Gene Amdahl
IBM System/360 architect and author of Amdahl’s law
- Lived
- 92 yrs
- 1922 – 2015
- Works listed
- 2
- Computer architecture, Paper
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 1987
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Gene Amdahl was an American computer architect who was chief architect of IBM’s System/360 mainframes. He formulated Amdahl’s law on the limits of parallel computing and founded Amdahl Corporation, which competed with IBM using compatible machines.
Biography
Background
Amdahl grew up in South Dakota, studied engineering physics at South Dakota State and earned a PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Wisconsin in 1952, designing a computer called WISC for his thesis.
IBM
At IBM he worked on the IBM 704 and then became chief architect of the System/360, announced in 1964, a family of compatible computers that dominated business computing.
Amdahl’s law
In 1967 he argued that the speed-up from adding processors is limited by the part of a task that must run sequentially. Amdahl’s law remains a basic rule of parallel computing.
Amdahl Corporation
Leaving IBM in 1970, he founded Amdahl Corporation, which sold faster IBM-compatible mainframes from 1975 with backing from Fujitsu. He later founded Trilogy Systems and other companies. He died in 2015.
Timeline
-
1922
Born in Flandreau, South Dakota, United States
-
1952
PhD from Wisconsin
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1952
Joins IBM
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1964
System/360 announced
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1967
Presents Amdahl’s law
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1970
Founds Amdahl Corporation
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1975
First Amdahl 470 mainframe
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2015
Dies in California
-
2015
Died, aged 92
Notable works
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1964
IBM System/360 Computer architecture
With Fred Brooks and Gerrit Blaauw.
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1967
Validity of the single processor approach to achieving large scale computing capabilities Paper
Awards and honours
-
W. Wallace McDowell Award
1976
-
Eckert–Mauchly Award
1987
Did you know?
-
1
The term “FUD” (fear, uncertainty and doubt) was first used to describe IBM’s tactics against his company.
-
2
His PhD computer, WISC, was built at the University of Wisconsin.
-
3
He held dozens of patents.
Connections
Related people
Also born on 16 November
Frequently asked
Who is Gene Amdahl?
Gene Amdahl was an American computer architect who was chief architect of IBM’s System/360 mainframes. He formulated Amdahl’s law on the limits of parallel computing and founded Amdahl Corporation, which competed with IBM using compatible machines.
When did Gene Amdahl die?
Gene Amdahl died on 10 November 2015 at the age of 92.
Where is Gene Amdahl from?
Gene Amdahl was born in Flandreau, South Dakota, United States.
What is Gene Amdahl known for?
Gene Amdahl is best known for IBM System/360 architecture; Amdahl’s law; founding Amdahl Corporation.
What awards has Gene Amdahl received?
Notable honours include W. Wallace McDowell Award (1976), Eckert–Mauchly Award (1987).
References
- Gene Amdahl — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Gene Amdahl — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Gene Amdahl (Q62890) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Gene Amdahl”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Gene Amdahl.” TrackFame, last updated 4 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/gene-amdahl
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