What The Heck Is a “PetaFLOP?” Next Generation Super Computer On Its Way
Over two years ago, Apple Computer stunned the world with the introduction of its XServe G5 with 30 GigaFLOP Processor.
Researchers at Japan’s Institute of Physical and Chemical Research are developing a machine that will leave it in the dust.
The MDGRAPE-3, aka. the “Protein Explorer,” will be able to perform calculations at the rate of one “petafFLOP,” or over one quadrillion FLOating Point operations per second. This number is equivalent to 250, or 1,125,899,906,842,624. This computer will be used to perform simulations of molecular dynamics and non-bonding interactions between atoms. The entire system consist of 24 of the Institute’s LSI chips, connected to a total of 101 parallel servers – 64 of which are equipped with 256 Intel 5000 cores, and the remaining servers with 74 Xeon 3.2 GHz cores.
While this computer cannot presently be compared directly with other top supercomputers around the world, it’s theoretical top processing speed is at least three times that of the current #1, IBM’s “BlueGene.”
The system was presented to the public last Saturday at the Institute’s lab in Yokohama.
Via PinkTentacle
Over two years ago, Apple Computer stunned the world with the introduction of its XServe G5 with 30 GigaFLOP Processor.
Researchers at Japan’s Institute of Physical and Chemical Research are developing a machine that will leave it in the dust.
The MDGRAPE-3, aka. the “Protein Explorer,” will be able to perform calculations at the rate of one “petafFLOP,” or over one quadrillion FLOating Point operations per second. This number is equivalent to 250, or 1,125,899,906,842,624. This computer will be used to perform simulations of molecular dynamics and non-bonding interactions between atoms. The entire system consist of 24 of the Institute’s LSI chips, connected to a total of 101 parallel servers – 64 of which are equipped with 256 Intel 5000 cores, and the remaining servers with 74 Xeon 3.2 GHz cores.
While this computer cannot presently be compared directly with other top supercomputers around the world, it’s theoretical top processing speed is at least three times that of the current #1, IBM’s “BlueGene.”
The system was presented to the public last Saturday at the Institute’s lab in Yokohama.
Via PinkTentacle
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