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Cray Unveils XC30 Supercomputer

Posted by timothy on from the show-us-the-sheets dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes "Cray has unveiled a XC30 supercomputer capable of high-performance computing workloads of more than 100 petaflops. Originally code-named 'Cascade,' the system relies on Intel Xeon processors and Aries interconnect chipset technology, paired with Cray's integrated software environment. Cray touts the XC30's ability to utilize a wide variety of processor types; future versions of the platform will apparently feature Intel Xeon Phi and Nvidia Tesla GPUs based on the Kepler GPU computing architecture. Cray leveraged its work with DARPA's High Productivity Computing Systems program in order to design and build the XC30. Cray's XC30 isn't the only supercomputer aiming for that 100-petaflop crown. China's Guangzhou Supercomputing Center recently announced the development of a Tianhe-2 supercomputer theoretically capable of 100 petaflops, but that system isn't due to launch until 2015. Cray also faces significant competition in the realm of super-computer makers: it only built 5.4 percent of the systems on the Top500 list, compared to IBM with 42.6 percent and Hewlett-Packard with 27.6 percent."

13 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. Does it have a bench-seat? by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's no Cray, unless it also doubles as stylish atrium furniture.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
    1. Re:Does it have a bench-seat? by srussia · · Score: 2

      It's no Cray, unless it also doubles as stylish atrium furniture.

      ...and space heater!

      --
      Set your phasers on "funky"!
    2. Re:Does it have a bench-seat? by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 2

      Sit on it, Fonzie!
      http://dooki.com/supercomputers/cray/xmp/cray.xmp.4.jpg

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    3. Re:Does it have a bench-seat? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      It is however, the same group of very clever engineers.

  2. MORE CRAY PR0N! by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.craysupercomputers.com/images/Systems/CrayXMP/CrayXMP_Feathered.jpg

    http://www.craysupercomputers.com/images/Systems/CrayYMP8/CrayYMP8_Feathered.jpg

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
    1. Re:MORE CRAY PR0N! by psergiu · · Score: 3, Interesting

      How about Cray T90 - looking like something out of David Lynch's Dune:
      http://www.craywiki.com/images/f/fb/T916.jpg

      now THAT was a computer any CEO was proud to show to visitors.

      Not a row of boring cabinets.

      --
      1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
    2. Re:MORE CRAY PR0N! by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 2

      HERETIC! Machines that THINK? You need a Mentat!

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
  3. Damn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That shit cray.

  4. On your desktop in 11 years by michaelmalak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In November, 2001, the fastest supercomputer was 12 TFlops. You can achieve that today for less than $5,000 on your desktop by ganging together four GPGPU cards (such as the 3 TFlops Radeon 7970 for less than $500 each). Go back to 1999 and it's only 3 TFlops and to match today you wouldn't even need a special motherboard.

    So just wait 11 years for the prices to come down.

    1. Re:On your desktop in 11 years by michaelmalak · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Supercomputers measure double precision FLOPS while the GPGPU vendor cheat and report single precision.

      Ah, OK, Radeon is then 1 TFlop for double precision (which is new to the Radeon). So four Radeon 7970's beat the top 1999 supercomputer.

  5. Re:details, details by whistl · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Cray website (http://www.cray.com/Products/XC/XC.aspx) has more details. 3072 cores (66 Tflops) per cabinet, initially, and the picture make it look like they have 16 cabinets, making 49152 cores total. Amazing.

  6. Re:"Unveiled" my arse by suso · · Score: 2

    I'll be revealing my supercomputer that has finally broken the exaflop barrier in about an hour. (opens Blender)

  7. XC30 by Cid+Highwind · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Originally named 'Cascade'" ... and now named for a midsize Volvo.

    It might not be the fastest supercomputer in the world, but at least it'll be safe.

    --
    0 1 - just my two bits