SUPERCOMPUTERS: Scratch One Supergenius

For most of its 15-year history, Cray Research of Minneapolis has dominated the market for supercomputers, those $15 million, lightning number crunchers used for everything from the search for oil deposits to the design of nuclear weapons. The company has boasted two star computer engineers: Founder Seymour Cray, 62, and Steve Chen, 43, the Chinese-born immigrant who designed the Cray X-MP, the company's best-selling machine. Last weeksupercomputerdom's best and brightest duo decided to split up. In a move that shocked the investment community -- and sent Cray's stock tumbling 8 1/2 points in a single day -- the company announced the cancellation of its most advanced supercomputer project and the impending resignation of Project Manager Chen. According to the company, Chen's plans to build a machine ten times as powerful as any existing today had grown wildly over budget. Estimated cost of completion: $100 million. Chen is reportedly planning to pursue his ideas on his own.