Editing Cray T3D

The '''T3D''' (''Torus, 3-Dimensional'') was [[Cray Research]]'s first attempt at a [[massively parallel]] [[supercomputer]] architecture. Launched in 1993,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CRI Cray T3D {{!}} Computational and Information Systems Lab |url=https://www2.cisl.ucar.edu/ncar-supercomputing-history/t3d |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=www2.cisl.ucar.edu}}</ref> it also marked Cray's first use of another company's [[microprocessor]].  The T3D consisted of between 32 and 2048 ''Processing Elements'' (PEs), each comprising  a 150 MHz [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[Alpha 21064]] (EV4) microprocessor and either 16 or 64 [[megabyte|MB]] of [[dynamic RAM|DRAM]]. PEs were grouped in pairs, or ''nodes'', which incorporated a 6-way processor interconnect switch. These switches had a peak bandwidth of 300 MB/second in each direction and were connected to form a three-dimensional [[torus]] network topology.

The T3D was designed to be hosted by a [[Cray Y-MP]] Model E, M90 or [[Cray C90|C90]]-series "front-end" system and rely on it and its [[UNICOS]] [[operating system]] for all I/O and most system services. The T3D PEs ran a simple [[microkernel]] called UNICOS MAX.

Several different configurations of T3D were available. The ''SC'' (Single Cabinet) models shared a cabinet with a host Y-MP system and were available with either 128 or 256 PEs. The ''MC'' (Multi-Cabinet) models were housed in one or more liquid-cooled cabinet(s) separately from the host, while the ''MCA'' models were smaller (32 to 128 PEs) air-cooled multi-cabinet configurations. There was also a liquid-cooled ''MCN'' model which had an alternative interconnect wire mat allowing non-power-of-2 numbers of PEs.

The Cray T3D MC cabinet had an Apple Macintosh [[PowerBook]] laptop built into its front. Its only purpose was to display animated Cray Research and T3D logos on its color LCD screen.

The first T3D delivered was a prototype installed at the [[Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center]] in early September 1993. The supercomputer was formally introduced on 27 September 1993.{{cn|date=September 2013}}

The T3D was superseded in 1995 by the faster and more sophisticated [[Cray T3E]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:CRAY-T3D IMG 8981-82-87-89.CR2.jpg|T3D MC 256 at the [[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne|EPFL]]
Image:EPFL CRAY-T3D 1.jpg|T3D MC 256 Computer
Image:EPFL CRAY-T3D 3.jpg
File:CRAY-T3D IMG 8980.CR2.jpg
File:CRAY-T3D IMG 8976.CR2.jpg|T3D MC 256 control panel
Image:EPFL CRAY-T3D 2.jpg|MC 256 control panel
Image:CRAY_T3D_d.jpg|Inside of the T3D MC 256
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160319034516/ftp://ftp.cray.com/product-info/mpp/T3D_Architecture_Over/T3D.overview.html CRAY T3D System Architecture Overview Manual]

{{Cray computers}}
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1993]]
[[Category:Cray products|T3d]]
[[Category:Supercomputers]]