The Cheyenne Super Computer, previously owned by HPE SGI, is currently up for auction on GSA Auctions with a current bid of $51,000. This supercomputer is powered by a 14nm Intel Xeon E5-2697 V4 system, featuring a total of 8064 CPUs and 313,344 GB of memory. The components, including CPUs and DDR4 DIMMs, hold significant value and could potentially fetch over $360,000 for the CPUs and $320,000 for the memory if sold separately.
However, the system has been experiencing some challenges, with approximately 1% of nodes failing due to ECC memory errors. Additionally, there have been maintenance limitations caused by faulty quick disconnects, leading to water leakage. Despite these issues, the CPUs and memory can still be salvaged for reuse, as older generation hardware often holds value even beyond their initial use in supercomputers.
There are also standard Supermicro 1U systems included in the auction, along with networking equipment such as network cables and switches. The auction may also include EDR Infiniband equipment, which could have additional value. However, extracting value from the supercomputer would require a moving crew and additional disassembly of components, followed by finding buyers for the individual parts.
The idle power consumption of the system is around 747.41 kW, with a maximum power consumption of 1.75 MW. Finding a suitable location to host such a high-powered system may pose a challenge, as many sites are now looking towards newer AI servers rather than older supercomputers. Despite these challenges, the potential value of the components suggests that the auction may close well above the current bid of $51,000.
Overall, the auction presents an opportunity to acquire a previous-generation Top500 system with valuable components that could potentially fetch a significant sum if sold separately. The auction can be viewed on GSA Auctions for those interested in participating.
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