# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q72895508](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72895508)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860-q72895508

## Summary
iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel featuring 64 processor cores and achieving performance ratings of up to 2.56 gigaflops. It was recognized in the Top500 supercomputer rankings with system ID 167322.

## Key Facts
- iPSC/860 is a supercomputer
- Manufactured by Intel (American multinational technology company founded in 1968)
- Top500 system ID: 167322
- Processor performance: 1.4 gigaflops (Rmax) and 2.56 gigaflops (Rpeak)
- Contains 64 processor cores
- Performance metrics recorded between 1993-06-01 and 1994-11-01
- Both Rmax and Rpeak values remained consistent across multiple measurement periods

## FAQs
### Q: What company manufactured the iPSC/860 supercomputer?
A: Intel, the American multinational technology company founded in 1968, manufactured the iPSC/860 supercomputer.

### Q: How powerful was the iPSC/860 in terms of computing performance?
A: The iPSC/860 had a maximum performance of 2.56 gigaflops (Rpeak) and 1.4 gigaflops (Rmax) as measured between 1993 and 1994.

### Q: How many processor cores did the iPSC/860 have?
A: The iPSC/860 supercomputer was equipped with 64 processor cores.

### Q: When was the iPSC/860 recognized in the Top500 supercomputer rankings?
A: The iPSC/860 was included in the Top500 supercomputer rankings with system ID 167322.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents an important milestone in the development of supercomputing technology during the early 1990s. As an Intel product, it contributed to the advancement of high-performance computing, demonstrating the capabilities of parallel processing architectures. The consistent performance metrics over multiple measurement periods indicate its reliability and design excellence for its time. While relatively modest by today's standards, the gigaflop-level performance of systems like the iPSC/860 laid the groundwork for the exascale computing capabilities that now enable scientific research, weather modeling, and complex simulations that were unimaginable in the early 1990s.

## Notable For
- One of Intel's early commercially available supercomputer products
- Consistent performance metrics over multiple measurement periods (1993-1994)
- Featured in the prestigious Top500 supercomputer rankings
- Representing the parallel processing capabilities available in the early 1990s
- Having 64 processor cores at a time when multi-core processing was becoming more common

## Body
### Technical Specifications
- Instance: Supercomputer
- Manufacturer: Intel
- Top500 System ID: 167322
- Processor Cores: 64
- Performance Metrics:
  - Rmax: 1.4 gigaflops (measured on 1993-06-01, 1993-11-01, 1994-06-01, 1994-11-01)
  - Rpeak: 2.56 gigaflops (measured on the same dates as Rmax)

### Historical Context
The iPSC/860 was developed during a pivotal period in supercomputing history (early 1990s) when parallel processing architectures were gaining prominence. Intel, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, leveraged its expertise in semiconductor manufacturing to produce high-performance computing solutions. The company employed over 100,000 people during this period and operated primarily in the semiconductor and electrical industries.

The consistent performance measurements of the iPSC/860 across multiple dates suggest it was a stable and reliable system for its time, capable of delivering consistent computational power for scientific and technical applications. The system's inclusion in the Top500 rankings with a dedicated system ID indicates its recognition among the world's most powerful computers of the era.