# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q69769817](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69769817)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q69769817

## Summary
The iPSC/860 is an Intel-manufactured supercomputer featuring 128 processor cores, achieving peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops in 1993-1995. It represents an early example of parallel computing systems designed for high-performance applications.

## Key Facts
-   Instance of: Supercomputer
-   Manufacturer: Intel
-   Top500 System ID: 712
-   Processor Cores: 128
-   Peak Performance (Rpeak): 5.12 gigaflops (as of June 1993)
-   Sustained Performance (Rmax): 2.6 gigaflops (as of June 1993)
-   Performance data recorded quarterly from June 1993 to December 1995
-   Performance metrics include both Rmax (sustained) and Rpeak (theoretical maximum)

## FAQs
### Q: What type of computer is the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer, specifically designed for high-performance parallel computing tasks in the early 1990s.

### Q: Who manufactured the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 was manufactured by Intel, the American multinational technology company.

### Q: How powerful was the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 achieved a theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops and a sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops as of June 1993.

### Q: When was the iPSC/860 active?
A: Performance data for the iPSC/860 was recorded quarterly from June 1993 through December 1995.

### Q: What is the iPSC/860's relationship to the Top500?
A: The iPSC/860 is listed on the Top500 supercomputer list with the system ID 712.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 holds significance as an early commercial parallel supercomputer developed by Intel during the early 1990s. It demonstrated Intel's capabilities beyond CPUs and processors, showcasing its entry into high-performance computing (HPC). With its 128 cores and peak performance exceeding 5 gigaflops, it represented a substantial computing power for its time, enabling complex scientific simulations and data processing that were previously impractical. Its inclusion in the Top500 list underscores its relevance in the history of supercomputing evolution, marking a period of rapid growth in parallel processing approaches.

## Notable For
-   Being a commercially manufactured parallel supercomputer from Intel in the early 1990s.
-   Featuring 128 processor cores, a significant number for its era.
-   Achieving a theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops, recognized by the Top500 list.
-   Demonstrating sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops as of its earliest recorded Top500 entry (June 1993).
-   Its consistent inclusion in the Top500 list with documented performance across multiple quarters (June 1993 to December 1995).

## Body
### Specifications
-   **Instance:** Supercomputer
-   **Manufacturer:** Intel
-   **Top500 System ID:** 712
-   **Processor Cores:** 128
-   **Performance Metrics (Rmax & Rpeak):**
    -   Recorded quarterly from June 1993 to December 1995.
    -   **June 1993:** Rmax = 2.6 gigaflops, Rpeak = 5.12 gigaflops
    -   **November 1993:** Rmax = 2.6 gigaflops, Rpeak = 5.12 gigaflops
    -   **June 1994:** Rmax = 2.6 gigaflops, Rpeak = 5.12 gigaflops
    -   **November 1994:** Rmax = 2.6 gigaflops, Rpeak = 5.12 gigaflops
    -   **June 1995:** Rmax = 2.6 gigaflops, Rpeak = 5.12 gigaflops
    -   **December 1995:** Rmax = 2.6 gigaflops, Rpeak = 5.12 gigaflops
-   **Performance Unit:** Gigaflops (GFLOPS) - billions of floating-point operations per second.

### Performance Context
-   The reported Rmax (sustained performance) and Rpeak (theoretical maximum peak performance) values for the iPSC/860 remained constant at 2.6 GFLOPS and 5.12 GFLOPS respectively across all recorded dates from June 1993 to December 1995.
-   This performance was significant for the early-to-mid 1990s, placing it on the Top500 list during that period.
-   The constancy in performance values suggests the system's configuration and performance characteristics were stable throughout its active Top500 listing period.