Convex Computer Corp is seeking to undercut its competition with a new entry-level, upgradable minisupercomputer, the C3800-ES, the first machine, the company claims, to offer GaAs technology to the low end market. The C3800-ES, pitched at the Cray Research Inc Y-MP2E and IBM Corp ES/9000 Vector Facility, is aimed at users unable to buy a full system at a stroke. Prices start at ?500,000 for a configuration of just one or two CPUs to which additional processors and crossbar networks can be connected, to build up to the full eight-processor C3800 series. The machine comes with four to eight input-output processors; 128Mb to 1Gb memory; and runs under the Unix BSD 4.3-based Convex OS. Additional memory, input-output bandwidth and peripherals are also available with the initial purchase. Like other Convex models it offers features such as Auto Processor Recovery, CheckpointRestart and Virtual Volume Manager; it is available immediately.