While Cray would not specify who the deal is with, the company did say that it includes one of its new Cray X1E vector supercomputers, which were running about six months behind schedule thanks to delays from the IBM Microelectronics foundry that is making the X1E multichip modules for Cray and which are expected to start shipping in a few weeks.
The deal also includes one of the company’s new Linux-Opteron Cray XD1 parallel supercomputers, which just started shipping a month ago. Cray added the XD1s to its X1 vector and Red Storm Cray XT3 product line when it acquired Canadian supercomputer upstart OctigaBay earlier this year for $115 million.
Peter Ungaro, Cray’s chief of marketing, says that the two machines are scheduled for installation at the customer site during the first half of 2005, and adds that this is the second X1E order that Cray has received from outside the US Whoever the customer is, they intend to cluster the two radically different supercomputers together, and the XD1 system is the largest OctigaBay box that Cray has sold to date.
Earlier this month, Cray said that parts shortages for the X1E MCMs as well as the router chips used in the XT3/Red Storm machines (also fabbed by IBM) would knock about $35 million to $45 million out of its 2004 sales, dropping it down to between $155 million and $165 million.
The company is optimistic going forward, and with all three product lines – X1E, XD1, and XT3 – available in volume, it still believes that it can more or less double sales to around $300m in 2005.
