Cray Y-MP2E

In 1990, the Cray Y-MP2E was billed as a cost-effective supercomputer alternative to mainframes or mini-supercomputers because it offered a significant performance advantage.

Several features made it affordable, including reduced power consumption and air cooling instead of fluid cooling.

The Cray-Apple Connection

Starting in 1985, Apple initially purchased Cray computers to help with circuit designs and system emulation. In 1993, Apple received the Cray Y-MP2E, which more than paid for itself running tooling mold models that saved millions and shaved months off production times. A popular anecdote purports that Seymour Cray admitted to using a Macintosh computer to design the next Cray upon learning that Apple was using a Cray to design its computers.