# ASCI Red

> supercomputer

**Wikidata**: [Q297317](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297317)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCI_Red)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/asci-red

## Summary
ASCI Red was a supercomputer developed by Intel and operated by Sandia National Laboratories, notable for being the first system to achieve sustained performance of over one teraflop (trillion floating-point operations per second). It was a key part of the U.S. Advanced Simulation and Computing Program, used primarily for nuclear weapons research.

## Key Facts
- **Developer**: Intel, an American multinational technology company founded in 1968.
- **Operator**: Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. national laboratory established in 1949.
- **Performance**: Achieved 2.379 teraflops (Rmax) and 3.207 teraflops (Rpeak) in November 1999.
- **Ranking**: Ranked #1 on the TOP500 list from November 1999 to November 2000.
- **Operating System**: Ran on Linux, a family of Unix-like operating systems.
- **Processor**: Used Intel Pentium Pro microprocessors.
- **Service Period**: Entered service in November 1999 and was retired in June 2006.
- **Location**: Operated in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- **Replacement**: Succeeded by the Red Storm supercomputer.
- **Industry**: Used for research, particularly in nuclear weapons simulation.

## FAQs
### Q: What does ASCI Red stand for?
A: ASCI Red stands for Advanced Simulation and Computing Initiative Red, part of the U.S. program for nuclear weapons research.

### Q: Who developed ASCI Red?
A: ASCI Red was developed by Intel and operated by Sandia National Laboratories.

### Q: What was ASCI Red's performance?
A: In November 1999, ASCI Red achieved a sustained performance of 2.379 teraflops (Rmax) and a peak performance of 3.207 teraflops (Rpeak).

### Q: When was ASCI Red in service?
A: ASCI Red entered service in November 1999 and was retired in June 2006.

### Q: What operating system did ASCI Red use?
A: ASCI Red ran on Linux, a family of Unix-like operating systems.

## Why It Matters
ASCI Red was a landmark supercomputer that marked a significant milestone in computational power, being the first system to achieve sustained performance of over one teraflop. This achievement was crucial for the Advanced Simulation and Computing Program, which aimed to simulate nuclear weapons tests without actual detonations. By providing unprecedented computational capabilities, ASCI Red enabled more accurate and complex simulations, contributing to national security and scientific research. Its development and operation also showcased the capabilities of Intel's Pentium Pro microprocessors and the Linux operating system, demonstrating their suitability for high-performance computing tasks.

## Notable For
- **First Teraflop Supercomputer**: ASCI Red was the first supercomputer to achieve sustained performance of over one teraflop.
- **TOP500 Ranking**: It held the #1 position on the TOP500 list of the world's most powerful supercomputers from November 1999 to November 2000.
- **Nuclear Weapons Research**: Played a critical role in the U.S. Advanced Simulation and Computing Program for nuclear weapons simulation.
- **Massively Parallel Architecture**: Designed with a massively parallel architecture, utilizing 9,216 processor cores.
- **Linux Operating System**: One of the early high-performance computing systems to run on Linux, demonstrating its viability for large-scale scientific computing.

## Body
### Development and Specifications
ASCI Red was developed by Intel and operated by Sandia National Laboratories. It was part of the Advanced Simulation and Computing Program (ASCP), a U.S. Department of Energy initiative aimed at simulating nuclear weapons tests. The supercomputer was designed with a massively parallel architecture, featuring 9,216 Intel Pentium Pro processor cores.

### Performance and Rankings
In November 1999, ASCI Red achieved a sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.379 teraflops and a peak performance (Rpeak) of 3.207 teraflops. This performance earned it the #1 ranking on the TOP500 list of the world's most powerful supercomputers from November 1999 to November 2000. It maintained a top position in subsequent rankings, dropping to #2 in November 2000, #3 in June 2001, and gradually declining to #61 by June 2004.

### Operating System and Software
ASCI Red ran on the Linux operating system, a family of Unix-like operating systems. This choice demonstrated the viability of Linux for high-performance computing tasks, contributing to its adoption in other supercomputing projects.

### Service and Retirement
ASCI Red entered service in November 1999 and was retired in June 2006. It was succeeded by the Red Storm supercomputer, which continued the legacy of high-performance computing at Sandia National Laboratories.

### Impact and Legacy
ASCI Red's achievement of sustained teraflop performance was a significant milestone in supercomputing. It enabled more accurate and complex simulations for nuclear weapons research, contributing to national security. The supercomputer also showcased the capabilities of Intel's Pentium Pro microprocessors and the Linux operating system, influencing future developments in high-performance computing.

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.top500.org/site/48748/)
2. [Source](https://www.top500.org/system/168753/)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [TOP500](https://www.top500.org/system/168753)
5. [TOP500](https://www.top500.org/system/168752)
6. [Source](https://www.top500.org/system/168753)