UltraSPARC-III: designing third-generation 64-bit performance

0272-1732/99/$10.00  1999 IEEE The UltraSPARC-III is the third generation of Sun Microsystems’ most powerful microprocessors, which are at the heart of Sun’s computer systems. These systems, ranging from desktop workstations to large, missioncritical servers, require the highest performance that the UltraSPARC line has to offer. The newest design permits vendors the scalability to build systems consisting of 1,000+ UltraSPARC processors. Furthermore, the design ensures compatibility with all existing SPARC applications and the Solaris operating system. The UltraSPARC-III design extends Sun’s SPARC Version 9 architecture, a 64-bit extension to the original 32-bit SPARC architecture that traces its roots to the Berkeley RISC-I processor. Table 1 (next page) lists salient microprocessor pipeline and physical attributes. The UltraSPARC-III design target is a 600-MHz, 70-watt, 19-mm die to be built in 0.25-micron CMOS with six metal layers for signals, clocks, and power.