Super-computer architecture

This paper examines the design of the top-of-the-range, scientific, number-crunching computers. The market for such computers is not as large as that for smaller machines, but on the other hand it is by no means negligible. The present work-horse machines in this category are the CDC 7600 and IBM 360/195, and over fifty of the former machines have been sold. The types of installation that form the market for such machines are not only the major scientific research laboratories in the major countries-such as Los Alamos, CERN, Rutherford laboratory-but also major universities or university networks. It is also true that, as with sports cars, innovations made to satisfy the top of the market today often become the standard for the medium-scale computer of tomorrow. Hence there is considerable interest in examining present developments in this area. (0 refs).