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> They also made it a four-CPU system, with all CPUs operating in the same 64-bit global address space. It also needed a good 1,000 amperes at 5 volts delivered to the backplane through a dozen welding cables.

That is absolutely terrifying.

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These days you just use 12v and convert right next to or on die - but we are still in that range of amps for big chips! Take for example a 3090 at 500w @12v, the core is running at 1.056v, that’s 473 Amps!

That goes a long way to explaining the pin count on those chips! The idea of that much current running through a bunch of angelhair thickness gold wire is horrifying.

We have a picture of the s100 backplane here:

https://datamuseum.dk/wiki/Fil:R1000_s100_Backplane_2.jpg

The metal blocks at the bottom is where the welding cables from the PSUs connect.

To read more about the R1000, start here:

https://datamuseum.dk/wiki/Rational/R1000s400

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