History of Microprocessor Generations

Microprocessor
A microprocessor -- also known as a CPU or central processing unit is complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1 !1. The 4004 was not "er# powerful -- all it could do was add and subtract, and it could onl# do that 4 bits at a time. $ut it was ama%ing that e"er#thing was on one chip. &rior to the 4004, engineers built computers either from collections of chips or from discrete components 'transistors wired one at a time(. The 4004 powered one of the first portable electronic calculators.

In the world of personal computers, the terms microprocessor and )&* are used interchangeabl#. At the heart of all personal computers and most workstations sits a microprocessor. +icroprocessors also control the logic of almost all digital de"ices, from clock radios to fuel-in,ection s#stems for automobiles. Three basic characteristics differentiate microprocessors Instruction set- The set of instructions that the microprocessor can e.ecute. Bandwidth: The number of bits processed in a single instruction. Clock speed- /i"en in megahert% '+0%(, the clock speed determines how man# instructions per second the processor can e.ecute. In both cases, the higher the "alue, the more powerful the )&*. 1or e.ample, a 23-bit microprocessor that runs at 40+0% is more powerful than a 15-bit microprocessor that runs at 34+0%. In addition to bandwidth and clock speed, microprocessors are classified as being either 6I7) 'reduced instruction set computer( or )I7) 'comple. instruction set computer(. If #ou ha"e e"er wondered what the microprocessor in #our computer is doing, or if #ou ha"e e"er wondered about the differences between t#pes of microprocessors, then read on. In this article, #ou will learn how fairl# simple digital logic techni8ues allow a computer to do its ,ob, whether its pla#ing a game or spell checking a document

Concise Timeline of Microprocessors:

Abacus (3000 B.C): was the first computer in the history of the computing machines. 1st Generation Computers 1!"#$1!%&': fastest machine of the time. &nd Generation Computers '1 45(- transistor was first time used in it ( )rd Generation Computers: integrated 'circuit( chips. "th Generation Computers: 0ighl# sophisticated technolog# re8uired. Personal Computers 1!*%': MIT+ ,-T,I. first computer with T9( 1!!%: Pentium$Pro Microprocessor :indows 4 ;7 In 1!!* Intel announces +ultimedia capabilities PII'( 1!!/ 0indows 1!!/ 1+ supported processors. This was much user friendl#.

Revolution in Microprocessors

the

Fabrication

of

After launching of windows <';7( there started a race of higher performance computing machines. +icroprocessors started to reform in small and small si%e but the speed was increasing b# and b# and this race is still going on and now its momentum is much faster then e"er before. There is a detailed histor# of processors which ha"e been produced since #ear 3000 to till now. = There are some big or ma,or companies which are producing microprocessors and running side b# side in that race but three companies are most famous for this work 1st is Intel and 3nd is IBM and 2rd is ,M2.

Intel
In these companies the most prominent compan# is Intel( It is ,ust because of the reliabilit# and batter results of Intel processors. 0ere is a report on Intel processors. If we start counting from #ear3000 their first processor was based on >)eleron> technolog#.

Intel Celeron-

Introduced in April 1 <, the first )eleron branded )&* was based on the &entium II branded core. 7ubse8uent )eleron branded )&*s were based on the &entium III, &entium 4, &entium +, and )ore 3 ?uo branded processors( The Celeron brand refers to a range of Intel@s .<5 )&*s for budgetA"alue personal computers. )onsidered Intel@s >economic> processor, the )eleron branded processors ha"e complemented Intel@s higher-performance 'and more e.pensi"e( brands. Intel has gi"en the brand the motto, >deli"ering great 8ualit# at an e.ceptional "alue.> )eleron processors can run all IA-23 computer programs, but their performance is somewhat lower when compared to similar, but higher priced, Intel )&* brands. 1or e.ample, the )eleron brand will often ha"e less cache memor#, or ha"e ad"anced features purposel# disabled. These missing features ha"e had a "ariable impact on performance. In some cases, the

effect was significant and in other cases the differences were relati"el# minor. +an# of the )eleron designs ha"e achie"ed a "er# high >bang to the buck,> while at other times, the performance difference has been noticeable. 0ere is a brief histor# of Intel )eleron &rocessors from the #ear 3000 up to now. 3ear of Production
3ear &555

Proceedin4s
6anuary " IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 422 +0% 7e8ruary 1" +obile IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 400 +0%, 440 +0% 6une 1! Cow 9oltage +obile IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 400 +0%
6anuary ) IntelB )eleronB &rocessor <00 +0% 1cto8er & IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 1.30 /0%

3ear &551

3ear &55&

6anuary ) IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 1.20 /0% 9o:em8er &5 IntelB )eleron &rocessor 3.30 /0%, 3.10 /0% 6anuary 1" +obile IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 3 /0% Cow 9oltage +obile IntelB )eleronB &rocessor <55 +0% 9o:em8er 1& +obile IntelB )eleronB &rocessor 3.40 /0% *ltra Cow 9oltage +obile IntelB )eleronB &rocessor <00 +0%

3ear &55)

3ear &55"$5*

6anuary "; &55"

IntelB )eleronB + &rocessor 230 and 210 1.2 /0% 1.3 /0%

6uly &5; &55"

IntelB )eleronB + processor *ltra-Cow 9oltage 242 00 +0%

March
IntelB )eleronB + &rocessor 420-440 1.!2-3.0/0%

9o:em8er &)

IntelB )eleronB ? &rocessor 244 2.05 /0% = No Celeron Processor as release! in "00# 3ear &55/

6anuary &55/

)eleron )ore 3 ?uo 'Allendale(

Pentium:
The Pentium brand refers to Intel@s single-core .<5 microprocessor

based on the P% fifth-generation micro architecture considered here as such onl#. The name @&entium@ was deri"ed from the /reek penta, meaning @fi"e@, and the Catin ending -ium. Introduced on +arch 33, 1 2 the &entium succeeded the Intel 4<5, which 5, the

number >4> signified the fourth-generation micro architecture. In 1 based on the &4 fifth-generation micro architecture. 7tarting in 1

original Pentium was succeeded b# the Pentium MM< branded )&*s still

4, Intel 'inconsistentl#( used the >&entium> registered trademark

in the names of families of post-fifth-generations of .<5 processors branded as the &entium &ro, &entium II, &entium III, &entium 4 and &entium ? 'see &entium 'brand((. Although the# shared the .<5 instruction set with the original &entium 'and its predecessors(, their micro architectures were radicall# different from the &4 micro architecture of )&*s branded ,ust as the >&entium> and >&entium ++D>. = $ino! %ha& is often referred to as the father of the Intel Pentium processor( 0ere is a brief 0istor# of Intel &entium &rocessors 3ear of Production 3ear &555

Proceedin4s March &5 IntelB &entiumB III &rocessor <55 +0%, <40 +0% March / IntelB &entiumB III &rocessor 1 /0% 9o:em8er &5 IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor 1.40 /0%, 1.40 /0%

3ear &551

,pril &) &entiumB 4 &rocessor1.! 6uly & &entiumB 4 &rocessor 1.<0 /0%, 1.50 /0% ,u4ust &* IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor 3 /0%, 1. 0 /0%0 /0%

3ear &55&

6anuary * IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor 3.30 /0%, 3 /0% 6anuary / Intel> Pentium> III Processor for ser:ers 1.40 /0% ,pril &; &55& IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor3.40 /0%, 3.30 /0% 6anuary &1 *ltra Cow 9oltage +obile &entiumB III &rocessor-M !40 +0% Cow 9oltage +obile &entiumB III &rocessor$M <55 +0%, <40 +0% 9o:em8er 1"; &55& IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor 2.05 /0% with Hyper$Threadin4 Technolo4y

3ear &55)

+obile IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor-+ 3.40 /0% "55 MH? P+B' May &1; Intel> Pentium> " Processor with Hyper$ Threadin4 Technolo4y 3.<0) /0%, 3.50) /0%, 3.40) /0% 9o:em8er ); Intel> Pentium> " Processor @Atreme @dition 2.30 /0%

3ear &55"

7e8ruary &; &55" IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor ' 0nm( 2.40 /0%, 2.30 /0%, 2.0 /0%, 3.<0 /0% IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor E.treme Edition '0.12 micron' 2.40 /0% ,pril *; &55" *ltra Cow 9oltage IntelB &entiumB + &rocessor 1.10 /0%, 1.20/h% 9o:em8er 1%; &55" IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor E.treme Edition supporting 0T Technolog# 2.45 /0%

3ear &55%$5#

IntelB &entiumB 4 &rocessor @Atreme @dition supporting 0T Technolog# 2.<0 /0% '4!0( ,pril; &55% IntelB &entiumB &rocessor E.treme Edition <40 2.30 /0% ' No Pentiu& Processor !esi(ne! in "00).

&55* B &55/

IntelB &entiumF &rocessor E.treme Edition 44 2.45 /0% IntelB &entiumF &rocessor E.treme Edition 54 2.!2 /0% 'No Pentiu& processor !esi(ne! *et in "00+

Pro!uction of Pentiu& processors !ecrease! in these *ears !ue to &o!ern technolo(*

<eon:

The <eon brand refers to man# families of Intel@s .<5 multiprocessing )&*s for dual-processor '?&( and multi-processor '+&( configuration on a single motherboard targeted at non-consumer markets of ser:er and workstation computers; and also at 8lade ser:ers and em8edded systems. The Xeon brand has been maintained o"er se"eral generations of .<5 and .<5-54 processors. ;lder models added the Xeon moniker to the end of the name of their corresponding desktop processor, but more recent models used the name Xeon on its own. The Xeon )&*s generall# ha"e more cache than their desktop counterparts in addition to multiprocessing capabilities. Intel@s 'non-.<5( IA-54 processors are called Itanium, not Xeon.

0ere is a brief histor# of Intel Deon &rocessors 3ear of Production 3ear &555 B &551

Proceedin4s 6anuary 1&

IntelB &entiumB III DeonF &rocessor <00 +0%

+eptem8er &%; &551

IntelB DeonF &rocessor 3 /0%

May &"

IntelB &entiumB III DeonF &rocessor 22 +0%

3ear &55&$5"

6anuary !; &55&

IntelB DeonF &rocessor 3.30 /0%

March 1&; &55&

IntelB DeonF Processor MP1.50/0%

March 15; &55) IntelB DeonF &rocessor 2 /0% '400 +0% s#stem bus( 9o:em8er 1/
IntelB DeonF &rocessor 3.<0 /0%,

1cto8er #; &55) IntelB DeonF &rocessor 2.30 /0% March &; &55" IntelB DeonF &rocessor +& 2 /0% " MB -) cache' 3ear &55%$5/ March; &55% IntelB Deon &rocessor +& 3.555 - 2.555 /0% 1cto8er; &55% ?ual )ore IntelB Deon &rocessor 3.< /0% ,u4ust; &55#
?ual-)ore IntelB DeonF !140+ 2.22-2.40 /0%

Itanium
Itanium is the brand name for 54-bit Intel microprocessors that

implement the Intel Itanium architecture 'formerl# called I,$#"(. Intel has released two processor families using the brand- the original Itanium and the Itanium &. 7tarting Go"ember 1, 300!, new members of the second famil# are again called Itanium. The processors are marketed for use in enterprise ser"ers and high-performance computing s#stems. The architecture originated at 0ewlett-&ackard '0&( and was later de"eloped b# 0& and Intel together. Itanium's architecture differs dramaticall# from the .<5 architectures 'and the .<5-54 e.tensions( used in other Intel processors. The architecture is based on e.plicit instruction-le"el parallelism, with the compiler making the decisions about which instructions to e.ecute in parallel. This approach allows the processor to e.ecute up to si. instructions per clock c#cle. $# contrast with other superscalar architectures, Itanium does not ha"e elaborate hardware to keep track of instruction dependencies during parallel e.ecution - the compiler must keep track of these at build time instead. After a protracted de"elopment process, the first Itanium was released in 3001, and more powerful Itanium processors ha"e been released periodicall#. 0& produces most Itanium-based s#stems, but se"eral other manufacturers ha"e also de"eloped s#stems based on Itanium. As of 300!, Itanium is the fourthmost deplo#ed microprocessor architecture for enterprise-class s#stems ( Itanium has now become a leading microprocessor. Itanium has been used with ?ellF as well as with 0& s#stems. Intanium 1 is being upgraded to Itanium 3 b# the Inter )orporation. Itanium 3 will be the giant of micro-processing as it can e.ecute billions of instruction in a second causing the computing to turn a re"olutionar# change.

0ere is a brief histor# of Itanium processors

3ear of Production 3ear &551$5#

Proceedin4s May &!; &551 IntelB ItaniumF &rocessor <00 +0%, !22 +0% 6uly /; &55& IntelB ItaniumB 3 &rocessor 1 /0%, 00 +0% +eptem8er /; &55) IntelB ItaniumF 3 &rocessor 1.40 /0% '1.4 +$ C2 cache( Cow 9oltage IntelB ItaniumF 3 &rocessor 1 /0% '1.4 +$ C2 cache( 6une )5; &55) IntelB ItaniumF 3 &rocessor 1.40 /0% ,pril 1); &55" IntelB ItaniumB 3 &rocessor 'with 2 +$ C2 cache( 1.50 /0% 1ct( &5; &55" IntelB &entiumB + &rocessor !54 3.10 /0% 9o:em8er /; &55" IntelB ItaniumB 3 &rocessor ?ual-core Itanium &rocessor 110G 1.5/0% 6uly; &55# ?ual )ore IntelB ItaniumB 3 &rocessor 1.4-1.5 /0%

2ual Core

The )ore brand was launched on Hanuar# 4, 3005 b# the release of the 23-bit 3onah core )&* - Intel@s first dual-core mobile 'low-power( processor. Its dual-core closel# resembled two interconnected &entium + branded )&*s packaged as a single die 'piece( silicon chip 'I)(. 0ence, the 23-bit micro architecture of )ore branded )&*s - contrar# to its name - had more in common with &entium + branded )&*s than with the following 54-bit )ore micro architecture of )ore 3 branded )&*s. ?espite a ma,or rebreeding effort b# Intel starting Hanuar# 3005, some computers with the Ionah core continued to be marked as &entium +.

In &55*, Intel began branding the Ionah core )&*s as &entium ?ual-)ore intended for lower-end mobile onl# computers, unlike the 54-bit )ore micro architecture )&*s branded as Intel )ore 3 ?uo 'for higher-end computers( and also as &entium ?ual-)ore 'for lower-end desktops onl#(. In short, the )ore brand refers to processors with the >mobile> deri"ati"e of 23-bit Intel &5 micro architecture 'preceding the )ore micro architecture(, whereas the Intel )ore 3 ?uo brand refers to )&*s with the 54-bit )ore micro architecture. 0ere is a brief histor# of )oreJ ?ual core processors 3ear of Production 3ear &55%$5/ Proceedin4s 3ear &55% ?ual )ore IntelB Deon &rocessor !000 3.555 - 2 /0% 6une; &55# ?ual )ore IntelB Deon &rocessor 4100 3.22-2.0 /0% IntelB )oreF ?uo &rocessor 3.155 /0% IntelB )oreF +olo Processor 1.<22 /0% IntelB &entium )oreF 3 ?uo &rocessor 3.5 /0% IntelB &entium )oreF 3 @Atreme Processor D5<00 3. 22 /0% IntelB )oreF ?uo *C9 &rocessor *3400-*3400 1.05-1.30/0% IntelB )oreF 7olo *C9 &rocessor *1200=== 1.05/0% 7e8ruary; &55# IntelB )oreF ?uo &rocessor T3040A3340A3240A3440 1.5A1.!2A1.<5A3.0 /0% IntelB )oreF +olo &rocessor T1200-T1400 1.55-1.<2 /0% IntelB )oreF 2uo -C &rocessor C3200 'E;C 4A0!( 1.40 /0% +obile )oreF 3 @Atreme D! 00 3.</0% 3ear &55/ IntelB )oreF 3 E.treme &rocessor D 000 3.<0 /0%

Duad$Core @ra

Intel )orporation toda# kicked off the computer industr#Ks multi-core &) era b# deli"ering four computing LbrainsM inside a single microprocessor with the introduction of the Nuad-)ore IntelB DeonB 4200 and Intel )oreF3 E.treme 8uad-core processor families. These products deli"er immense speed and responsi"eness for general purpose ser"ers and workstations and for digital media creation, high-end gaming and other market segments that cra"e absolute performance. Intel began the transition to multi-core technolog# 4 #ears ago with 0#perThreading Technolog# '0T Technolog#(, followed b# the introduction of the industr#Ks first dual-core &) processors in April last #ear. Intel recentl# refreshed its entire product line b# introducing o"er 40 new processors, including those based on the re"olutionar# IntelB )oreF micro architecture, a more powerful #et energ#-efficient design. 0ere is a brief histor# of Nuad processors 3ear of Production 3ear &55#$5/ Proceedin4s 3ear &55# Nuad-)ore IntelB DeonF D4244 3.22 /0% Nuad-)ore IntelB DeonF D4244 1.<5 /0% Nuad-)ore IntelB DeonF D4244 1.50 /0% 6anuary; &55* IntelB )oreF 3 Nuad N5500 3.4 /0% ,pril; &55* IntelB )oreF 3 E.treme 8uad-core ND5<00 3. 2 /0% 6uly; &55* IntelB )oreF 3 E.treme 8uad-core ND5<40 3.55-2.0 /0% Intel )ore 3 E.treme &rocessor E4453 3.<0/0% IntelB )oreF 3 ?uo &rocessor T 400 3.50 /0% IntelB )oreF 3 ?uo &rocessor T 200 3.40 /0% 6anuary; &55/ Nuad-core IntelB DeonB &rocessor D2240 3.<2 /0% Is the latest processor released 8y Intel

Microprocessor Gets @:en Better

LToda#Ks announcement ushers in another new era in computing,M said &aul ;tellini, IntelKs president and )E;. LThe capabilities of 8uad-core microprocessors will bring new possibilities for science, entertainment and business. IKm incredibl# proud of what IntelKs emplo#ees ha"e achie"ed with these new products.M Intel has made this ne.t step in the computerKs ongoing e"olution as fast and eas# as possible through continued in"estment in silicon process and manufacturing technolog#, inno"ati"e and tailored product design, and a m#riad of software de"eloper tools and programs.

AMD
Ad"anced +icro ?e"ices 'GI7E- A+?( is a leading global pro"ider of inno"ati"e processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. A+? is dedicated to dri"ing open inno"ation, choice a nd industry growth by
delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide.

Phenom

&henom 'pronounced as I&A-AfinOmA, as in the word phenomenon( is the A+? desktop processor line based on the P10 'not >P10h>( micro-architecture Q1R, or 1amil# 10h &rocessors, as A+? calls them. Triple-core "ersions 'codenamed >Toliman>( will be the &henom <000 series, 8uad cores 'codenamed >Agena>( in the &henom 000 series, and high-end enthusiast "ersions 'codenamed >Agena 1D>( in the &henom 1D series. A+? considers the 8uad core &henoms to be the first >true> 8uad core design, as these processors are a monolithic multi-core design 'all cores on the same piece of silicon wafer(, unlike Intel@s )ore 3 Nuad series which are a multi-chip module '+)+( design. The processors will be on the 7ocket A+3S platform Q3R, with the e.ception of the high-end model which will onl# be a"ailable for 7ocket 1S. The dual core P10 processors will still be named Athlon D3. Throughout the end of 300! to 300<, A+? is e.pected to launch se"eral models of the &henom processorT U )hange of model nomenclatures U U U U Issues 7ee also E.ternal links 6eferences U 1uture models

Chan4e of model nomenclatures

The model numbers of the new line of processors was changed from the &6 s#stem used in its predecessors, the Athlon 54 D3 famil#. The new model

numbering scheme, for later released Athlon D3 processors, is a four digit model number with different famil# indicator as the first number Q!R, while some Athlon D3 processors used $E as prefi. 'e.ample as Athlon D3 $E-3400( and some 7empron processors uses the CE prefi. 'e.ample 7empron CE1300(, as followsProcessor series &henom 8uad-core 'Agena( &henom triple-core 'Toliman( Athlon dual-core 'Puma( Athlon single-core 'Cima( 7empron single-core '7parta( < 5 1 Indicator

,M2 ,thlonE

Award winning processors with e.ceptional performance to meet #our digital demands The Athlon 54 is an eighth-generation, A+?54 architecture microprocessor produced b# A+?, released on 7eptember 32, 3002.Q1R It is the third processor to bear the name Athlon, and the immediate successor to the Athlon D&.Q3R The second processor 'after the 1pteron( to implement A+?54 architecture and the first 54-bit processor targeted at the a"erage consumer,Q2R it is A+?@s primar# consumer microprocessor, and competes primaril# with Intel@s &entium 4, especiall# the >&rescott> and >)edar +ill> core re"isions. It is A+?@s first P<, eighth-generation processor core for desktop and mobile computers. Q4R ?espite being nati"el# 54-bit, the A+?54 architecture is backwardcompatible with 23-bit .<5 instructions.Q4R Athlon 54s ha"e been produced for 7ocket !44, 7ocket 2 , 7ocket 40, and 7ocket A+3.

+empron

+empron has been the marketing name used b# A+? for se"eral different entr# le"el desktop )&*s, using se"eral different technologies and )&* socket formats. The 7empron replaced the A+? ?uron processor and competes against Intel@s )eleron ? processor. A+? coined the name from the Catin semper, which means >alwa#s, e"er#da#>, to denote that the 7empron was the right processor for e"er#da# computing

+uper Computers
.ed +tormE to 8e assem8led in 9ew MeAico as worldFs fastest +uper computer :ery soon( +andiaE supercomputer to 8e worldFs fastest; yet smaller and less eApensi:e than any competitor AC$*N*E6N*E, G.+. V 6ed 7torm will be faster, #et smaller and less e.pensi"e, than pre"ious supercomputers, sa# researchers at the Gational Guclear 7ecurit# AdministrationKs 7andia Gational Caboratories, where the machine will be assembled. The first 8uarter of the W 0 million, 41.4 teraflops 'trillion operationsAsecond( machine should be installed at 7andia b# the end of 7eptember and full# up and running b# Hanuar#, sa#s $ill )amp '7andiaKs ?irector of )omputation, )omputers, Information and +athematics(, who heads the effort to design and assemble the inno"ati"e machine. 6ed 7torm, an air-cooled supercomputer, is being de"eloped b# 7andia and )ra# Inc. using mostl# off-the-shelf parts. ?esign inno"ations permit the machine, from concept to assembl#, to be completed with unusual rapidit#. :hile manufacturers t#picall# re8uire four to se"en #ears from concept to first product on a new supercomputer, )ra# sa#s 6ed 7torm will begin testing at 7andia less than 20 months after conceptual work began. The main purpose of the machine is work for the *.7. nuclear stockpiledesigning new componentsT "irtuall# testing components under hostile, abnormal, and normal conditionsT and helping in weapons engineering and weapons ph#sics. The machine is e.pected to run ten times as fast as 7andiaKs A7)I 6ed computer s#stem on 7andiaKs important application codes. 'A7)I 6ed held first place on the top-400 list of the worldKs supercomputers for three-and-one-half consecuti"e #ears.( $ut the machine, because of its uni8uel# ine.pensi"e design, ma# become the center of )ra#Ks future supercomputer line, sa#s )amp. L1rom )ra#Ks point of "iew, the approach weKre pioneering here is so powerful the# ma# want their ne.t supercomputers to follow suit.M The machine has uni8ue characteristics- it is scalable from a single cabinet ' 5 processors( to appro.imatel# 200 cabinets '20,000 processors(. In addition, the s#stem was designed with a uni8ue capabilit# to monitor and manage

itself. +uch of the cost incurred for the machine is non-recurring engineering design costs. L:e couldnKt afford a X6olls 6o#ceK V an entirel# custom-designed machine,M sa#s )amp. LThe wa# 6ed 7torm is designed, we donKt ha"e to shut down to replace a part. :e work around failed components until we decide to fi. them V all without shutting down.M )ra# was chosen because the compan# was Lforward-looking, fle.ible, willing to work with us to design a new architecture, and had the lowest cost proposal.M The machine has 5 processors in each computer cabinet, with four processors to a board. Each processor can ha"e up to eight gigab#tes of memor# sitting ne.t to it. 1our )ra# 7ea7tars V powerful networking chips V sit on a daughter board atop each processor board. All 7ea7tars talk to each other Llike a 6ubik cube with lots of s8uares on each face,M sa#s )amp. L)ra# 7ea7tars are about a factor of fi"e faster than an# current competing capabilit#.M +essages encoded in +&I 'the +essage &assage Interface standard( mo"e from processor to processor at a sustained speed of 4.4 gigab#tes per second bidirectionall#. The amount of time to get the first information bit from one processor to another is less than 4 microseconds across the s#stem. The machine is arranged in four rows of cabinets. There are a total of 11,54< ;pteron processors and a similar number of 7ea7tars. The 7ea7tar chip includes an <00 +0% ??6 0#pertransport interface to its ;pteron processor, a &ower&) core for handling message-passing chores, and a se"en-port router 'si. e.ternal ports(. 7ea7tars are linked together to make up the s#stemYs 2-? 'D-I-Z a.is( mesh interconnect. I$+ is fabricating the 7ea7tar chips using 0.12-micron )+;7 technolog#. 9isuali%ation will occur inside the computer itself V a capabilit# uni8ue to 6ed 7torm among supercomputers. 7andia is a multiprogram laborator# operated b# 7andia )orporation, a Cockheed +artin compan#, for the *.7. ?epartment of Energ#Ks Gational Guclear 7ecurit# Administration. 7andia has ma,or 6J? responsibilities in national securit#, energ# and en"ironmental technologies, and economic competiti"eness. $lue Hean b# the I$+ had been a fastest super computer for more than 30 #ears and is being still used b# the I$+, although the# are searching and manufacturing a new super computer for geological and metrological anal#sis of Earth.

~Except of the entire above, worlds fastest microprocessor is human brain! ~