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Ultracomputer

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The NYU Ultracomputer is a significant processor design in the history of parallel computing. The system has N processors, N memories and an N log N message-passing switch connecting them. The switch uses an innovative fetch-and-add instruction which will combine references from several processors into a single reference, to reduce memory contention.

The machine was developed in the 1980s at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences Computer Science Department. Most of the work done was theoretical. Two prototypes were built:[1][2][3]

  • An 8 processor bus-based machine
  • A 16 processor, 16 memory-module machine with custom VLSI switches supporting the Fetch-and-Add instruction.

References