Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp has run into big trouble with its ambitious plans to develop a scalar scientific supercomputer aimed at the low end of the Cray Research Inc line, announced in April (CI No 906). The company’s plan was to put together a machine that would integrate up to eight 16-processor complexes, each processor to deliver half the power of a 3090 in scientific work. But the project has had to be put back by at least six months from the planned launch date of next month, driving the Mountain View, California firm into the red because Control Data Corp’s troubled VTC Inc chip subsidiary has failed to produce the key custom circuit successfully. Electronic News says that National Semi conductor Corp and Hewlett-Packard Co have now been brought in to help VTC, and Evans’ other supplier, VLSI Technology, which has produced two chips successfully, to complete the programme. The company is delighted with its design and happy that the problems will be overcome.
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