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September 16th, 2008

Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer

Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 6:26 am

Categories: Code names, Corporate strategy, Linux, Windows Essential Business Server (Centro), Windows Server 2008/ Windows Server Longhorn, Windows Small Business Server (Cougar), Windows server

Tags: Microsoft Windows Server, Supercomputer, Cray Inc., Microsoft Corp., Windows HPC Server 2008, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Servers, Software, Hardware

Microsoft and Cray are set to unveil on September 16 the Cray CX1, a compact supercomputer running Windows HPC Server 2008.

The pair is expected to tout the new offering as “the most affordable supercomputer Cray has ever offered,” with pricing starting at $25,000.

In a September 15 posting to the Windows Server blog, Softie Tina Couch noted:

“It’s high performance and productivity computing that meets the needs of users, IT pros and developers by providing a highly integrated, familiar environment that is the right size and price for departmental and workgroup needs. The CX1 combines compute, storage, and visualization in a single integrated system that’s designed for non-traditional environments like labs, offices. If space is a problem, not to worry, it’s compact enough to fit in a broom closet.

“How can you get one?! It’s as easy as shopping on Amazon.com.  Customers can go online, order the CX1 system using a configurator and pay with credit card.”

Microsoft’s official launch of Windows HPC (High Performance Computing) Server 2008 is slated for September 22 in New York City. Windows HPC Server 2008 is the high-end SKU of Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 family. Microsoft is positioning the product as an alternative to Linux, which has gained a solid following in the high-end computing market.

In other Windows Server news, Microsoft released to manufacturing on September 15 its mid-range Windows Server offering, known as Windows Essential Business Server. General availability of EBS (codenamed “Centro”) kicks off on November 12. General availability of Windows Small Business Server 2008 (codenamed “Cougar”) also commences on November 12.

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Related Discussions on TechRepublic

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 131 Talkback(s)
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer
It is a shame to slow down a Super Computer with bulky software. Is that what is needed to run Vista???
JK folks... (Read the rest)
Posted by: coachgeorge Posted on: 01/06/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
I Wouldn't Use It  itanalyst2@... | 09/16/08
Exactly ...  MisterMiester | 09/16/08
Save it for the Linux groupie forums  croberts | 09/16/08
No, just 3 times a year right when you really need it. [nt]  olePigeon | 09/16/08
And only in your shop, of course. [nt]  John Zern | 09/16/08
MS let you choose then?  fr0thy2 | 09/17/08
3 Strikes M$/Cray...OUT! ...and Linux is IN like Flynn! wink  i2fun@... | 09/18/08
Well of course not.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/16/08
Is that ...  n0neXn0ne | 09/16/08
probably pretty close to the truth  John Zern | 09/16/08
On short notice and in a hurry.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/17/08
still  Jxn | 09/20/08
Hmmmmm . . . This should give the fastest blue screen in the west . . .  Basic Logic | 09/17/08
Ans: Look at the two on top500.org who chose windows  DevGuy_z | 09/16/08
Yes but !  Alan Smithie | 09/17/08
@DevGuy_z  Axsimulate | 09/17/08
But of course you wouldn't  John Zern | 09/16/08
That's because MS  fr0thy2 | 09/17/08
Well isn't that obvious?  xuniL_z | 09/17/08
In other news  TedKraan | 09/17/08
Thank you for the 10$ you were 5 to 1 odds  USTechHead | 09/18/08
are they asking you to?  royalstream | 09/18/08
LOL - that was good...nt  ItsTheBottomLine | 09/18/08
Horse Power Needed  Alan Smithie | 09/16/08
Are you confused or just dumb?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/16/08
Your axe is a bit blunt and floppy  Alan Smithie | 09/16/08
Oh please, you need to find a new Urban Myth.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/17/08
Isn't Vista based off the same kernel? [nt]  olePigeon | 09/16/08
Yes sort of  SamCPP | 09/16/08
NT 6.0  mrdood_99205@... | 09/19/08
childern please  dave@... | 09/16/08
Baloney  DevGuy_z | 09/16/08
Shhh don't tell them all the secrets...nt  ItsTheBottomLine | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  Loverock Davidson | 09/16/08
Disregard Above Post  itanalyst2@... | 09/16/08
Message has been deleted.  MisterMiester | 09/16/08
Since reading is not your strong point  Loverock Davidson | 09/16/08
Only see what you want ...  MisterMiester | 09/16/08
Yet you still ignore it  Loverock Davidson | 09/16/08
Re: "You still ignore it"  hwertz | 09/17/08
Isn't that an oxymoron?  914four | 09/18/08
Speaking of dumb people...  olePigeon | 09/16/08
Who buys a Cray Supercomputer  John Zern | 09/16/08
Definitely not Linux freetards...they are against anything commercial  transposeIT | 09/17/08
you might be wrong there  TedKraan | 09/17/08
Too right -  ksarkies@... | 09/25/08
It's not the server...  olePigeon | 09/17/08
Actually, that is incorrect  GuidingLight | 09/17/08
|_ Correct, if you wanted to continue using Cray, however...  olePigeon | 09/17/08
server OS should be free.....  xuniL_z | 09/17/08
I alway wanted to build a Beowulf out of Mini-Macs  tomam | 09/18/08
Hey.. Why not...  Wolfie2K3 | 09/17/08
Well Said Mister  fox.kenji | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  RIAAsucks | 09/16/08
hmmm..  dave@... | 09/16/08
LSE learned the hard way (nt)  n0neXn0ne | 09/16/08
Are you serious?  Qbt | 09/16/08
OF course... It's Standard practice...  Wolfie2K3 | 09/17/08
RE: Are you serious? ...  n0neXn0ne | 09/18/08
n0neXn0ne is getting "schooled" again  GuidingLight | 09/17/08
Oh look, the know nothings have clicked their way in  fr0thy2 | 09/17/08
Your right - but don't be so hard on yourself...it's not like a Brit ...  ItsTheBottomLine | 09/18/08
GuidingLight ? ...  n0neXn0ne | 09/18/08
Sigh....nt  ItsTheBottomLine | 09/18/08
Wow! Imagine the BSOD/sec rate! (nt)  Henrik Moller | 09/16/08
Another basket for the eggs...  factor-h | 09/16/08
o_0  DavidGerard | 09/16/08
Maybe something like this?  MisterMiester | 09/16/08
Please insert your Automated System Recovery floppy disk now. [nt]  olePigeon | 09/16/08
Won't get high performance from Windows...  Axsimulate | 09/16/08
How 'bout 80 and 50 teraflops (top500.org)  DevGuy_z | 09/16/08
Honestly....  storm14k | 09/16/08
@DevGuy_z  Axsimulate | 09/17/08
Windows is limited to 64 cores at a time...  olePigeon | 09/17/08
Cray CX1 price includes Red Hat Linux ...  MisterMiester | 09/17/08
HOLLY!!  fox.kenji | 09/18/08
A lot...  914four | 09/18/08
Cray CX1 price includes Red Hat Linux  schmandel@... | 09/18/08
Revolutionary!  LinuxHater | 09/16/08
You should see my new site  John Zern | 09/16/08
Love it!  Axe_to_Grind | 09/18/08
Ignorance once again  ulash | 09/16/08
1000 times quicker BSOD.  kraterz | 09/16/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  onunez | 09/16/08
So this is what's needed to run vista.  kraterz | 09/17/08
lol! (nt)  TedKraan | 09/17/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  FrankSz | 09/17/08
Okay, i just don't get it..  TedKraan | 09/17/08
Pathetic zealots: Can't you guys get a job or something?  transposeIT | 09/17/08
they are rejoicing  TedKraan | 09/17/08
Apparently...  evoisard | 09/17/08
Really?  Average-IT-Guy | 09/18/08
Hum..  ohiomike | 09/18/08
 evoisard | 09/25/08
Free application software with this dinosaur...  whisperycat | 09/17/08
Actually  TedKraan | 09/17/08
Thats not a supercomputer its,  chrisarn | 09/17/08
This is the most accurate  TedKraan | 09/17/08
Why buy one...  jasonp@... | 09/17/08
IF it's a supercomputer for prfessionals who in thier right mind would use  Breetai | 09/17/08
The demise of computing  trm1945 | 09/17/08
But...  Henrik Moller | 09/18/08
Microsoft and Crazy  Axe_to_Grind | 09/17/08
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..  Average-IT-Guy | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  neilcoo | 09/17/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  lyncharls | 09/17/08
MS and Cray...  greg.skelton@... | 09/17/08
HAL9000?  TedKraan | 09/17/08
I'm going to be honest  AndyCee | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  Zlatko.Lakisic | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  jeff@... | 09/18/08
University of Antwerp Desktop Supercomputer for $5K.  neil.postlethwaite@... | 09/18/08
OS software license is a large part of total cost  schmandel@... | 09/18/08
$25,000 BSOD!  fox.kenji | 09/18/08
And what was that recent news about...  QueenMama | 09/18/08
The biggest lie...  Narg | 09/18/08
Moral of your own story  TedKraan | 09/19/08
what's the market?? business? education? government?  wessonjoe | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  cyfaill | 09/18/08
Fastest BSOD ever?  ohiomike | 09/18/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  darcyfreak | 09/18/08
According to Cray's website it starts at under $10,000.  roystonlodge | 09/19/08
Re: According to Cray's website it starts at under $10,000.  Gradius2 | 09/20/08
I want numbers !  Gradius2 | 09/20/08
Build it here  Gradius2 | 09/20/08
Fallen Flags  Win3.1 | 09/20/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  vikingnyc@... | 09/22/08
Took em a long time  ksarkies@... | 09/25/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  markorjj@... | 10/15/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  sayhi2shefali | 11/11/08
RE: Microsoft and Cray to unveil $25,000 Windows-based supercomputer  coachgeorge | 01/06/09

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