No More HP Alpha Processors

August 19, 2004

Hewlett-Packard will release its final Alpha processor on Monday - the 1.3GHZ Alpha EV7z. The chip will be incorporated into the existing HP GS 1280 server. HP will continue to sell its AlphaServers through 2006, and will support them until 2011.

The Alpha is a 64-bit RISC microprocessor. Alpha was born out of an earlier failed RISC project named PRISM. That earlier architecture was killed by the popularity of Digital's own VAX computer line -- the executive staff couldn't see the need to replace their cash cow at the time. Another problem was that PRISM was to have a totally new operating system called Emerald which was not compatible with the older VMS OS and the full software suite would not be ready for some time. Eventually some of the company engineers saw that other RISC architectures, such as SPARC and MIPS, were offering much better price/performance then the VAX lineup. So a study was started to see if a new RISC architecture could be defined to support the VMS operating system. Eventually that new architecture became Alpha.

The first few generations of the Alpha chips were some of the most innovative of their time. The first device, 21064 or EV4, was the first CMOS microprocessor whose operating frequency rivalled higher-powered ECL minicomputers and mainframes. The second device, 21164 or EV5, was the first microprocessor to place a large secondary cache on chip. The third device, 21264 or EV6, was the first microprocessor to combine both high operating frequency and the more complicated out-of-order execution microarchitecture.

The production of Alpha chips was licensed to Samsung Electronics Company. Following the purchase of Digital by Compaq the majority of the Alpha products were placed with API NetWorks, Inc. (previously Alpha Processor Inc.), a private company funded by Samsung and Compaq. In October 2001 Microway became the exclusive sales and service provider of API NetWorks' Alpha-based product line.


Rank not rated yet
Tags

Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

Advanced power-grid model finds low-cost, low-carbon future in West

(PhysOrg.com) -- The least expensive way for the Western U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created 1 hour ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Small modular reactor design could be a 'SUPERSTAR'

(PhysOrg.com) -- Though most of today's nuclear reactors are cooled by water, we've long known that there are alternatives; in fact, the world's first nuclear-powered electricity in 1951 came from a reactor ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created 1 hour ago | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Engineering images bring life to submerged city

(PhysOrg.com) -- Photo-realistic 3D mapping and digital reconstruction of an ancient underwater city in Greece have earned a team from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies ...

Technology / Engineering

created 36 minutes ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

New power source discovered

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and RMIT University have made a breakthrough in energy storage and power generation.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created 36 minutes ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

World's first 300mm-fab compatible directed self-assembly process line

At next week’s SPIE Advanced Lithography conference (San Jose, CA), imec announces the successful implementation of the world first 300mm fab-compatible Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) process line all-under-one-roof ...

Technology / Semiconductors

created 42 minutes ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Mars Science Laboratory computer issue resolved

(PhysOrg.com) -- Engineers have found the root cause of a computer reset that occurred two months ago on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory and have determined how to correct it.

Clam fields found at deep, low-temperature Mariana vents

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have marveled at the unusual life forms thriving at high temperature hydrothermal vents of the deep ocean.

Seeing colors in music, tasting flavors in shapes may happen in life's early months

Famed violinist Itzhak Perlman sees a deep forest green whenever he plays a B-flat on his Stradivarius' G string. The A on the E string is red.

Could Venus be shifting gear?

(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA’s Venus Express spacecraft has discovered that our cloud-covered neighbour spins a little slower than previously measured. Peering through the dense atmosphere in the infrared, the ...

The question of life in the ancient world

There’s a general feeling that we don’t get the Greeks – ancient or modern. Many, including heads of state like Angela Merkel, visibly shake their head in exasperation, rightly or wrongly, at ...

Study suggests girls can 'rewire' brains to ward off depression

(Medical Xpress) -- What if you could teach your brain to respond differently to things that make you feel sad, down or stressed out? What if doing that helped ward off depression?