Today in tech history: From $44M Cray supercomputer to smartphones – The incredible leap in computing power since 1985

On December 4, 1985, the Cray-2 supercomputer debuted as a marvel of its era, representing the pinnacle of computational technology. With a price tag equivalent to $44 million, it achieved 1.9 gigaflops, making it the fastest machine of its time. However, the Cray-2 wasn’t the only supercomputer turning heads in the mid-1980s.

In California, the Cray X-MP/48 began operations at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, delivering 400 megaflops (200 per processor) for $15 million. Fast forward to today, and these machines are mere historical footnotes compared to the capabilities of a modern smartphone.

Cray Supercomputers: Giants of Their Time

The Cray X-MP/48 was a shared-memory parallel vector processor with 2 to 4 million 64-bit words of main memory. Known for its role in groundbreaking computational projects, it also contributed to Hollywood magic, rendering scenes for movies like The Last Starfighter. This machine succeeded the iconic Cray-1 and was later replaced by the Cray Y-MP8/864 in 1990.

Despite their enormous size, cost, and power consumption, these machines paved the way for advances in science, engineering, and even entertainment. The Cray-2, introduced shortly after the X-MP/48, doubled down on speed and innovation with its sleek circular design and innovative liquid cooling system.

Smartphones: The Cray Legacy in Your Pocket

Fast forward to the 21st century, and computational power has undergone a stunning transformation. Consider today’s iPhone 15 Pro, which boasts 5.6 teraflops of GPU performance—equivalent to 5,600 gigaflops or nearly 3,000 times the Cray-2’s power. Meanwhile, the Cray X-MP/48’s 400 megaflops now seem like a mere whisper compared to the roaring capabilities of a modern smartphone.

Unlike their multi-million-dollar predecessors, smartphones are compact, affordable, and accessible to billions of people. They enable real-time communication, high-resolution graphics, and advanced machine learning—all on devices that fit in your pocket.

From Supercomputing to Everyday Use

The transition from room-sized supercomputers to pocket-sized devices exemplifies the democratization of technology. Cray systems, once reserved for national labs and Hollywood studios, are now outpaced by consumer electronics. This shift reflects advances in semiconductor technology, energy efficiency, and miniaturization, making powerful computing accessible to the masses.

Yet, these advancements come with challenges. Ethical concerns, environmental impact, and data privacy issues remain pressing topics as computational power continues to grow.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

The Cray supercomputers of the 1980s, including the X-MP/48 and the Cray-2, were symbols of an era when cutting-edge computing was limited to a select few. Today, their legacy lives on in every smartphone, laptop, and connected device.

As we marvel at the incredible progress from 400 megaflops to 5.6 teraflops, it’s worth wondering what the next 40 years will bring. Will quantum computing make today’s devices obsolete? Will AI push computational limits even further? One thing is certain: the journey from the Cray supercomputers to modern smartphones is a testament to the relentless march of innovation.