# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q72865707](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72865707)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q72865707

## Summary
iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel with 128 processor cores. It achieved peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops in the mid-1990s, representing significant computing capabilities for its time.

## Key Facts
- iPSC/860 is classified as a supercomputer
- It was manufactured by Intel, an American multinational technology company founded in 1968
- The system has a Top500 system ID of 167305
- It contains 128 processor cores
- Performance metrics from 1993-1995 show sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops and theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops
- Performance metrics were recorded on four different dates between June 1993 and December 1995
- Intel, the manufacturer, is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States

## FAQs
### Q: What is the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel with 128 processor cores. It achieved computational performance of up to 5.12 gigaflops during its operational period in the mid-1990s.

### Q: Who manufactured the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 was manufactured by Intel Corporation, an American multinational technology company based in Santa Clara, California, which was founded in 1968.

### Q: What was the processing power of the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 achieved sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops and theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops, as measured between 1993 and 1995.

### Q: How many processors does the iPSC/860 contain?
A: The iPSC/860 contains 128 processor cores, which contributed to its computing capabilities during its operational period.

### Q: When was the iPSC/860 in operation?
A: Performance metrics for the iPSC/860 were recorded on four dates between June 1993 and December 1995, indicating it was active during this period.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents an important milestone in supercomputing development during the mid-1990s, a period when computational power was rapidly expanding for scientific research and complex modeling. As one of Intel's supercomputer offerings, it contributed to advancing the capabilities of high-performance computing systems during this era. The system's 128-processor configuration and gigaflop-scale performance were significant achievements that enabled researchers to tackle increasingly complex computational problems in fields such as physics, engineering, and climate modeling. The iPSC/860 and similar systems of its time laid the groundwork for the massive parallel computing architectures that would follow in the subsequent decades.

## Notable For
- Being an Intel-manufactured supercomputer with a specific Top500 system identification (167305)
- Its 128-processor core configuration, which provided substantial parallel computing capabilities for its time
- Consistent performance metrics across multiple measurement dates between 1993-1995
- Achieving gigaflop-scale performance (5.12 gigaflops peak) during the early to mid-1990s
- Part of Intel's line of supercomputing products during the period when the company was expanding beyond traditional CPU manufacturing into high-performance computing systems

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer configured with 128 processor cores, forming a substantial parallel computing system for its time. The system achieved significant computational metrics during its operational period, with recorded performance data spanning four measurement dates between 1993 and 1995.

### Performance Metrics
- 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

These metrics show consistent sustained performance (Rmax) and theoretical peak performance (Rpeak) values across all measurement periods, indicating stable operational characteristics of the system.

### Manufacturer Information
The iPSC/860 was manufactured by Intel Corporation, an American multinational technology company founded on July 18, 1968. Intel is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States, at 2200 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8119. The company operates primarily in the semiconductor and electrical industries and employed approximately 107,300 people as of 2014, with employee counts growing to 110,800 by 2019.

### System Classification
As a supercomputer, the iPSC/860 was classified within the high-performance computing category of computer systems. It holds the Top500 system ID 167305, which is part of an ongoing list that ranks and details the world's most powerful computer systems. This classification places it among the significant computing systems of its era in terms of processing capabilities and scale.