# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q72857005](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72857005)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q72857005

## Summary
The iPSC/860 is a parallel supercomputer developed by Intel as part of its iPSC (Intel Parallel Supercomputer) series, notable for achieving a peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops in the mid-1990s. It utilized 128 processor cores and was recognized in the TOP500 list of supercomputers during its operational period. 

## Key Facts
- **Manufacturer**: Intel, a U.S.-based semiconductor company founded in 1968.
- **Processor Cores**: 128 individual processor cores.
- **TOP500 ID**: System ID 167303 in the TOP500 supercomputer rankings.
- **Performance (Rmax)**: Achieved 2.6 gigaflops (sustained performance) as of November 1993, June 1994, and December 1995.
- **Performance (Rpeak)**: 5.12 gigaflops (theoretical peak performance) across the same timeframe.
- **Operational Period**: Active from 1993 to 1995, with performance metrics recorded quarterly.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 is a parallel supercomputer developed by Intel in the 1990s, featuring 128 processor cores and a peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops.

### Q: How powerful was the iPSC/860?
A: It achieved a sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops and a theoretical peak (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops, measured between 1993 and 1995.

### Q: Who manufactured the iPSC/860?
A: Intel, a leading semiconductor company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, since 1968.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents a significant milestone in Intel’s contributions to high-performance computing during the 1990s. As part of the iPSC series, it exemplified advancements in parallel processing architectures, which were critical for scientific simulations, engineering modeling, and data-intensive tasks. Its performance metrics, though modest by modern standards, positioned it among the world’s fastest supercomputers of its time, as documented in the TOP500 list. The system’s design reflected Intel’s focus on scalable, multi-core solutions, laying groundwork for future innovations in the semiconductor and supercomputing industries.

## Notable For
- **Parallel Architecture**: Utilized 128 processor cores to enable distributed computing workloads.
- **TOP500 Recognition**: Earned a spot in the TOP500 supercomputer rankings (ID 167303) during the mid-1990s.
- **Performance Consistency**: Maintained stable Rmax and Rpeak metrics across multiple benchmarking periods (1993–1995).
- **Intel’s HPC Legacy**: Embodied Intel’s early efforts to dominate high-performance computing through scalable processor designs.

## Body
### Overview
The iPSC/860 was a parallel supercomputer designed and manufactured by Intel, part of the company’s iPSC series focused on scalable, multi-processor systems. As a U.S.-based technology leader, Intel leveraged its semiconductor expertise to develop the iPSC/860, which operated during the early era of massively parallel processing (MPP) in the 1990s.

### Technical Specifications
- **Processor Cores**: 128 individual cores, enabling distributed task execution.
- **Performance Metrics**:
  - **Rmax (Sustained)**: 2.6 gigaflops (recorded June 1994, November 1994, June 1995, December 1995).
  - **Rpeak (Theoretical)**: 5.12 gigaflops (consistent across all recorded dates).
- **Benchmarking Periods**: Quarterly evaluations from November 1993 to December 1995.

### Context and Significance
The iPSC/860 emerged during a competitive period in supercomputing, marked by rapid advancements in processor speed and parallel architecture. Intel’s involvement highlighted the company’s strategic expansion beyond microprocessors into specialized high-performance computing (HPC) solutions. While its performance was eclipsed by later systems, the iPSC/860 contributed to the evolution of technologies critical for weather modeling, fluid dynamics, and cryptography.

### Legacy
Though eventually succeeded by more powerful architectures, the iPSC/860 remains a notable entry in Intel’s portfolio and the broader history of supercomputing. Its design principles influenced subsequent parallel processing systems, reinforcing Intel’s role in shaping the semiconductor and HPC industries.