The original
Cray supercomputer, the Cray-1, is an iconic piece of computing history, so big it had a ring of padded seats around which engineers could sit and contemplate esoteric questions of life whilst the machine humming behind them answered the more finite ones. This semi-hexadecagon shape has been brought back to life, scaled down quite a bit, by
case modder and woodcrafter Daryl Brach. The original 5.5 ton behemoth is now a desktop-friendly size, and though those seats are now too small for human behinds they're still leather-covered and padded, hiding a pair of DVD-ROM drives connected to not one but two motherboards. We're not sure what other hardware Brach populated the thing with internally, but given that original Cray-1 had 8MB of memory to work with we're guessing this modern version would have no problem computationally wiping the floor with its inspiration.
posted August 2nd 2010 1:29PM
and I though my i7 was fast
@Cainhunpi misspelled
@Cainhunpi
Seems you missed more than that.
@Cainhunpi Umm, it is. This is just a case and they didn't even mention what processor is in it. Try reading the article before you post based on the picture...
Cool. Now do a Cray-2 with built-in Fluorinert cooling next.
@Vexorg Fluorinert costs too much.
@barry99705 You could probably buy enough FC-77 to use in a minuature replica for about $1,000, which is still horrendously expensive, but not so much as to make it impossible if someone was motivated enough.
@Vexorg Only if the Cray 2 has the waterfall cooler with built in light show: http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2007/09/gallery_supercool_pcs/Cray2cascade.jpg
Bet that could replace your furnace
@rmbrown09
I bet it doesn't have an energy star rating.
Who needs supercomputers when you have Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary?
@Distant
umh... Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary?
Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of these!
/slashdot
@alexz
But... does it run UNICOS?
@dingus
It should at least run BeOS, right?
Needs more HAL.
look s like the Cray X-MP/24 (ser. no. 115)
@squaremon : Usil, we have Geeksign the likes of which God has never seen.
RICK MORANIS.
"This hexadecagon shape has been brought back to life..."
Well, it's not really a hexadecagon since there's a large sector missing, i.e. it only has 11 of the 16 sides needed for a regular hexadecagon. As opposed to trying to be mathematically fancy, why don't you simply describe it as "C-shaped" like its original engineers did?
@meeku
As opposed to trying to be mathematically fancy, why don't you simply let it go?
@LeJay: Because, for novelty's sake, it's important to be accurate when reporting the news. Simple as that.
@meeku I changed it to "semi-hexadecagon." Cool?
@TimStevens: As much as I appreciate the gesture, semi-hexadecagon doesn't make sense either, since that would mean half a hexadecagon in the same way that a semi-circle is half a circle.
@meeku Well, that's "semicircle." The prefix "semi-" simply means "partial" or "incomplete," so I'm gonna have to say we're in good shape at this point.
@TimStevens: If you insist, but by that logic you'd classify Pac-Man as a "semicircle", which I'm certain most mathematicians would disagree with. However, it is obviously your call.
Note: If you Google search "semi-hexadecagon" now, the results page is dominated by links back to this Engadget article - you make have just coined/popularised a new term!
someone should case mod an 80s computer with a ton of meaningless blinking lights and a reel to reel that occasionally spins.
@redkamel: Don't tempt me.
As soon as I saw this I thought, 'Mad Hatter'.
Name the movie that had one - including people sitting on the seats.
@Sonic Death Monkey Tron
Close, but no one sits on it.
@Sonic Death Monkey Sneakers
@krytenx Nice! Congrats. :)
@krytenx
We have a winner! Actually, it's not a Cray-1 but it's obvious that it was made to look like one.
But was it as powerful as a Gibson?
I got a tour of Cray Labs in MN about 18 years ago with a friend who worked there. And I got to see several of these in real life. Those things were huge. I don't recall if we sat down on it or not. I suspect not, as I certainly didn't want to break anything on my visit. The place was pretty cool though. They used the pond in back as part of their cooling system, and it was constantly producing steam. So the whole place was sort of shrouded in mist as you drove up to it.