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A CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER

Lot 32
10.09.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 1 020 600
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1279154
Lot 32 | A CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER
Estimate value
$ 150 000 – 250 000
A CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER
CRAY RESEARCH, INC., 1976-8
Serial Number 12
Arranged in a central C-shaped core, with alternating red and yellow panels, the 4th panel replaced with perspex for internal viewing, external cushioned seating, with first two panels lifting to reveal compressor.

One of the most aesthetically striking breakthroughs in supercomputing history.

Announced in 1975, this pioneering supercomputer was designed by the visionary engineer Seymour Cray and produced by Cray Research, with an original price tag of almost $8 million. It heralded a new epoch in high-performance computing and stands as a tangible monument to an era when the boundaries of speed and capability were pushed to unprecedented heights.

The Cray-1, known for its distinctive C-shaped design, represents a stark departure from the rectilinear configurations of its predecessors. It is both an aesthetic triumph and a paradigm shift in functional innovation. The unique shape reduced the length of wiring within the machine, thereby enhancing its speed and efficiency—a critical consideration when milliseconds could mean the difference between groundbreaking discoveries and computational impasses. At the heart of it lies its unparalleled processing power. Capable of performing 160 million floating-point operations per second (FLOPS), the Cray-1 quickly became the fastest computer in the world upon its release. This extraordinary capability enabled scientists and researchers to tackle complex problems in fields such as meteorology, computational chemistry, and physics simulations with a level of precision and speed previously unattainable. The Cray-1 was instrumental in modelling intricate phenomena, from weather patterns to nuclear reactions, pushing the frontiers of scientific research.

During its production run, only around 80 units were ever built. This example was decommissioned and ultimately used as a sales model for Cray Research Inc., and is one of only seventeen thought to survive. It is the first to come to auction.

The success of the Cray-1 cemented Cray Research's reputation as a leader in supercomputing and influenced the design of future high-performance computing systems. Its legacy is indelibly etched into the annals of computing history, an example of the extraordinary leaps forward that have defined our digital age.
75 in. (190.5 cm.) high, 113 in. (287 cm.) diameter




Provenance

Cray Research Center, Mendota Heights.
University of Minnesota, 1981 (designed to match UMN colors).



Further details

This lot is subject to additional disclaimers. Please carefully review Section E(2), subsection (m) “Vintage Computers and Machines”.
Auction house category:All other types of objects, Instruments
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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10.09.2024 – 10.09.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
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