# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q69695598](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69695598)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q69695598

## Summary
The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by the American technology company Intel. It features 128 processor cores and achieved a maximum performance of 2.6 gigaflops (Rmax) during its operational history. The system was tracked on the TOP500 list with the system ID 526.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Supercomputer
*   **Manufacturer:** Intel (American multinational technology company)
*   **TOP500 System ID:** 526
*   **Processor Cores:** 128
*   **Peak Performance (Rpeak):** 5.12 Gigaflops
*   **Max Performance (Rmax):** 2.6 Gigaflops
*   **Operational Status:** Recorded performance data exists for dates ranging from November 1993 to December 1995.

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 was manufactured by Intel, a major American technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, United States, known for its role in the semiconductor industry.

### Q: What was the processing power of the iPSC/860?
A: The system had a maximum demonstrated performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops and a theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops.

### Q: How many processor cores did the iPSC/860 have?
A: The iPSC/860 was equipped with 128 processor cores.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents a specific era in the evolution of high-performance computing, reflecting the capabilities of supercomputers in the mid-1990s. Manufactured by Intel—a company predominantly known for its dominance in the semiconductor and electrical industries—the system highlights the corporation's historical involvement in building large-scale computing systems beyond standard microprocessors.

With a performance of 2.6 gigaflops, the iPSC/860 serves as a historical benchmark for the processing power achievable with 128 cores during this period. Its consistent performance records on the TOP500 list between 1993 and 1995 demonstrate its stability and utilization within the scientific or industrial research communities of that time.

## Notable For
*   **Mid-90s Supercomputing:** Represents the state of high-performance computing technology in the early-to-mid 1990s.
*   **Intel Manufacturing:** Stands as a distinct example of Intel's hardware engineering in the supercomputer sector, separate from its commercial microprocessor and semiconductor businesses.
*   **Performance Metrics:** Maintained consistent Rmax (2.6 GFLOPS) and Rpeak (5.12 GFLOPS) metrics across multiple TOP500 reporting periods (1993–1995).
*   **Parallel Processing:** Utilized a 128-core architecture, reflecting the parallel processing strategies of its time.

## Body

### System Specifications
The iPSC/860 is classified as a supercomputer. Its architecture is defined by the integration of 128 distinct processor cores. This hardware configuration was designed to handle complex computational tasks requiring parallel processing capabilities.

### Performance History
According to structured data records from the TOP500 project (System ID 526), the iPSC/860 exhibited the following performance metrics:

*   **Rmax (Max Performance):** Consistently measured at **2.6 Gigaflops**.
*   **Rpeak (Peak Performance):** Consistently measured at **5.12 Gigaflops**.

These performance figures were recorded at several points in time, specifically on:
*   November 1, 1993
*   June 1, 1994
*   November 1, 1994
*   June 1, 1995
*   December 1, 1995

### Manufacturer Details
The iPSC/860 was produced by **Intel**, an organization founded on July 18, 1968. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Intel operates within the semiconductor and electrical industries. While the company is a multinational technology leader, the iPSC/860 represents its specific contribution to the domain of supercomputing hardware.