# XP/S4
**Wikidata**: [Q69823691](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69823691)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/xp-s4-q69823691

## Summary
XP/S4 is a supercomputer manufactured by Intel. It operates on the OSF/1 operating system and utilizes a configuration of 56 processor cores. The system achieved a peak performance of 2.8 gigaflops during benchmarking periods in 1994.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Supercomputer
- **Manufacturer**: Intel (American multinational technology company)
- **Operating System**: OSF/1 (a variant of the Unix operating system)
- **Processor Cores**: 56
- **Top500 System ID**: 881
- **Peak Performance (Rpeak)**: 2.8 Gigaflops (recorded in June and November 1994)
- **Max Performance (Rmax)**: 1.75 Gigaflops (recorded in June and November 1994)
- **Related OS**: Tru64 UNIX

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of device is the XP/S4?
A: The XP/S4 is classified as a supercomputer. It was manufactured by the technology company Intel.

### Q: What operating system does the XP/S4 run on?
A: The XP/S4 runs on OSF/1, which is a variant of the Unix operating system developed by the Open Software Foundation.

### Q: What was the processing power of the XP/S4?
A: The XP/S4 had a peak performance (Rpeak) of 2.8 gigaflops and a maximum performance (Rmax) of 1.75 gigaflops as recorded in 1994.

## Why It Matters
The XP/S4 serves as a historical marker in the evolution of high-performance computing during the early 1990s. As a supercomputer manufactured by Intel—a company predominantly known for its dominance in the semiconductor and electrical industries—the XP/S4 represents the corporate expansion into large-scale parallel processing architectures. 

Its specific configuration of 56 cores was a significant engineering feat for the era, allowing for substantial computational throughput. The system's reliance on OSF/1 highlights the industry's shift toward standardized Unix variants for robust, mission-critical supercomputing tasks. With a recorded Top500 System ID of 881 and consistent performance metrics throughout 1994, the XP/S4 contributed to the landscape of scientific and research computing, solving complex problems that required calculations measured in gigaflops. This machine exemplifies the transition from monolithic mainframes to more distributed, multi-core supercomputer designs.

## Notable For
- **Manufacturer Pedigree**: Being a supercomputer produced by Intel, a global leader in the semiconductor industry.
- **Processing Architecture**: Utilizing 56 processor cores to achieve parallel processing capabilities.
- **Operating System**: Running OSF/1, a specialized Unix variant, rather than more commercial off-the-shelf operating systems of the time.
- **Performance Benchmarks**: Achieving a distinct Rpeak of 2.8 gigaflops, a notable speed for its classification during the mid-1990s.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
The XP/S4 is defined by its robust hardware configuration and specific operating environment.
*   **Instance Of**: Supercomputer
*   **Manufacturer**: Intel
*   **Processor Cores**: 56
*   **Operating System**: OSF/1

### Performance Metrics
The performance of the XP/S4 was tracked and verified during 1994, appearing in Top500 lists with specific benchmark results.
*   **Top500 System ID**: 881
*   **Rmax (Max Performance)**: 1.75 Gigaflops
    *   Recorded on June 1, 1994
    *   Recorded on November 1, 1994
*   **Rpeak (Peak Performance)**: 2.8 Gigaflops
    *   Recorded on June 1, 1994
    *   Recorded on November 1, 1994

### Operating Environment
The system relied on OSF/1, a Unix variant developed by the Open Software Foundation. The raw data also indicates a relationship to Tru64 UNIX, an operating system developed in the United States that was inceptioned on January 1, 1992.

### Manufacturer Context
The XP/S4 was built by Intel, a major American technology company founded on July 18, 1968. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Intel is a primary entity in the semiconductor and electrical industries.