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Cray Research, Inc.

Internal view of Cray-2

Seen here is the hand-wired backplane of wires. The Cray's unique circular shape kept wire lengths short, allowing the computer to be even faster.

Cray Research, Inc.

Supercomputer pioneer Seymour Cray became a legend at Control Data Corporation. But that company grew quickly and proved too bureaucratic for him. So in 1972 Cray launched his own firm.

Cray Research, Inc. was the world leader in supercomputing for more than two decades. The company reflected Cray’s emphasis on simple design and small, focused development teams. The results validated his approach.

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Cray-2 marketing brochure

Behind the CPU is the Cray-2 cooling tower which re-circulated Fluorinert cooling fluid throughout the computer.

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Cray-2 system block diagram

The simple architecture of the Cray-2 made it very powerful and easy to program for certain applications.

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View of Cray-2 showing circuit boards

The Cray-2 design resembles a large aquarium, with its circuit boards cooled by immersion in a special fluid called Fluorinert.

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Cray-1 worker smock

Building Cray supercomputers combined high technology and simple craft skills. This smock was worn by “wiring ladies” who spent months cramped inside a machine patiently creating an electrical tapestry from miles of wire.

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