Supercomputers, fishing for information

[ethan at 757.org]

> I'm making arrangements to have four (mini-)supercomputers from the
> 1980's shipped to me. In the mean time, I'm trying to find out what I
> can about these systems, so this is a fishing expedition.
> The systems are:
> * Convex C1-XP
> * Convex C1-XL
> * Intel iPSC/860
> * Ardent Titan
> Pictures of these can be found on my website, at
> http://www.vaxbarn.com/index.php/collection/27-odd/76-four-supercomputers
> (click on the thumbnails to see a larger version)

Wow! I don't know too much about Convex, but when I was younger I would go 
to NASA auctions trying to pick up SGI hardware, smaller supercomputers 
and ion laser systems. There was a Convex system at one of the earlier 
auctions I went to (NASA Langley in Hampton Virginia.)

The thing is, I don't remember it being a "mini" supercomputer at all. It 
had the same gold decor that your images show, but it was large! Big 
cabinets!

Like many of my peers here, I'm kind of a data hoarder so I just looked 
and sho' nuff I still have the pictures I took with an early digital 
camera at that NASA auction of the Convex that was up for sale:

http://imgur.com/Pqr7dJ4
http://imgur.com/hbyZ9pV

August 26, 2000!

Anyways, I didn't think I'd ever hear of any of those systems again. 
Kudos!