A new, massively parallel computer system with up to 16,384 custom processors, delivering 10,000 MIPS performance and controlled by a 14 MIPS-rated RISC chip is to be announced in January by MasPar Computer Inc, a Sunnyvale, California-based company founded 21 months ago by former DEC vice-president for low-end systems and technologies, Jeffery Kalb. Known as the MP-1, it is to be front-ended by VAXstation 3520s running Ultrix – chosen for its multi-processing capabilities – as part of an OEM deal signed with DEC, reckoned to be worth up to $1m in the first year. Other workstations or even X-terminals can also be used. The monster machine is aimed at computational chemistry, fluid dynamics, computer aided engineering and image and signal processing. With input-output capability tagged at 1Gb per second, the MP-1 will support high-speed networks such as Fibre Distributed Digital Interface and High Speed Channel, and MasPar is currently understood to be working with Ultra Network Technologies to develop a version of UltraNet for the machine. TCP/IP and X Window will be supported, and the first software will be existing Ultrix applications, which MasPar is configuring for the MP-1’s single instruction multiple data architecture. The MP-1 uses custom VLSI chips, each with 32 processors attached. A top-end MP-1 will come in at around $250,000. MasPar was founded in March 1988 and to date has received $17.5m in funding from a range of investors.
