What is Supercomputer? Quoting from Wikipedia, the definition of a supercomputer is a computer engine technology specifically designed for super fast processing capacity, particularly in speed of calculation and data processing. Then, what are the manufacturers that produce supercomputers? Used for what needs? What's the difference with a regular server? All will be detailed here.
XT5 Jaguar, as one of supercomputer products that made by Cray Inc. located in Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennesssee, occupying the top spot in the Top 500 list of world's fastest supercomputer. Velocity reaches 1.7 petaflops, meaning able to do 1.7 quadrillion computing operations per second. Meanwhile, China-made supercomputer Dawning nebulae, which is at the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen, China, clung under the Jaguar with 1.27 petaflops per second. In fact, no longer a newcomer from IBM named Sequoia is ready to rival both.
Hopefully, in 2011 IBM completed the Sequoia which has performed 20 times more super than the Roadrunner or
greater than 400,000 processors with 3 GHz CPU quadcore. How big is 20 petaflops? IBM analogizing "the calculations that calculated by Sequoia for one day, takes 1000 years and 6 billion people to count using calculator".
After knowing such an amazing performance, the question arises, what are the use of supercomputers? What are things supercomputer can do? One of the use of supercomputers is to research and knowledge. The example you can see is to simulate natural processes with computer control. With a supercomputer can be known how poison spreads in the soil and takes time until he breaks down. We can also calculate the magnetic currents in the earth's core, to simulate the formation of galaxies, showing what happens when a supernova, or how the effects of laser shots on a variety of materials (important for research and development of particle accelerators such as those used to treat tumors).
With a supercomputer, the effects of medicines innovation can also be studied without having to torture animals as experimental media. In fact, supercomputers are able to predict when the next earthquake will happen in the world and which areas are affected. And also, supercomputers now widely used in solving complex problems such as quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling, and simulation of physics experiments. All of the above problems require a fast and precise calculation so that the use o f supercomputer is appropriate when compared to using a regular computer (PC).
Supercomputers are very important for the study, explained by Klaus Wolkersdorfer, head of high-performance computer systems at the research center in Jülich, Germany. In addition to theory and experiment, supercomputers have been developed into the third pillar in the world of science.
IBM received a request to build the Sequoia from the National Nuclear Security Administration, a division of the U.S. Energy Ministry who wanted to know whether the storage of nuclear weapons with decades-old still can be used or can be a hazard that cannot be controlled.
Sequoia is also used for civilian purposes. Meteorologists and seismologists can make more precise prognosis, according to IBM in a press conference. In addition, the local weather forecast accuracy can be predicted up to 100 square feet. In fact, the prognosis of the earthquake and the safe evacuation routes can be calculated up to 50 times better than now. The researchers are able to estimate the effects of the earthquake in a city, even its effect on every building in the city.
Supercomputer in Jülich fully used for civilian purposes. Here, to be able to use the facility, researchers must sign a statement that the results of their research will be published. Conversely, what would be calculated by Sequoia in 2011 remain be a secret.
Another opinion expressed by Herbert Cornelius, Director, Advanced Computing Center at Intel EMEA. The emphasis of the effort actually covers the future of supercomputing technology, processors, interfaces, and new software.
At this time, the technology enables supercomputer simulations that were unimaginable a few years ago, said Cornelius. Various processes that apply fields of science are very different, now have a role. For example, the simulation of blood flows through the heart. In addition to chemical and biological reactions, such as the physical characteristics of blood flow behavior is also noteworthy. This certainly requires computational operations, Cornelius affirmed.
Supracomputer: In the next 10 years reach exaflops
Actually there are a number of instances in which supercomputers cannot calculate. One of them, have not been able to simulate the airflow around the aircraft as a whole. In order to achieve definitive results, the model grid plane should be very smooth. We need to make curved area of straight polygons. The more detailed the model, the more complicated the calculation. Therefore, the aircraft constructor always just calculates the flow characteristics of the component. Flow simulations carried out two to three times per day. Thus, the engineers will quickly get a result and continue their work, said Cornelius.
Supercomputer technology and innovation will continue. I estimate that 10 years later will present a supercomputer that can penetrate the boundary Exaflops. However, I do not know exactly whether a nuclear plant is able to supply the electricity to a computing center like that, because the size of the supercomputer will be as big as a city and will be a huge mega projects, said the Cornelius when closed the conversation.
Source: www.chip.co.id and top500.org.
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