You Can Now Own a Supercomputer With 306TB RAM, 8,064 Xeon CPUs

It's a sad reality in the computer world that even the most state-of-the-art computer will eventually become practically worthless and headed to the nearby e-waste landfill. That doesn't have to be the case for the Cheyenne Supercomputer, though, as it could be all yours if you have enough scratch and a facility to run it. The government is currently holding an auction for the supercomputer, which ends in two days. Better get your lending agent on the horn pronto.

The Cheyenne supercomputer debuted in 2016 as a formidable machine. It features 8,064 Intel Xeon E5-2697v4 CPUs with 18 cores, for a total of 145,152 cores spread across 4,032 dual-socket units. Each node also has 128GB of DDR4-2400 memory, totaling 306TB. Tom's Hardware notes it's capable of 5.34 petaflops of performance, and Silicon Graphics initially deployed it at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The system is being discontinued due to ongoing maintenance issues, which will surely delight potential bidders.

This could be a really fun project for a well-heeled retiree with an interest in computer maintenance. Credit: GSA

The entire system is water-cooled, which is the source of the ongoing battle to keep it up and running. The auction listing says the supercomputer "is currently experiencing maintenance limitations due to faulty quick disconnects causing water spray," so if you end up purchasing it, that'll be first on your list to repair. You'll also need to get to work on refilling the water-cooling system, as it'll be drained before being shipped to the winner.

The even bigger issue, if you're the winner of the auction, will be just getting it shipped and installed. It is comprised of 14 units that weigh 1,500 pounds each. The listing says you'll need a professional mover, as opposed to a big U-Haul, and that each of the 28 racks must be moved by professionals with protective equipment to ensure safe handling. The purchaser assumes all responsibility for getting the hardware out of the lab and onto the truck. Don't worry; the GSA will provide four pages of documentation detailing the facility requirements necessary to get it up and running again.