Personal Computer - data and facts at a glance . Augsburg September 1995.
- ↑ a b c d Siemens AG (Ed.): Personal Computer PCD-2 Service Manual . Munich 1987.
- ^ Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG (ed.): PCD-3Msx / 16 . Munich 1990.
- ↑ a b c Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG (Ed.): PCD-2B / 12 . Munich 1991.
- ^ Rüdiger Stang: Buying a PC, Wiesbaden 1991, ISBN 3-9802710-1-3
- ↑ a b c d Siemens AG (ed.): PCD family. Order data, purchase and maintenance prices . Munich March 1990.
- ↑ a b c Computerwoche of October 17, 1986 ( Memento of the original of December 12, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Computerwoche of August 3, 1990 ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b Erlangen Computer Science Collection (ISER)
- ^ Siemens Nixdorf: Team PC sales brochure, October 1991, order no. U6608-J-Z91-3
- ↑ a b c Siemens Nixdorf: Sales brochure desktop PC, October 1991, order no. U6608-J-Z91-3
- ^ Siemens AG (Ed.): External floppy disk drive for the M systems . Munich.
- ^ Siemens AG (Ed.): MS-DOS 3.3 operating system for PCD-2P . 1989 (manual).
- ↑ Siemens AG (Ed.): PCD-2P operating instructions . Munich November 1988.
- ↑ Erlangen Computer Science Collection (ISER)
- ↑ Computer Museum Munich
- ↑ Computer Museum Munich
- ^ Siemens Nixdorf: Price list October 1993
