Although experts debate the validity of the rankings, high placement on the list typically comes with bragging rights for the companies and institutions that designed the machine. These computing behemoths are generally highly customized machines built through the efforts of both the computer vendor and the institution that eventually uses it. SGI machines are responsible for half the total computing power on the list. Sun Microsystems has the second-highest presence, with 126 systems, up from 111 in June. IBM gained systems on the list, moving from 75 systems in June to 105 now.
Industry has more supercomputers than academia.
While research computers on the list dropped from 94 to 90 machines since June, industry computers increased from 178 to 206. While the Pentium Pro-based Asci Red retained its No. 1 ranking among supercomputers, its spot at top of the heap won't last for long. Unfortunately for both, the performance data isn't in yet. Lawrence Livermore spokesman David Schwoegler said his lab was unable to provide a performance measurement because its computer didn't run the measurement program while it was assembled at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, New York. The machine, based around IBM's Power3 processors, has been shipped to Livermore, but now is only two-thirds reassembled.