From: tcmay@netcom.com (Timothy C. May)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: iAPX432 ??
Date: 8 Sep 92 01:53:43 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

messmer@lut.fi (Willi Messmer) writes:
: Yes, anyone heard about iAPX 432 32-bit cpu from early 80's ?
: 
: If so, a brief introduction & history would be nice.

The 432 project started in 1975 as an effort to build a state of the
art 32-bit processor exploiting Intel's latest processing technology,
then known as "XMOS" but ultimately called HMOS, for high-performance
MOS. (I was at Intel at this time, so excuse the emphasis on the
technology side....in other summaries of the 432 I haven't seen it
given enough attention.)

The original name was the "8800" and a multi-chip set was planned. As
the chips were so large, and CAD techniques then were primitive, new
CAD systems were developed (also in cooperation with the 8086/80286
team, which also needed them, though not as badly!). (An entire tools
group developed design rule check software, continuity verifications
tools, etc., all long before such things were commercially available.
This played a big role in getting chips like the 8086, 8087, etc. out
ahead of Motorola, which was still laying out the 68000 by hand!)

Architecturally, the system was variously called "capability-based"
(like some IBM machines, notably the System/38 minicomputer) or
"object-oriented" (as in Smalltalk). Others can say a lot more about
this, including the performance penalties incurred.

(Despite the various problems, I'll never forget seeing a multiple 432
system running UNIX as processor cards were pulled out of the card
rack...full fault tolerance, in 1981.)

The 432 set was introduced in 1981 and flopped. Poor performance, a
very large die size, and the complete break from the 8086 family were
probably factors. I think the last chips were sold around 1984, but I
don't think there were ever any notable design wins.

The 432 project and team lived on in the "Gemini" project, which
became the Intel-Siemens jointly-owned "Biin Computer." The chips
developed had some of the 432 capabilities, but were more efficient
and didn't carry the same "everything is an object" penalty. The chips
are now sold by Intel as the "960" family.

Biin, which wags immediately dubbed "Billions Invested In Nothing,"
could have succeeded, I think, in the fault tolerant market, but Intel
and Siemens decided to pull the plug. This happened in 1988 or so.

I hope this summary helps. I'm not a computer architect, so take my
opinions with care. I often cite the 8800/iAPX432/Gemini/Biin/960 saga
when people say the chip industry, or American industry as a whole,
only has a quarter to quarter outlook...this project started when some
readers of this group were in diapers!

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