The term “Crayette” was coined by the tech magazine Datamation to describe a wave of 1980s and 1990s startup companies that built minisupercomputers. These systems aimed to deliver a fraction of a true Cray supercomputer’s power—usually using lower-cost, air-cooled CMOS components—at a drastically reduced price point, often maintaining software compatibility with Cray’s instruction set. [1,
The “Crayette” trend Read More »
KMA the Korean Meteorological Administration was a steady user of Cray systems.After replacing a NEC SX-5 in 2004 with a Cray X-1 the site hosted a Cray X-1E followed by a KE6 then an XC40 . In-depth reviews : 13339-operational-visualization-process-and-tools-nwp-model-output-kma 14423-status-hpc-infrastructure-and-nwp-operation-kma KMA Products Currently “The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) is building a large-scale weather
Korean Meteorological Administration – Cray systems Read More »
The 100th Machine ( which is a red XMP built in 85 ) about 55 Cray-1s were made. Celebration glasses with the inscription “Celebrating 100 of the worlds fastest Computers March 1985” were issued and an all employee party was held. The 100th Cray XMP was SN225 in March 1987 From Cray Chips
100th Cray Supercomputer and 100th X-MP Read More »
Some installation and maintenance photos on the first X-MP SN318 at University of Kiel. ** A big thanks to Juergen Kreuels for the photos and recollections.** Cray Chips Notes 25/11/1987 Shipment has been made to the University of Kiel, West Germany, of CRAY X-MP system Serial 318. This is our tenth customer and eleventh
University of Kiel – Cray X-MP Installation and maintenance photos Read More »
Situated in the west of Germany between Köln and Aachen close to the French & Dutch borders is KFA Juelich now known as Forschungszentrum Jülich a supercomputer centre that has hosted Cray systems and others. Introducing themselves with the words .. The Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) at Forschungszentrum Jülich operates and develops supercomputers of the
KFA / FZJ in Juelich – A German Supercomputer site Read More »
Based in Hamberg, Germany DKRZ or Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum GmbH is high performance climate computing site with a long history of supercomputer deployments. An early user of CDC Cyber systems the site got its first Cray-2 system in November 1988. Following this a Cray-YMP4E followed in the early ’90s. By 1995 the site had moved on
DKRZ – German supercomputer site Read More »
From Cray Chips “TO THE LAND OF THE TROLLS” 1986/12/11 For various reasons the route a system takes to reach its destination may be as individual as the computer’s configuration. Hank Rosenbaum proved this on following Serial 411 to Norway. The path led by truck from Chippewa Falls to Minneapolis; by plane to Chicago and
SN411 was at SINTEF in Trondheim Read More »
Update 21 May 2026 – The collection was seen (May 2026) for sale at an auction site in the UK. With Sales page here Listing Page captured here. Historic Cray Supercomputers Linked to GCHQ and Edinburgh University Head to Auction was Dan Goldsmith Dan Goldsmith has collected these Cray Research systems and kindly shared the
Dan’s Collection of Cray systems in Watford, UK Read More »
It’s not often that the worlds of fashion and glamour intersect with the hard industrial process of creating a supercomputer. We are used to seeing how supercomputers have changed the world of engineering and technology but discovering this story during research into the 250 issues of Cray Chips was an unexpected angle. From this issue
There is beauty in chips Read More »
After hearing a rumour that a Cray-2 went to Brazil I had a dig into the Archives – then was reminded that co-conspirator Alistair had spent some time in Brazil and had some inside knowledge. Turns out no Cray-2 but a couple of later systems did service in Brazil. In Cray Chips from January
Cray systems in Brazil Read More »
