Delta is a computing and data resource funded by the National Science Foundation through its Advanced Computing Systems and Services (ACSS) program, offering computing and data resources that enable GPU-accelerated computing with access to CPU resources and storage.
⚠ For all Delta Allocation Opportunities, Allocation awards will focus primarily on GPU applications, but would not preclude a CPU-only allocation.
Delta offers two allocatable resources:
- Delta CPU Core hours for use on the CPU nodes.
- Delta GPU A100 GPU hours for use on any of Delta’s GPU node types including Nvidia A100, A40 and H200 GPU node types as well as the AMD MI100 GPU node type – GPU charge rate will be based on relative cost of GPU used.
Allocations are awarded to Delta through the following methods:
ACCESS
The majority of Delta is allocated through ACCESS and is the preferred path to getting compute time on Delta. ACCESS offers four allocation opportunities beginning with an entry level requiring only a project description.
The lower three opportunities of Explore, Discover and Accelerate are open and processed continuously for fast turnaround. The Explore opportunity accepts requests submitted by Graduate Students with a faculty or staff co-PI. The Maximize opportunity is open twice a year.
ACCESS awards are suitable for:
- General research allocations
- Educational allocations
- Startup allocations
- Campus Champion allocations
NAIRR Pilot
A portion of Delta’s GPU resource is allocated through the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot program. The NAIRR Pilot offers an opportunity for artificial intelligence and machine learning projects to obtain computational resources necessary for advancing AI and ML research. NAIRR Pilot requests for resources are reviewed on a continual basis.
Learn more about the NAIRR Pilot program, allocations and resources >
Illinois
A portion of the Delta system is also available to Illinois researchers – primarily to fill needs not met by the ACCESS program. Researchers should apply to ACCESS first, as it makes small awards easily available and can scale out to much larger awards than the Illinois program can support.
- Allocations may be requested for proof-of-concept cases or strategic campus collaborations on a first-come first-served basis at the Delta Discretionary request page.
- Delta Discretionary Requests
- In the Delta Discretionary request, please include information about why your project is not suitable for an ACCESS request.
- Request an NCSA Account
- An NCSA account is required to access the Delta Discretionary request page. Please allow up to 24 hours for account creation once requested.
- Delta Discretionary Requests
For Delta allocation inquiries, please contact help@ncsa.illinois.edu.
Other Illinois Opportunities
Allocations for Innovative/Exploratory, Outreach, Science Gateways, and Data Science areas are also available.
To inquire about other Delta allocations, please contact help@ncsa.illinois.edu.