Benchmark Completes Key Role in U.S. Manufacturing and Testing for Intel’s Aurora Exascale Supercomputer

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Benchmark Electronics, Inc., a global provider of engineering, design, and manufacturing services, announced the successful commissioning and validation of the Aurora exascale supercomputer at Argonne National Laboratory. Benchmark collaborated closely with Intel to provide manufacturing, test development, and test support for Aurora. Argonne’s first exascale computer, Aurora will primarily serve the U.S. scientific community and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Intel selected Benchmark for its expertise in building liquid-cooled, high-performance computing subsystems and for its unique capabilities in test development for complex computing infrastructure. All of Benchmark’s work in support of Aurora was completed in the United States.

“With Aurora now online, scientists across the country are using the supercomputer for ambitious projects that combine AI, simulation, and data in innovative ways,” said Michael Papka, director of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility. “Aurora is expanding researchers’ capabilities across science and engineering, enabling advances in areas ranging from aircraft design and fusion energy to cosmic exploration and the discovery of new materials. We’re proud to partner with Intel and Benchmark to provide the scientific community with a resource that will power breakthroughs for years to come.”

For decades, Argonne National Laboratory has been building a world-class scientific computing environment as part of DOE’s efforts to give the nation a strategic competitive advantage in the advancement of science and technology. Today, the nation’s supercomputing capabilities are unrivaled in the world and continue to deliver groundbreaking discoveries across all fields of research.

Developed by Intel, Aurora is capable of performing one quintillion calculations per second; it’s a true exascale system. The system continues the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility’s legacy of supercomputers, following Intrepid, Mira, Theta, and Polaris in enabling breakthroughs in science and engineering.

“Building a system like Aurora takes deep collaboration, precision, and a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in science and engineering,” said David Tuhy, Intel Vice President and Aurora engineering lead. “Benchmark brought deep technical expertise and a relentless focus on quality that helped bring this ambitious vision to life. Together, we’ve delivered a powerful tool for the U.S. scientific community, one that will accelerate discovery for years to come.”

Benchmark supported the project across multiple dimensions, including developing and implementing tests for the system’s liquid-cooled components and manufacturing system blades. With its robust U.S.-based advanced engineering and manufacturing network, Benchmark brought vital experience in complex computing hardware to the Aurora initiative.

“Benchmark is honored to have worked with Intel to build one of the fastest and most powerful supercomputers ever created,” said Jeff Benck, president and CEO, Benchmark. “Our dedicated team of computing experts has shown time and again that they can deliver under the most demanding conditions, and Aurora is a testament to that capability.”