Architecture of Massively Parallel Microprocessor Systems

Softcover 3rd edition (2002) independently published in plain gray wraps. Very Good condition. Lightly creased corners; otherwise, the covers are in great shape with only light shelf wear. The binding is square and tight. An organization stamp is neatly marked out on the first page. The interior pages are clean and unmarked. The book will be carefully packaged for shipment for protection from the elements. USPS electronic tracking number issued free of charge. By the 1990's, it was becoming increasingly obvious that Massively Parallel Microprocessor-based Systems (MPMS) were becoming significant new forces in the marketplace. It is important to realize that in a rapidly moving, trendy area such as MPMS, by the time information is published, it is probably obsolete. By the time a book is published, it is probably only of historical significance. This book is intended for the hardware or software practitioner to use as an introduction to the subject. It assumes that the reader know something about the internals of computer systems, architecture, and instruction execution. It would be relevant for an advanced undergraduate or graduate level course in computer design or architecture. It discusses the chip level of MPMS, and looks at the design trade-offs at the systems level. This document covers the field of MPMS. This is a subset of the field of Massively Parallel Computers. Although this variety of computer has been around for a long time, it only started to make an impact on the computer industry in the 1990's, as an alternative to supercomputers. The goal of this document is to give the reader an introductory look at the fundamentals of MPMS design, to allow the reader to understand the trade-offs, limitations, speed, cost, complexity, and architectures. The reader will be shown the history and the trends of the technology of this rapidly moving field. To achieve these goals, we'll review the basics and background of the technology, to understand where the trade-offs are. We'll then look at real-world design examples to see how the trade-offs were made. It is essential to realize that in MPMS technology, as in many cutting edge endeavors, there are no wrong answers in the marketplace, but a multitude of right ones. The wrong answers either never make it to the market, or don't last long there.