[adorno]

You know that there is a heck of a lot more engineering that goes into these systems that just plugging a bunch of processors into a bank of motherboards don't you?

I'm well aware of that, but, the technology for creating the "next" most powerful super-computer, is pretty much standard, even if there is a lot of work and creativity involved. In the last few years, each new "most powerful" super-computer, has been one that carries a bigger number of processors/cores. I haven't heard of any that became more powerful while not adding more cores, even though, in fact, many of the CPUs are more powerful new generations. But, since those CPUs are available to any that wants to string them together to form a "super-computer", the "competition" is mostly about who can string the most CPUs/cores together.

[zeugma]

I'm well aware of that, but, the technology for creating the "next" most powerful super-computer, is pretty much standard, even if there is a lot of work and creativity involved.

Yeah, I get that point, and even agree with it to a small degree. I wouldn't say the engineering involved in one of these systems compares to building the first Cray or something, but at the same time, I wouldn't call it a nothing-burger either.