Ardent Computer
More info
- Creator
- Allen Michels
- Released
- 1985–1989
- Type
- Graphics supercomputer maker
- Successor
- Stardent
The Titan graphics supercomputer — vector power and 3D rendering in one box, built for scientific visualisation.
Started in 1985 as Dana Computer, renamed Ardent, in Sunnyvale under Allen Michels. The Titan (1988) combined MIPS processors, a vector unit and built-in 3D graphics under Unix — the idea being that a researcher could simulate and see the result on the same machine. The AVS visualisation software was born here. The problem was that Stellar was building exactly the same product for exactly the same customers that same year; in 1989 they both gave up and merged into Stardent.