I960, the first superscalar CPU (2023)
12 hours ago
- #Intel
- #RISC
- #Computer Architecture
- The Intel i960 was a 32-bit processor from the 1990s, initially intended to be Intel's flagship but overshadowed by x86.
- It became the world's best-selling RISC processor, with variants including a 33-bit object-oriented version used in military applications like the F-22 fighter.
- Originated from the ambitious iAPX 432 project, which aimed to create a 'micro-mainframe' but failed due to complexity and poor performance.
- Intel developed the i960 by merging RISC philosophy with iAPX 432 concepts, resulting in a family of processors with four architectures: Core, Numerics, Protected, and Extended.
- The i960 was used in various applications, including embedded systems, military avionics, and Intel's short-lived Unix servers.
- Despite its initial success, the i960's performance lagged behind competitors, leading to its decline and eventual discontinuation in 2007.
- The i960's architecture blurred the lines between RISC and CISC, incorporating features from both paradigms.
- Military adoption of the i960, particularly in the F-22 and other defense systems, highlighted its reliability but also exposed challenges with long-term military procurement cycles.
- The i960's legacy includes innovations like superscalar execution and object-oriented hardware support, though it remains a largely forgotten chapter in computing history.