The K 1820 is a
clone of the
MicroVAX II made by
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). The import of western
32-bit computers to the COMECON area was impeded by the
CoCom technology
embargo. As the MicroVAX II
CPU is one of the first semiconductor devices which was protected by the
Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984, independent development of modern
CAD technology based on a 32-bit
computer architecture began. Copies of the MicroVAX II were also created in
Hungary (MicroSTAR 32 or TPA-11/510) and the
Soviet Union (SМ 1702). The K 1820 extends the
VAX-compatible computer line in the SM EVM and the models of the K 1820 achieve approximately 90% of the performance of the
K 1840 (Robotron "RVS K 1840", compatible with the
VAX 11/780). The K 1820 is fully compatible with K 1840 software, so preexisting system and application software can be used. The K 1820 is based on the
VLSI U80700-microprocessor system, its 32-bit CPU
U80701 was developed according to the
MicroVAX 78032. The mainboard design and construction are original. A
VT220-compatible
terminal, the K 8941, was developed for the machine. Approximately 10 K 1820 prototypes were built up to 1990. In the middle of 1990 development was stopped, because economic production was not possible under free-market conditions after the
monetary, economic and social union between East and West Germany on 1 July 1990. Subsequent to this Robotron's traditional markets in the
Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe collapsed. At least one prototype of the K 1820 is owned by the
Technische Sammlungen Museum. == References ==