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NEC Unveils SX9, The World's Fastest Vector Supercomputer839 TFLOPS of computing power |
By Alex Vochin, Technology Editor
26th of October 2007, 14:56 GMT
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Supercomputers are among the most fascinating machines ever built, as they are capable of carrying out extremely complex computations and computing operations used in a wide array of scientific applications. And the latest such extreme machine comes from the NEC Corporation, which has just announced the development of the SX9, a machine the company touts to be the world's fastest vector supercomputer, being able to attain a maximum computing power of around 839 TFLOPS.
The key to all this computing power is the fact that the SX-9 features the world's first CPU capable of a peak vector performance of 102.4 GFLOPS per single core.
Moreover, since a single node can incorporate up to 16 CPU, computing performances in excess of 1.6TFLOPS can be achieved.
In addition to the newly developed CPU, the SX-9 combines large-scale shared memory of up to 1TB and ultra high-speed interconnects achieving speeds up to 128GB/second. Through these enhanced features, the SX-9 closes in on the PFLOPS range by realizing a processing performance of 839 TFLOPS. The SX-9 also achieves an approximate three-quarter reduction in space and power consumption over conventional models. This was achieved by applying advanced LSI design and high-density packaging technology.
But why is this thing such a major development? Well, one reason is that, in comparison to scalar servers incorporating multiple general-purpose CPUs, the vector supercomputer offers superior operating performance for high-speed scientific computation and ultra high-speed processing of large-volume data. This computing monster will thus bring an extra-level of effectiveness in fields such as weather forecasting, fluid dynamics and environmental simulation, as well as simulations for as-yet-unknown materials in nanotechnology and polymeric design.
Quite obviously, such a supercomputer requires a suitable operating system in order to function at full-capacity, and this is the reason why the SX-9 is loaded with SUPER-UX, the basic software compliant with the UNIX System V operating system that can extract maximum performance from the SX series. SUPER-UX is equipped with flexible functions that can deliver more effective operational management compatible with large-scale multiple node systems.
"NEC's vector supercomputers are being utilized in a wide array of fields, including advanced weather forecasting, aerospace, the environment and fluid dynamics, and have won praise from international and domestic universities and research organizations, as well as private corporations, for their high sustained performance and price competitiveness," said Mr. Yoshikazu Maruyama, Senior Vice President and Member of the Board at NEC Corporation. "The SX-9 has been developed to meet the need for ultra-fast simulations of advanced and complex large-capacity scientific computing."
NEC's SX9 supercomputer is yet to receive a price tag (which will, undoubtedly, be quite a hefty one), but it will be demonstrated at several shows around the world before the company starts taking orders.
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