Out in Front: September 2, 1996

Advances in high-end µPs have greatly simplified the design of multiprocessor systems with four processors (see EDN, July 18, 1996, pg 35). Now, Corollary has announced a chip set that can seamlessly link eight Pentium Pro µPs. The company's Profusion architecture leverages a multiple-ported memory controller with SRAM buffers to connect dual Pentium Pro buses, each of which can connect to four µPs. Other ports connect to dual, interleaved, 4-Gbyte, synchronous DRAM arrays and to a third Pentium-Pro-like bus used for I/O.

Corollary claims that Profusion-based systems will comply with Intel's MPS 1.4 multiprocessing specification and will run off-the-shelf symmetrical multiprocessing operating systems, including Windows NT and Unix. The chip set includes the memory-access controller and data-interface buffer, each of which is implemented in a 599-pin BGA. The chip set costs $1500 (5000), and Corollary later will also offer board- and system-level building blocks to OEMs. Samples will ship in the fourth quarter, with production volumes to follow in the first quarter of '97.

—by Maury Wright

Corollary Inc, Irvine, CA. (714) 250-4040.