# Alpha 21064 chip
**Wikidata**: [Q3277811](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3277811)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_21064)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alpha-21064-chip

## Summary
The Alpha 21064 chip is a central processing unit (CPU) developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the early 1990s. It was a key component in DEC's Alpha AXP architecture and was notable for its high clock speeds, reaching up to 200 MHz by 1993. The chip was designed by engineers including Dirk Meyer, Edward McLellan, and Jim Montanaro.

## Key Facts
- **Developer**: Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)
- **Inception**: Prototype developed on August 30, 1991; pre-release version on February 25, 1992; economic production began in September 1992
- **Designed by**: Dirk Meyer, Edward McLellan, Jim Montanaro
- **Clock frequency**: 150 MHz (1992) and 200 MHz (1993)
- **Instance of**: CPU model
- **Subclass of**: Central processing unit
- **Followed by**: Alpha 21066 chip (introduced September 10, 1993)
- **Manufacturer**: Digital Equipment Corporation
- **Aliases**: Alpha 21064

## FAQs
### Q: Who designed the Alpha 21064 chip?
A: The Alpha 21064 chip was designed by Dirk Meyer, Edward McLellan, and Jim Montanaro, engineers at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).

### Q: What was the clock speed of the Alpha 21064?
A: The Alpha 21064 had a clock speed of 150 MHz in 1992 and increased to 200 MHz by 1993.

### Q: What was the significance of the Alpha 21064?
A: The Alpha 21064 was a key component in DEC's Alpha AXP architecture, marking a significant advancement in CPU design for its time. It supported high-performance computing and was followed by the Alpha 21066 chip.

### Q: Who preceded the Alpha 21064?
A: The Alpha 21064 was preceded by the Alpha 21066 chip, which was introduced on September 10, 1993.

### Q: What company manufactured the Alpha 21064?
A: The Alpha 21064 was manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).

## Why It Matters
The Alpha 21064 chip was a pivotal development in the early 1990s, representing a significant leap in CPU architecture. As part of DEC's Alpha AXP initiative, it was designed to compete with high-performance RISC processors from companies like Sun Microsystems and IBM. The chip's ability to achieve clock speeds of up to 200 MHz by 1993 demonstrated DEC's engineering prowess and positioned the Alpha AXP architecture as a serious contender in the high-performance computing market. Its successor, the Alpha 21066, further solidified DEC's commitment to innovation in CPU design. The Alpha 21064's impact lies in its role as a foundational component in systems that supported demanding applications, including scientific computing and enterprise servers. While DEC faced challenges in the broader market, the Alpha 21064 remains a notable achievement in the evolution of CPU technology.

## Notable For
- **High clock speeds**: Achieved 200 MHz by 1993, a significant advancement for its time.
- **Alpha AXP architecture**: A key component in DEC's Alpha AXP initiative, competing with industry leaders.
- **Engineering by Dirk Meyer**: Designed by Dirk Meyer, a notable engineer in the field.
- **Predecessor to Alpha 21066**: Paved the way for the more advanced Alpha 21066 chip.
- **Manufactured by DEC**: Produced by Digital Equipment Corporation, a major player in the computing industry.

## Body
### Overview
The Alpha 21064 is a central processing unit (CPU) developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as part of the Alpha AXP architecture. It was introduced in the early 1990s and was notable for its high clock speeds, reaching up to 200 MHz by 1993. The chip was designed by engineers including Dirk Meyer, Edward McLellan, and Jim Montanaro.

### Development and Release
- **Prototype**: Developed on August 30, 1991.
- **Pre-release version**: Released on February 25, 1992.
- **Economic production**: Began in September 1992.
- **Computer system integration**: Integrated into systems on September 3, 1991.

### Technical Specifications
- **Clock frequency**: 150 MHz (1992) and 200 MHz (1993).
- **Designed by**: Dirk Meyer, Edward McLellan, Jim Montanaro.
- **Manufacturer**: Digital Equipment Corporation.

### Successor
- **Followed by**: Alpha 21066 chip, introduced on September 10, 1993.

### Classification
- **Instance of**: CPU model.
- **Subclass of**: Central processing unit.

### Images and References
- **Images**: Available on Wikimedia Commons, including die photos and system integration images.
- **References**: Includes citations from DEC and academic sources, such as Freebase ID /m/04y6f5v.

### Wikipedia and Language Support
- **Wikipedia title**: Alpha 21064.
- **Languages**: Available in English, Spanish, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, and Turkish.

### Related Figures
- **Dirk Meyer**: American engineer and computer scientist who contributed to the design of the Alpha 21064.

## References

1. [Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alpha_AXP_21064_card1.jpg)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013