The microSPARC (code-named ''Tsunami'') is a discontinued

microprocessor A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circu ...

implementing the

SPARC V8 SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture) is a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) instruction set architecture originally developed by Sun Microsystems. Its design was strongly influenced by the experimental Berkeley RISC system developed ...

instruction set architecture In computer science, an instruction set architecture (ISA), also called computer architecture, is an abstract model of a computer. A device that executes instructions described by that ISA, such as a central processing unit (CPU), is called an ' ...

(ISA), developed by

Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun for short) was an American technology company that sold computers, computer components, software, and information technology services and created the Java programming language, the Solaris operating system, ZFS, the ...

. It is a low-end microprocessor intended for low-end

workstation A workstation is a special computer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by a single user, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems. The term ''workstat ...

s and

embedded system An embedded system is a computer system—a combination of a computer processor, computer memory, and input/output peripheral devices—that has a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electronic system. It is ''embedded'' as ...

s. The microprocessor was developed by Sun, but the

floating-point unit In computing, floating-point arithmetic (FP) is arithmetic that represents real numbers approximately, using an integer with a fixed precision, called the significand, scaled by an integer exponent of a fixed base. For example, 12.345 can b ...

(FPU) was licensed from Meiko Scientific. It contains 800,000 transistors. There are two derivatives of the microSPARC-II (code-named ''Swift''): the microSPARC-II and microSPARC-IIep. The microSPARC-II is used in the

SPARCstation 5 SPARCstation 5 or SS5 (code-named ''Aurora'') is a workstation introduced by Sun Microsystems in March 1994. It is based on the sun4m architecture, and is enclosed in a pizza box form factor, pizza-box chassis. Sun also offered a SPARCserver 5 wit ...

. The microSPARC-IIep is a 100 MHz microSPARC-II with an integrated

PCI PCI may refer to: Business and economics * Payment card industry, businesses associated with debit, credit, and other payment cards ** Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a set of security requirements for credit card processors * Pro ...

controller for

s. It was developed and fabricated by

LSI Logic LSI Logic Corporation, an American company founded in Milpitas, California, was a pioneer in the ASIC and EDA industries. It evolved over time to design and sell semiconductors and software that accelerated storage and networking in data cente ...

for Sun, and used in their

JavaStation The JavaStation was a Network Computer (NC) developed by Sun Microsystems between 1996 and 2000, intended to run only Java applications. The hardware is based on the design of the Sun SPARCstation series, a very successful line of UNIX workstatio ...

Network Computer The Network Computer (or NC) was a diskless desktop computer device made by Oracle Corporation from about 1996 to 2000. The devices were designed and manufactured by an alliance, which included Sun Microsystems, IBM, and others. The devices w ...

. Image:TI_microSPARC_I_die.jpg, TI microSPARC I Image:Sun_microSPARC_II_die.JPG, Sun microSPARC II

References

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun for short) was an American technology company that sold computers, computer components, software, and information technology services and created the Java (programming language), Java programming language, the Solari ...

(10 August 1992). "Highly Integrated SPARC Processor Implementation (Tsunami)". Hot Chips presentation.' Sun microprocessors SPARC microprocessors 32-bit microprocessors {{Compu-hardware-stub