# Delta
**Wikidata**: [Q72552744](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72552744)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/delta-q72552744

## Summary
Delta is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel. It runs on the OSF/1 operating system and utilizes 512 processor cores to achieve a peak performance of 20.48 gigaflops.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Supercomputer
- **Manufacturer:** Intel (American multinational technology company)
- **Operating System:** OSF/1 (a variant of Unix)
- **Processor Cores:** 512
- **Peak Performance (Rpeak):** 20.48 gigaflops
- **Max Performance (Rmax):** 13.9 gigaflops
- **TOP500 System ID:** 167140
- **Performance Tracking:** Performance metrics were recorded consistently between June 1996 and June 1998.

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured the Delta supercomputer?
A: Delta was manufactured by Intel, an American multinational technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, United States.

### Q: What operating system did Delta run on?
A: Delta ran on OSF/1, which is a variant of the Unix operating system developed by the Open Software Foundation.

### Q: What was the processing power of Delta?
A: Delta had a maximum measured performance (Rmax) of 13.9 gigaflops and a theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) of 20.48 gigaflops.

## Why It Matters
The Delta supercomputer represents a specific era of high-performance computing architecture manufactured by Intel, a dominant force in the semiconductor industry. With 512 processor cores, it exemplifies the parallel processing capabilities achieved in the mid-to-late 1990s. Its consistent performance records on the TOP500 list (System ID 167140) between 1996 and 1998 provide historical data on computing benchmarks of that period. The machine highlights the intersection of proprietary hardware from a major chip vendor and specialized Unix-based software (OSF/1) required to manage such complex systems.

## Notable For
- **Massive Parallelism:** Utilizing 512 distinct processor cores.
- **Intel Architecture:** Being one of the supercomputing entries produced by Intel, a company primarily known for its dominance in the semiconductor industry.
- **Sustained Performance:** Maintaining a consistent Rmax of 13.9 gigaflops across multiple TOP500 reporting periods (1996–1998).
- **Specialized OS:** Running OSF/1, a specific Unix variant, rather than a generic commercial operating system.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
Delta is classified as a supercomputer distinguished by its high-performance capabilities. The system relies on substantial parallel processing power, utilizing **512 processor cores**.

### Performance Metrics
The system's performance was tracked on the TOP500 list (System ID: 167140). According to records from June 1996 through June 1998, the machine maintained the following benchmarks:
- **Rmax (Max Performance):** 13.9 gigaflops
- **Rpeak (Peak Performance):** 20.48 gigaflops

### System Requirements
Delta operates using **OSF/1**, a variant of the Unix operating system developed by the Open Software Foundation. The hardware was produced by **Intel**, a major technology entity in the United States.