Amdahl Corp’s plans to build a RISC-based scientific Unix machine using some of the technology from the failed Key Computer Laboratories project – specifically the input-output subsystem – are firming up. Initial reports indicated that the IBM plug-compatible mainframe manufacturer had opted for the MIPS Computer Systems RISC chip, but this was revised soon after to it having a preference for the Sparc. US sources last week confirmed that the Sparc is now being used as the basis for the project. However they were at pains to stress that the decision was not influenced by 46% shareholder Fujitsu Ltd, emphasising that Amdahl has been working with Sun for a couple of years now. Product details of the Sparc system are expected towards the end of the summer. Hitachi Ltd is also working on a RISC-based Unix mainframe but will be using Hewletd-Packard Co’s Precision Architecture RISC, which it is licensed to fabricate and develop.
