HPE Cray's EX154n platform represents a leap in compute density by incorporating up to 224 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs and 8,064 Grace CPU cores into a single cabinet. These enhancements allow a staggering performance capacity, providing over 10 petaFLOPS for HPC applications and more than 4.4 exaFLOPS for AI workloads, significantly transforming the landscape of high-performance computing. Moreover, with the inclusion of liquid cooling, these systems facilitate ultra-dense configurations that were previously unattainable.
The new EX154n accelerator blade features dual 2.7 kW Grace Blackwell Superchips, each equipped with two Blackwell GPUs and a 72-core Arm CPU. This setup not only amplifies the computational power but also optimizes the energy efficiency within a confined space, demonstrating HPE Cray’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of supercomputing technology. The interconnectivity of these chips via Nvidia's NVL4 further enhances their operational capabilities, making them a formidable choice for both HPC and AI applications.
Cray's Slingshot 400 Ethernet NICs represent a significant upgrade, with bandwidth increased from 200 to an astounding 400 Gbps, aligning it with the latest networking technologies. This advancement is crucial for large-scale supercomputing systems like the Frontier and Aurora, where high-speed data transfer is essential for performance optimization. The transition to fanless designs in these systems not only reduces the operational noise but also enables greater energy efficiency, paving the way for future supercomputing architectures.
While the capabilities of HPE Cray's new systems are impressive, prospective buyers will need to exercise patience, as the release of both the Blackwell systems and the Slingshot 400 networking is anticipated to be delayed until late 2025. Until then, the fifth-gen Epyc-based EX4252 Gen 2 compute blades are set to launch in spring next year, offering a compelling alternative with their capacity to house up to eight 192-core Turin-C processors, emphasizing Cray's versatility in catering to diverse computing demands.
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