# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q69739282](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69739282)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q69739282

## Summary
The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel, an American multinational technology company. It is a 128-core system that achieved a peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops during the early 1990s.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of:** Supercomputer
- **Manufacturer:** Intel
- **Processor Cores:** 128
- **Rmax Performance:** 2.6 gigaflops (recorded 1993–1994)
- **Rpeak Performance:** 5.12 gigaflops (recorded 1993–1994)
- **Top500 System ID:** 616
- **Manufacturer Headquarters:** Santa Clara, California, United States
- **Manufacturer Industry:** Semiconductor and electrical industry

## FAQs
### Q: Who built the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 was manufactured by Intel, a technology company founded in 1968 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

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

### Q: How many cores does the iPSC/860 have?
A: The iPSC/860 supercomputer is equipped with 128 processor cores.

### Q: When was the iPSC/860 ranked among the world's top supercomputers?
A: The system's performance was recorded in the Top500 rankings throughout 1993 and 1994, specifically in the June and November lists of both years.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents a significant milestone in the history of high-performance computing, produced by Intel during a period of rapid growth in the semiconductor industry. With 128 processor cores and a peak performance exceeding 5 gigaflops, it served as a benchmark for parallel computing capabilities in the early 1990s. Its presence on the Top500 list (System ID 616) underscores Intel's historical role not just as a component manufacturer, but as a developer of complete supercomputing systems. For the technology sector, the iPSC/860 demonstrated the scaling of processor cores to handle intensive computational tasks, contributing to the evolution of the electrical and semiconductor industries.

## Notable For
- **Consistent Performance:** Maintained a steady Rmax of 2.6 gigaflops and Rpeak of 5.12 gigaflops across multiple Top500 evaluations between June 1993 and November 1994.
- **High Core Count:** Utilized a 128-core architecture, a significant configuration for its era.
- **Intel Pedigree:** Developed by the same company responsible for foundational semiconductor innovations since 1968.
- **Top500 Recognition:** Formally identified in global supercomputing records under system ID 616.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
The iPSC/860 is classified as a supercomputer and was produced by Intel. The system architecture is built around 128 processor cores. In terms of computational throughput, the machine achieved:
*   **Rmax (Maximal Performance):** 2.6 gigaflops
*   **Rpeak (Peak Performance):** 5.12 gigaflops

### Performance Benchmarking
The system's performance was tracked and verified over a period of two years. The following dates mark official performance records for the iPSC/860:
*   June 1, 1993
*   November 1, 1993
*   June 1, 1994
*   November 1, 1994

During each of these intervals, the system maintained its performance rating of 2.6 gigaflops (Rmax) and 5.12 gigaflops (Rpeak).

### Manufacturer Context
The iPSC/860 was a product of the Intel Corporation, an American multinational based in Santa Clara, California (specifically 2200 Mission College Boulevard). Intel was founded on July 18, 1968, and operates primarily within the semiconductor and electrical industries. At the time the iPSC/860 was active in performance rankings, Intel was already a major global employer, eventually growing to employ over 110,000 people by 2019.