computer science

Ultra 1

Ultra 1 is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Ultra 1 rather than just read about it. In short: The Ultra 1 is a family of Sun Microsystems workstations based on the 64-bit UltraSPARC microprocessor. It was the first model in the Ultra series of Sun computers, which succeeded the SPARCstation series.

Key takeaways

Ultra 1 belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Ultra 1 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Ultra 1 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Ultra 1 is a family of Sun Microsystems workstations based on the 64-bit UltraSPARC microprocessor. It was the first model in the Ultra series of Sun computers, which succeeded the SPARCstation series. It launched in November 1995 alongside the MP-capable Ultra 2 and shipped with Solaris 2.5. It is capable of running other operating systems such as Linux and BSD.

Specifications The Ultra 1 was available in a variety of specifications. The Ultra 1 Creator3D 170E launched with a list price of US$27,995 (equivalent to $59,200 in 2025) - along with the Ultra 1 Model 140, and Ultra 1 Creator 170E.

CPU Three different CPU speeds were available: 143 MHz (Model 140), 167 MHz (Model 170) and 200 MHz (Model 200).

Models Model numbers with an E suffix (Sun service code A12, code-named Electron) had two instead of three SBus slots, and added a UPA slot to allow the use of an optional Creator framebuffer. In addition, the E models had Wide SCSI and Fast Ethernet interfaces, in place of the narrow SCSI and 10BASE-T Ethernet of the standard Ultra 1 (service code A11, code-named Neutron).

Memory The Ultra 1 uses 200-pin 5V ECC 60 ns SIMMs in pairs, the same memory used in the SPARCstation 20.

Similar Machines Similar Sun machines were the Netra i 1 servers which had the same chassis [1] Archived 2006-12-30 at the Wayback Machine and the UltraServer 1/Ultra Enterprise 1 servers [2].

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Ultra 1

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Ultra 1 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Ultra 1 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Ultra 1 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Ultra 1

In research: Ultra 1 appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Ultra 1 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Ultra 1 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 1995, Computer hardware stubs, SPARC microprocessor products, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Ultra 1 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Ultra 1 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Ultra 1 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Ultra 1 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ultra 1 in simple terms?

Why does Ultra 1 matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Ultra 1?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Ultra 1.