Cray T3D

The T3D (short for Torus, 3-dimensional) was Cray's first attempt in the field of massively parallel supercomputer architecture. It was introduced in 1993 and was also the first Cray supercomputer, which touched down on a non- proprietary microprocessor architecture.

The T3D consisted of 32 (up to 2048) Processing Elements ( PEs ) ( to German as: processing element computing nodes ), each joined them a clocked with 150 MHz DEC Alpha 21064 ( EV 4 ) microprocessor and RAM consisting of 16 or 64 MB DRAM, a. The PEs were in so-called nodes grouped in pairs and connected to a 6-way switch. These switches set a maximum bandwidth of 300 MB / second in both upstream and downstream directions were interconnected so that the topology of this network corresponds to a three-dimensional torus body.

The T3D was developed so that a Cray Y- MP Model E, M90 or C90 acted as a "front -end" system or as a host and all I / O and other system services were handled by its UNICOS operating system. The PEs even ran with a simpler UNICOS / MAX microkernel.

The T3D was available in several configurations:

  • SC models ( " SC " stands for " Single Cabinet", it has been used only a housing ) to split the housing with the Y -MP- host, and could be provided with 128 or 256 PEs.
  • MC models ( "MC" for " Multiple Cabinet", there could be used a plurality of housings ) controlled the T3D in one or more housings under which have been liquid-cooled. The host computer was installed in a separate housing.
  • In contrast, the MCA models ( " MCA " for " Multiple Cabinet, Air cooled" ) were cooled with air and took 32-128 PEs on.
  • Next, there was also a MCN model, which also possessed a liquid cooling system, but unlike the other models was connected and thus an odd number of PEs allowed.

The T3D was in 1995 replaced by the faster and more developed T3E.

T3D MC 256

Open CRAY T3D at EPFL

Frontal view of the closed CRAY T3D at EPFL

Control panel of a T3D MC 256

Detail of the control panel

View into the inner

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