# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q72861387](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72861387)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q72861387

## Summary
iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel featuring 128 processor cores and peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops. It was part of Intel's line of high-performance computing systems in the mid-1990s.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Supercomputer
- **Manufacturer**: Intel
- **TOP500 System ID**: 167304
- **Processor Cores**: 128
- **Peak Performance (Rpeak)**: 5.12 gigaflops (measured consistently from November 1993 to December 1995)
- **Sustained Performance (Rmax)**: 2.6 gigaflops (measured consistently from November 1993 to December 1995)
- **Performance Measurement Period**: November 1993 to December 1995
- **Parent Organization**: Intel (American multinational technology company founded July 18, 1968)

## FAQs
### Q: What was iPSC/860's primary function?
A: iPSC/860 was a supercomputer designed for high-performance computing tasks, utilizing Intel's processor technology to deliver scientific and engineering computational power.

### Q: How did iPSC/860's performance compare to other systems of its era?
A: With 5.12 gigaflops of peak performance, it represented Intel's high-end computing capability in the mid-1990s, though its sustained performance was 2.6 gigaflops.

### Q: When was iPSC/860 active?
A: Performance metrics were recorded continuously from November 1993 through December 1995, indicating its operational period during this timeframe.

### Q: What distinguished iPSC/860 from other supercomputers?
A: Its key differentiators were Intel manufacturing and the specific 128-core configuration, which was characteristic of Intel's iPSC series systems.

## Why It Matters
iPSC/860 represents a significant milestone in Intel's supercomputing development during the 1990s, showcasing the company's transition from consumer processors to high-performance computing systems. Its consistent performance metrics over a two-year period provide valuable historical data on computing evolution, demonstrating the progression toward teraflop-scale systems. As part of Intel's early supercomputing efforts, it contributed to advancements in scientific modeling and computational research, laying groundwork for future parallel computing architectures. The system's documented performance benchmarks also serve as critical reference points for studying the historical trajectory of supercomputing capabilities.

## Notable For
- Consistent Rmax performance of 2.6 gigaflops across multiple measurement cycles (1993-1995)
- Peak Rpeak performance of 5.12 gigaflops maintained throughout its operational period
- Intel-manufactured supercomputer with 128 processor cores
- Part of Intel's iPSC series, bridging consumer and high-performance computing markets
- Documented in TOP500 rankings with system ID 167304

## Body
### Technical Specifications
- **Processor Configuration**: 128 cores
- **Performance Metrics**:
  - Rmax (sustained): 2.6 gigaflops
  - Rpeak (theoretical maximum): 5.12 gigaflops
- **Performance Validation**: Metrics verified across five measurement cycles (November 1993, June 1994, November 1994, June 1995, December 1995)

### Manufacturer Context
- **Parent Company**: Intel Corporation
- **Intel Background**: Founded July 18, 1968; headquartered in Santa Clara, California; operated in semiconductor and electrical industries
- **Historical Context**: iPSC/860 emerged during Intel's expansion into supercomputing, preceding modern Xeon Phi architectures

### Performance Evolution
- **Stability**: Maintained identical performance values (2.6 GFLOPS Rmax / 5.12 GFLOPS Rpeak) across all recorded measurements from 1993-1995
- **Benchmarking**: Consistently evaluated under TOP500 methodology, with system ID 167304
- **Computational Era**: Operated during the transition from gigaflop to teraflop-scale supercomputing

### System Classification
- **Primary Category**: Supercomputer
- **Series Affiliation**: Intel iPSC series
- **Historical Significance**: Represents Intel's proprietary supercomputing platform before adoption of standard architectures