Portable AI supercomputer comes as a carry-on suitcase with wheels — four GPUs, 246TB of storage, and a 2,500W integrated power supply

Product image of the Gryf supercomputer at an airport boarding gate
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

GigaIO and SourceCode have teamed up to bring the world an ultraportable but still supercomputer-class device for AI needs. The Gryf weighs 55 pounds or less and is packed into a TSA-friendly carry-on suitcase.

Despite the small form factor, Gryf can accommodate data collection and processing on a scale that would otherwise require sending the data offsite. This revolutionary development for use cases requires quick processing and analysis turnaround.

Gryf is a suitcase-sized supercomputer that supports disaggregating and reaggregating its GPUs. The user can customize the computer's hardware configuration in the field on the fly. You can create the optimal hardware configuration for one assigned workload and then change it for the next.

(Image credit: GigaIO)

Each Gryf contains multiple slots populated with compute, storage, accelerator, and network sleds tailored to the workload. The suitcase-sized supercomputer has six sled slots to insert and remove modules from as needed. 

For AI or ML workloads, for example, you might plug in two compute sleds, an accelerator sled, two storage sleds, and a network sled. Are you moving on to a storage project? Change the configuration to incorporate one compute sled and five storage sleds instead.

(Image credit: GigaIO)

The specifications and capabilities for each type of sled and the Gryf platform itself are as follows:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Compute sled
CPU(1) AMD EPYC 7003 series, 7313, 16 cores/32 threads, 155W, 3Ghz base/3.7Ghz turbo
System Memory(4) 64 GB DDR4 DIMMs (256 GB total), 3,200Mhz max
OS Storage(1) 512GB NVMe-M.2 SSD
OS SupportLinux Rocky 8/9 or Ubuntu 20/24
Networking(2) QSFP56/QSFP28/QSFP+ 100GbE, copper/optical
BMC / IPMIVia platform RJ45
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Accelerator sled
Accelerator SlotSingle/Double-wide PCIe-FHFL form factor, up to 350W
Accelerator(1) Nvidia L40S-48GB (other options to be qualified)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Storage sled
Storage(8) 30TB NVMe-E1.L SSD (246TB total)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Network sled
Ports(2) QSFP56-100GbE, copper/optical
Row 1 - Cell 0 (6) SFP28-25GbE, copper/optical
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Gryf platform
Sled Slots(6) for Compute Sled, Accelerator Sled, Storage Sled, Network Sled in any location
AI Memory FabricInternal: PCIe 256Gb/s board-to-board
Row 2 - Cell 0 Expansion: (8) FabreX Mini-SAS-HD-32G 32Gb/s (256Gb/s total) for Gryf daisy-chaining or data offload at home base
Management Network(5) RJ45-10GbE/1GbE for FabreX Fabric Manager and out-of-band (OOB) baseboard management controller (BMC) / IPMI
SoftwareGigaIO FabreX Fabric Manager Preloaded
Row 5 - Cell 0 Linux & libraries: GPUDirect RDMA (GDR), Libfabric, and NVMe-oF
PowerDual AC/DC 2,500W 1+1 power supplies
Row 7 - Cell 0 IEC-320-C13 power inlet, 100-240 VAC @ 50 to 60Hz
Fans(6) 60mm fans dynamically optimized for system workloads
Fan Filters Removable 45 PPI filters
Dimensions With wheels: 9.00″ x 14.00″ x 24.50″ (228.6mm x 355.6mm x 622.3mm)
Row 11 - Cell 0 Without wheels: 9.00” x 14.00” x 22.00” (228.6mm x 355.6mm x 558.8mm)
Weight Less than 55 lbs (24.95 kgs) max
Enclosure Ruggedized carbon fiber, detachable top with folding handle, detachable bottom with wheels
Environment Operating temperature: 10°C to 32°C (50°F to 90°F)
Serviceability Field replaceable units (FRUs): sleds, power supplies, fan tray with fan filtration, case top and bottom covers
ComplianceFCC Class A, CE

According to GigaIO and SourceCode, a single Gryf can be configured to process over a petabyte of information. Using GigaIO’s FabreX memory fabric, the Gryf can also be stacked with up to four other Gryfs for more demanding workloads.

Once back in the data center, the FabreX memory fabric allows Gryf to connect to the core computer, a GigaPod, for the more demanding processing and analysis tasks. Rather than waiting for days to transmit the data over internet connections, engineers collect and begin processing the data where it was gathered, then cart it off to the data center.

Citing the needs of Department of Defense customers, GigaIO CEO Alan Benjamin pointed out the need to collect and process data where it happened in the field.

“This is true for our Department of Defense customers, who have emphasized the critical need for timely and actionable intelligence in the field. Gryf’s novel architecture, made possible by FabreX, our AI memory fabric, provides those customers the advanced compute, storage, and GPU capabilities they crave in today’s sensor-rich edge environments.”

The companies did not disclose pricing for the Gryf, but the mobile supercomputer is available for purchase now.

Jeff Butts
Contributing Writer

Jeff Butts has been covering tech news for more than a decade, and his IT experience predates the internet. Yes, he remembers when 9600 baud was “fast.” He especially enjoys covering DIY and Maker topics, along with anything on the bleeding edge of technology.

  • Ralston18
    And when that portable suitcase wheels itself into the cockpit then that is when I will get off of the plane.
    Reply
  • slightnitpick
    This modularity is quite neat. I believe the better word would be "minicomputer" though, instead of "supercomputer".
    Reply
  • PEnns
    "..comes as a carry-on suitcase with wheels ...The Gryf weighs 55 pounds or less"
    I doubt the TSA and flight staff would consider this a carry-on!

    And good luck lifting that heavy "carry-on" and storing it in the overhead compartments. And, finally, let's hope it doesn't fall on someone's head during the flight...;)
    Reply
  • Lewinator56
    PEnns said:
    "..comes as a carry-on suitcase with wheels ...The Gryf weighs 55 pounds or less"
    I doubt the TSA and flight staff would consider this a carry-on!

    And good luck lifting that heavy "carry-on" and storing it in the overhead compartments. And, finally, let's hope it doesn't fall on someone's head during the flight...;)
    The TSA would demand it's taken apart, break it, smash the HDDs, then confiscate it because 'it might be export protected'.

    Luckily, the civilised world doesn't have to deal with them.
    Reply