The US General Services Administration has started an auction for the decommissioned Cheyenne supercomputer in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This 5.34-petaflop supercomputer was the 20th most powerful in the world when installed in 2016. Bidding for the supercomputer began at $2,500 and has reached $270,085.
The Cheyenne supercomputer operated at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center from January 12, 2017, to December 31, 2023, making significant advancements in atmospheric and Earth system sciences research. It served over 4,400 users, provided support for nearly 1,300 NSF awards, and played a vital role in education.
Due to maintenance limitations and technical issues, a decision was made to auction off the Cheyenne supercomputer components. The system had a peak performance of 5,340 teraflops and was known for its energy efficiency. With 4,032 dual-socket nodes, 313 TB of memory, and 40 petabytes of storage, it consumed about 1.7 megawatts of power.
Interested buyers should note that professional movers will be needed to handle the heavy racks and components of the supercomputer. The auction closes on May 3, and photos of the extensive cabling are excluded from the resale package.
At the time of writing, 23 potential buyers have bid on the Cheyenne supercomputer. This auction presents a unique opportunity for individuals or organizations interested in acquiring powerful computing equipment.
The original article appeared on Ars Technica.
