Posted on 01/22/2024 8:53:22 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
Back in 1978 I (i.e., the narrator Mr. Darling) worked for Cray Research, which made what was at the time the world’s fastest computer, the Cray-1. I thought it would be interesting to compare the Cray-1 with the latest model of iPhone, the iPhone 13. (this is a 2022 video)
| Item | Unis | Cray 1 | iPhone 13 | Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Ounces | 176,000 | 6 | 29,300 |
| Price (2022 $) | 2022 | 38,000,000 | 1,000 | 38,000 |
| Speed | MFLOPS | 160 | 15,800,000 | 100,000 |
| Memory | MB | 160 | 512,000 | 60,000 |
| Power consumption | kW | 115 | LiOn 20 hours | |
| Cooling | Freon refr | Air |
I started my first computing when I was a 1969 ME freshman running punchcards through an IBM 360 operating on FORTRAN IV with WATFOR. I still remember solving the Newton-Raphson method to find a good approximation for the root of a real-valued function f(x) = 0. It uses the idea that a continuous and differentiable function can be approximated by a straight line tangent to it. I was astonished by the successive iterations, that they could be programmed, and that an approximation could give such good results. It was a real eye-opener.
If I remember correctly, the Cray-1 took about 15 tons of air conditioning to keep it cool. Sandía Laboratorios had several of them back in the day.
I remember when we were in awe of the Cray and how it was used to process seismic data.
I remember an anecdote from the 1980s — it took a while to hand build the Cray supercomputer of the time, and a buyer backed out. Apple learned of this and immediately swooped in to buy the nearly-complete machine. When finished, it was shipped out.
Seymour Cray was curious, so he called Apple and talked to Steve Jobs. He asked, how is Apple using the Cray?
Jobs said, we’re using it to design the next Mac.
There was a pause. Cray then said, that’s interesting, because I’m using a Mac to design the next Cray.
pulled: https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4212183/posts
pretty amazing times. in ‘78, the economy was so bad, i had to go back to college to start a new program in math and computer science: best career decision i ever made. it was a very good ride for 30 plus years.
I remember FORTRAN and punch cards... I also remember using a slide rule as a college freshman. I appreciate the advancements I have seen and lived through.
yes indeed, FRiend. ASSEMBLER, FORTRAN, COBOL. punched cards at first but soon we had online compilers and a very new (to me) programming concept, a context free language from Kernigan and Richie at Bell labs and an very flexible set of development tools built around UNIX and C. incredible stuff.
The Cray was operating on MUCH tighter code, though.
For those interested, you can hook up some playstations to get a home-brewwed super computer.
That would mean it was drawing around 50 kW worth of power.
IIRC, that’s in the range of what a big IBM 360 c. 1985 used as well.
I took freshman physics in 1967 using a slide rule and repeated it in the mid 70s using a scientific calculator.
The increase in the scope and complexity of the examinations was truly impressive.
‘K, you are awesome !
You sound like you were at college the same years as me fall 1969 - spring 1973.
Started ME school with a cheap metal slipstick. HP35 was introduced in 1972 when I was a Junior or Senior, but who could afford a $400 calculator? That’s $2,915 in 2024 dollars! I remember I bought a cheap Casio calculator a couple years after graduating, then finally an HP 11C and a 12C in the early 80s.
In those days I heard stories of groups of engineers getting together to buy crays, which they would subsequently sell for substantial profits before they had even finished being built.
Sounds kinda cray-cray. /rimshot
In those days I heard stories of groups of engineers getting together to buy crays, which they would subsequently sell for substantial profits before they had even finished being built.
Back in college (1980) I recall a professor saying how those computer guys thought they were so great - until they had to process the piles of seismic data industry would give them.
I recall reading about one of the oil companies using virtual reality (years ago now) where a person could enter a room that would have three dimensional seismic data displayed and one could walk among the formations to get a better understanding of the geology.
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