Using an 0.4 micron design process, Fujitsu Ltd’s Ross Technology Inc unit has improved the clock speed on its HyperSparc to 125MHz, 25% better than the 100MHz version that was done in 0.5 micron technology with the same die size. Sun Microsystems Inc has put the three metallisation layer CMOS device into its hottest workstations. The new process can accommodate 512Kb and 1Mb caches. The Microprocessor Report notes Fujitsu’s 0.4 micron process is now one of the most advanced in the industry, shaded only by Intel Corp and NEC Corp 0.35 micron processes. The Sparc64 from Fujitsu’s Hal Computer Systems unit is also fabricated in the 0.4 micron process. The 125MHz HyperSparc does 183 SPECfp92 and 159 SPECint92, but Sun reckons its 64-bit UltraSparc, due next quarter, will come near to doubling even HyperSparc’s integer performance. Sun will likely phase out its HyperSparc products over time as UltraSparc is delivered in systems. Ross’s plans do not feature UltraSparc performance in the same time-frame.
