Reception and Usage
From the period from about 1969 to 1975, the CDC 7600 was generally regarded as the fastest computer in the world, except for specialized units. However, even with the advanced mechanicals and cooling the 7600 was prone to failure. Both LLNL and NCAR reported that the machine would break down at least once a day, often 4 or 5 times. Acceptance at installation sites took years while the bugs were worked out, and while the machine generally sold well enough given its "high end" niche, it is unlikely the machine generated any sort of real profits for CDC. The successor CDC 8600 was never completed, and Seymour Cray went on to form his own company, Cray Research.
One surviving 7600 is partially on display at the Computer History Museum. Its sheer size allows only 2 corner units to be shown. The rest is in storage.
Another 7600 is on display at the Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry and Technology, along with its console and a tape controller.
Read more about this topic: CDC 7600
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