Item HT 3150 Supercomputer Model - NEC, SX4, Bureau of Meteorolgy/CSIRO, High Performance Computing Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, 1997

Summary

The NEC SX4 supercomputer was one of the world's fastest supercomputers when it was leased by the Bureau and CSIRO in 1997. The SX2 was introduced in 1985. The SX4 was introduced in three phases and it reached its optimal capacity of 104 billion calculations per second in late 1999. It was replaced by the SX5 in 2001.

The complete computer was too large to acquire so items were acquired by the Museum to indicate its size as well as its processing capacity. This model was acquired along with a door, the latter gives some indication of the size. A processor was also acquired; the final version of the SX4 had 32 processors, with 16 billion bytes of memory and over 600 billion bytes of disk space. A video describing the use of the computer was also collected.

In 1997, the Bureau of Meteorolgy and CSIRO combined resources to establish the High Performance Computing and Communications Centre (HPCCC).

Physical Description

* The model of SX4 supercomputer occupies an area of about one metre square. It is a series of black boxes of various shapes. Accompanying the model, which has a perspex cover, are two circuit boards, a plaque, an information sheet and a display sign. It is a 1/10 scale model. * Dark grey metal cabinet door with matt finish with catch socket on one side. The rear is same colour with card carrier containing an installation information card in a perspex envelope. Down one side of the rear is a locking mechanism. * Electronic circuit board with components- one of the processors from the SX4 in original cardboard storage box.

Significance

The SX4, SX5 and the SX6 are the direct heirs and natural succesors to CSIRAC, which was used for similar activities. CSIRAC was used to produce what could be the first 24 hour weather forecast in Australia.