# iPSC/860
**Wikidata**: [Q69738831](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69738831)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipsc-860

## Summary
The iPSC/860 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel in the early 1990s, featuring 128 processor cores with peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops. This system was part of Intel's early entry into the high-performance computing market and was ranked among the world's fastest computers during its operational years.

## Key Facts
- iPSC/860 is an instance of a supercomputer with Top500 system ID 615
- Manufactured by Intel, an American multinational technology company founded in 1968
- Featured 128 processor cores
- Achieved peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops across multiple measurements from June 1993 to December 1995
- Maximum performance (Rmax) measured 2.6 gigaflops during the same period
- Was part of Intel's iPSC (Intel Parallel Supercomputer) series
- Operated during a pivotal period in the development of parallel computing architectures

## FAQs
### Q: When was the iPSC/860 developed and introduced?
A: The iPSC/860 was developed by Intel in the early 1990s, with performance measurements recorded from June 1993 through December 1995.

### Q: How powerful was the iPSC/860 compared to other computers of its era?
A: With a peak performance of 5.12 gigaflops and sustained performance of 2.6 gigaflops, the iPSC/860 was one of the most powerful computers of its time, ranking highly on the Top500 list of supercomputers.

### Q: What made the iPSC/860 technically significant?
A: The iPSC/860 featured 128 processor cores and represented Intel's early efforts in mass parallel computing architecture, which was innovative for its time and contributed to the development of high-performance computing systems.

### Q: How does the iPSC/860 compare to modern supercomputers?
A: While the iPSC/860's 5.12 gigaflops performance would now be considered modest by modern standards (many modern supercomputers achieve exaflop-scale performance), it was groundbreaking in the early 1990s and established important design principles for future systems.

## Why It Matters
The iPSC/860 represents a significant milestone in the evolution of high-performance computing, particularly in the realm of parallel processing architectures. As one of Intel's early entries into the supercomputing market, it demonstrated the potential of multi-core processing at a time when most computers relied on single powerful processors. The system's consistent performance rankings from 1993 to 1995 indicate its reliability and impact during that period. The iPSC series, including the 860 model, contributed to the advancement of scientific computing capabilities, enabling more complex simulations and calculations that previously would have been infeasible. This laid groundwork for the exponential growth in computing power that would follow in the subsequent decades, making it an important historical artifact in the timeline of computational technology development.

## Notable For
- One of Intel's early supercomputer products in the iPSC (Intel Parallel Supercomputer) series
- Featured 128 processor cores in an era when most computers used single powerful processors
- Consistently ranked among the world's fastest computers from 1993 to 1995
- Demonstrated early successful implementation of parallel computing architecture
- Contributed to Intel's diversification beyond its primary semiconductor and microprocessor business

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The iPSC/860 was a supercomputer manufactured by Intel, characterized by its parallel processing architecture. It featured 128 processor cores, representing significant technological advancement for its time when most computers relied on single processors. The system achieved a peak performance (Rpeak) of 5.12 gigaflops and sustained performance (Rmax) of 2.6 gigaflops, as measured at various points between June 1993 and December 1995.

### Performance History
The iPSC/860 was consistently ranked among the world's fastest computers during its operational period. Performance measurements taken in June 1993 showed an Rmax of 2.6 gigaflops and Rpeak of 5.12 gigaflops. These figures remained consistent through subsequent measurements in November 1993, June 1994, November 1994, June 1995, and December 1995, indicating stable performance throughout the system's operational life. This performance was sufficient to earn the system a place on the Top500 list of supercomputers under system ID 615.

### Manufacturer Context
iPSC/860 was produced by Intel, an American multinational technology company founded on July 18, 1968. At the time of the iPSC/860's development, Intel was primarily known for its microprocessors but was also expanding into other computing domains. The company was headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and employed approximately 107,300 people as of 2014, growing to 110,800 by 2019. Intel's involvement in supercomputing represented a strategic diversification beyond its core semiconductor business, though this venture was ultimately limited in comparison to its more successful microprocessor lines.

### Historical Significance
The iPSC/860 emerged during a pivotal period in high-performance computing when parallel processing architectures were gaining recognition for their potential to solve complex scientific problems. As part of the iPSC series, it contributed to the broader movement toward massively parallel computing that would define supercomputing development in the following decades. While Intel ultimately exited the dedicated supercomputing market, the lessons learned from systems like the iPSC/860 influenced the company's approach to high-performance computing and contributed to the overall advancement of computational technologies.