# ALPS
**Wikidata**: [Q74152823](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q74152823)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alps

## Summary
ALPS is a supercomputer operated by the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) in Taiwan. Manufactured by Acer and inaugurated in 2011, the system runs on the Linux operating system and utilizes AMD Opteron processors. It achieved a peak ranking of 42nd on the TOP500 list of supercomputers in June 2011.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Supercomputer used for research purposes.
- **Manufacturer:** Acer, a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation.
- **Operator:** National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC).
- **Location:** Taiwan.
- **Inception:** 2011.
- **Operating System:** Linux.
- **Processor:** AMD Opteron (specifically the Opteron 6174 12C at 2.2GHz).
- **Core Count:** 26,244 processor cores.
- **Performance (Rmax):** 177.10 Teraflops.
- **Peak Performance (Rpeak):** 231.86 Teraflops.
- **TOP500 System ID:** 177158.
- **Website:** http://www.nchc.org.tw/

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured the ALPS supercomputer?
A: ALPS was manufactured by Acer, a Taiwan-based hardware and electronics corporation, for the National Center for High-Performance Computing.

### Q: What was the highest ranking achieved by ALPS on the TOP500 list?
A: ALPS achieved its highest ranking of 42nd in June 2011. By June 2015, its ranking had fallen to 445th.

### Q: What specific hardware and software specifications does ALPS have?
A: The system utilizes 26,244 AMD Opteron processor cores with a theoretical peak performance of 231.86 teraflops. It operates on a Linux-based platform.

## Why It Matters
The ALPS supercomputer represents a significant deployment of high-performance computing infrastructure within Taiwan's research sector. As a system manufactured domestically by Acer, it highlights the capability of Taiwanese hardware corporations to build top-tier supercomputing systems for national use. Inaugurated in 2011, ALPS provided researchers with 177.10 teraflops of computing power (Rmax), facilitating advanced calculations and simulations essential for scientific progress.

The system's trajectory on the TOP500 list—ranking 42nd in the world upon its debut before gradually declining to 445th by 2015—serves as a standard case study in the rapid evolution of supercomputing hardware, where processing power requirements outpace the static capabilities of installed systems. Operated by the National Center for High-Performance Computing, ALPS served as a critical node in the region's information technology and research industries.

## Notable For
- **Domestic Manufacturing:** It is a high-profile supercomputer built by the Taiwanese company Acer for a Taiwanese national facility.
- **High Debut Ranking:** The system entered the global TOP500 list at position #42 in June 2011.
- **Scale:** It employs a substantial cluster of 26,244 processor cores.
- **Research Utility:** It is dedicated to the research industry, supporting the work of the National Center for High-Performance Computing.

## Body

### System Specifications and Architecture
ALPS is classified as a supercomputer operating within the research industry. The system's architecture is built around **AMD Opteron** processors, specifically the **Opteron 6174 12C** model running at **2.2GHz**.

Key performance metrics and specifications include:
*   **Total Cores:** 26,244
*   **Rmax (Actual Performance):** 177.10 Teraflops
*   **Rpeak (Theoretical Performance):** 231.86 Teraflops
*   **Nmax:** 2,301,696
*   **Operating System:** Linux

The system is identified by the TOP500 organization with system ID **177158**.

### Operational History and Rankings
The ALPS supercomputer was inaugurated in **2011** and is operated by the **National Center for High-Performance Computing**. Its performance has been tracked on the TOP500 list over several years, illustrating the rapid pace of hardware advancement in the field:

*   **June 2011:** Ranked **42nd** globally.
*   **November 2011:** Dropped to **60th**.
*   **June 2014:** Dropped to **304th**.
*   **November 2014:** Dropped to **369th**.
*   **June 2015:** Dropped to **445th**.

### Manufacturer and Operator
The system was manufactured by **Acer**, a multinational hardware and electronics corporation headquartered in New Taipei, Taiwan. Acer, founded in 1976, is a major player in the computer hardware and information technology industries.

The operator, the **National Center for High-Performance Computing** (NCHC), acts as the primary facility for high-performance computing resources in Taiwan. More information about the facility can be found at their official website: `http://www.nchc.org.tw/`.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.top500.org/site/48468/)
2. [TOP500](https://www.top500.org/system/177158)