Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!husc6!think!ames!ptsfa!well!rchrd From: rchrd@well.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.arch Subject: Re: ETA? Message-ID: <3238@well.UUCP> Date: Fri, 5-Jun-87 12:40:29 EDT Article-I.D.: well.3238 Posted: Fri Jun 5 12:40:29 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 6-Jun-87 20:11:07 EDT References: <3643@spool.WISC.EDU> Reply-To: rchrd@well.UUCP (Richard Friedman) Organization: Pacific-Sierra Research (Berkeley) Lines: 40 The ETA-10 is (will be? was? might be?) an 8 processor system. Each processor is essentially a Cyber-205. This means that each processor has a scalar and a vector processor. THe scalar processor is a 200 mips machine with a 64 word instruction stack, and a 256 word (64 bit) register file, with independent segmented functional units. The CPU memory is 64k mos sram, 4 million 64 bit words. It is secded for each 32 bits with 75 billion bit/sec bandwidth. It is a virtual memory system (just like the 205). There is also a shared memory with 256k mos dram, 65 to 256 million words secded, 8 cpu ports at 12 billion bit/sec bandwidth per port. Apparently, there will also be a 4 processor version. CPU Clock cycle is supposed to be 5 to 9 nanoseconds. Like the cyber-205, it will have all the problems of that machine. CDC has a very arrogant attitude towards programming, and to attain the top speed of the machine, you have to write in 205-FORTRAN with many non-standard syntax constructs. Unlike the CRAY and other vector processors, the 205 is a memory to memory pipeline, and can only attain high speeds for long vector lengths. Virtual memory also degrades vector performance everytime there is a reference out of in-core memory. Still, the ETA-10 is not a real machine, with no real working systems in place. It is also perhaps significant that rumor has it that CDC has pulled out some of its staff on loan to ETA. Time will tell... ETA is going to have a hard time selling this machine. -- ...Richard Friedman [rchrd] Pacific-Sierra Research 2855 Telegraph #415, Berkeley CA 94705 415 540 5216 uucp: {ucbvax,lll-lcc,ptsfa,hplabs}!well!rchrd - or - rchrd@well.uucp