Introducing replicated VLSI to supercomputing: the FPS-164/Max scientific computer

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Computer; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.1986.1663175· OSTI ID:5791492

Charlesworth, A E; Gustafson, J L

Because of its overwhelming mflops per-dollar advantage over other technologies, replicated MOSVLSI offers by far the most exciting potential for advancing the speed and reducing the cost of supercomputing. The FPS-164/Max scientific computer is the first replicated VSLI-based supercomputer to be delivered. The first 45 Max modules (representing about one gigaflop of computing) were shipped wthin one month of the receipt of working 64-bit arithmetic parts in April 1985. This rapidity was made possible by three circumstances: 1. The Max modules could be added into the existing hardware/software framework of the FPS-164. 2. The hardware/software design could be checked out with a prototype using 32-bit arithmetic parts. 3. The matrix/vector product is a very orderly algorithm, allowing for simple control and data paths. The first month's shipment represented a major increment in the commercially installed base of supercomputing power. Such is the ease by which supercomputers using replicated VLSI can revolutionize large-scale scientific computing.

• Research Organization: Floating Point Sys., Inc., Portland, OR
• OSTI ID: 5791492
• Journal Information: Computer; (United States), Journal Name: Computer; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN CPTRB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420800 -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200* -- Mathematics & Computers
ARCHITECTURE
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COMPUTERS
DESIGN
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ERRORS
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MOS TRANSISTORS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PERFORMANCE
PRICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SIMULATION
SUPERCOMPUTERS
TRANSISTORS