# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q72874756](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72874756)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q72874756

## Summary
The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer developed by Intel, featuring 128 processor cores and achieving a peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops. Introduced in 1994, it was recognized in the TOP500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers. It exemplifies Intel's early advancements in parallel processing technology.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Supercomputer.
- **Manufacturer**: Intel.
- **TOP500 System ID**: 167307.
- **Performance (Rmax)**: 2.6 gigaflops (as of November 1, 1994).
- **Performance (Rpeak)**: 5.12 gigaflops (as of November 1, 1994).
- **Processor Cores**: 128.
- **Manufacturer Headquarters**: Santa Clara, California, United States.

## FAQs
### Q: Who developed the iPSC/860?
A: The iPSC/860 was developed by Intel, a leading American semiconductor and technology company.

### Q: What were the key specifications of the iPSC/860?
A: It featured 128 processor cores, with a maximum performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops and a sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops.

### Q: When was the iPSC/860 recognized for its performance?
A: Its performance metrics were recorded on November 1, 1994, aligning with its inclusion in the TOP500 supercomputer rankings.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents a significant milestone in the evolution of supercomputing and parallel processing. As an Intel-developed system, it showcased the company’s early innovation in high-performance computing (HPC) during the 1990s. With 128 processor cores and gigaflop-scale performance, it contributed to advancements in scientific research, engineering simulations, and data-intensive tasks that required distributed computing power. Its inclusion in the TOP500 list underscored its standing among the world’s fastest supercomputers of its time, reflecting Intel’s role in pushing the boundaries of computational capability. The iPSC/860 also highlighted the growing importance of scalable, multi-core architectures in addressing complex computational challenges, laying groundwork for future innovations in the semiconductor and HPC industries.

## Notable For
- **Parallel Processing Architecture**: Demonstrated Intel’s early expertise in designing distributed-memory, multi-core systems for high-performance tasks.
- **TOP500 Recognition**: Achieved a rank in the TOP500 list, a benchmark for supercomputing excellence.
- **High Core Count for Its Era**: Featured 128 processor cores, a notable scale for a supercomputer in the mid-1990s.
- **Performance Metrics**: Provided both Rmax (sustained) and Rpeak (theoretical) performance values, emphasizing its efficiency and capability.

## Body
### Development Context
The iPSC/860 was developed by Intel, a company founded in 1968 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California. As of 2019, Intel employed 110,800 people globally, underscoring its scale and resources in driving technological innovation.

### Technical Specifications
- **Processor Cores**: 128 cores, reflecting a focus on parallel processing to achieve high computational throughput.
- **Performance**:
  - **Rmax (Sustained)**: 2.6 gigaflops, measured on November 1, 1994.
  - **Rpeak (Theoretical)**: 5.12 gigaflops, indicating the system’s maximum theoretical processing capacity under ideal conditions.

### Industry Significance
As part of the semiconductor and electrical industries, the iPSC/860 aligned with Intel’s broader contributions to computing infrastructure. Its design emphasized scalability and performance, addressing demands from academia, government, and industry for advanced computational resources.

### Legacy
The iPSC/860’s inclusion in the TOP500 list (ID: 167307) positioned it among the world’s leading supercomputers in 1994. While specific applications are not detailed in the source material, its specifications suggest utility in fields such as weather modeling, fluid dynamics, and cryptography—areas where parallel processing significantly reduces computation time. The system’s development also reinforced Intel’s reputation as a pioneer in microprocessor and supercomputing technologies, influencing subsequent generations of high-performance systems.