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THE latest TOP500 supercomputer list was released during the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC) last November in Portland, Oregon of the United States. This list ranks and details the 500 (non-distributed) most powerful computer systems in the world. Tianhe-1, China’s fastest supercomputer, came in fifth, a record ranking amid Asian countries. The Tianhe’s peak performance reaches up to 1.206 Petaflops, and it runs at 563.1 Teraflops (1,000 TFLOP equal one PFLOP) on the Linpack benchmark, an internationally recognized method to measure a supercomputer’s real performance in practical use based on a system’s floating-point computational power.
A single-day’s task load for Tianhe-1 might take a mainstream dual-core personal computer 160 years to complete, working non-stop – if it could even hold up that long. In terms of memory capacity, Tianhe-1 is equivalent to four national libraries, each with a storage capacity of 27 million volumes.
Tianhe-1 Backstory
A supercomputer consists of hundreds or even thousands of processors, which enable it to perform tasks of a size or complexity that no other single computer can. It is known for being the most capable and efficient with the largest memory capacity in the computer family.
The Petaflop used to be the benchmark for the process of improving the calculating speed of a supercomputer. The United States, for example, initiated a project for developing the Petaflop ability as early as the 1990s, but was unable to achieve it until 2007. As of November 2009 the fastest supercomputer in the world is the Cray XT5 Jaguar system based at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. with an experimental performance of 1.759 Petaflops and peak performance that reaches 2.331 Petaflops.
Tianhe-1, successfully went into operation in October 2009, allowing China to become the second country with the capacity to produce a Petacomputer. The system cost around RMB 600 million to build, and was jointly financed by the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) and the Tianjin Binhai New Area, a major economic development zone centered in the northern port city of Tianjin.
Compared to its counterparts in foreign countries, Tianhe-1 features a state-of-the-art combination of CPU and GPU. GPU, aka graphic processing unit, is an accelerator that helps the computer run faster. Normally, however, only 20 percent of its capacity can be developed. Tianhe-1 increased its efficiency to 70 percent. Overseas GPU producers, impressed by the machine’s achievements, clamored to cooperate with the Tianhe-1 researchers.
Zhou Xingming, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), introduced a user-friendly interface and menu, along with full mouse control in order to create a more ergonomic operating experience. More importantly, Tianhe-1, as a standardized supercomputer, is entirely compatible with most applications across all fields.
For the development of such technology, secrecy is always a concern. The data and production information of different users are strictly separated; even the system’s administrator does not have full access. In other words, users can only gain access to their own data, somewhat like renting a safety deposit box in a bank.
Tianhe-1 will be transported to its new home in Tianjin Binhai New Area by the end of 2010. The 155-ton system, with 103 refrigerator-like cabinets, will fill an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. It is expected to perform the tasks of processing seismic data for petroleum exploration, conducting bio-pharmaceutical computing as well as aiding in the design of aerospace vehicles.
From Yinhe-1 to Tianhe-1
In 1983 the NUDT successfully developed Yinhe-1, China’s first-generation supercomputer with a speed of 100 million operations per second. China became the third nation to develop a supercomputer, following the U.S. and Japan. Restricted by technical conditions, every solder joint in its circuit boards had to be welded by hand; hundreds of thousands of electric wires were connected by hand as well, which had to be repeatedly checked for security concerns.
Following Yinhe-1, Shuguang-4000A made the list of the world Top 10 supercomputers in 2004, a milestone in the history of China’s supercomputer development. In June 2008 Shuguang-5000A again ranked among the Top 10. This feat garnered praise from the New York Times, which touted China’s entrance into the top levels of the global high-performance computer industry.
A widely accepted point of view was that it was a qualitative change for a supercomputer to increase its calculating speed from 100 Teraflops to a Petaflop. It could not be realized by merely expanding scale but needed improvments in overall systematic construction. Therefore, Tianhe-1 proves to be a great leap forward in technological innovation.
Preliminary research and development plans were set forth in 2005, and engineering blueprints began in 2008. The R & D team was made up of over 200 researchers, most of whom held doctorate degrees. The average age of core members was only 36. “None of them had a full weekend off or a vacation during the four years of development,” said Li Nan, chief coordinator of the program. Researchers worked in three shifts a day and the research center was brightly lit all year long. For the eight-day National Day holiday in 2009, they were given only one day off – to watch the National Day parade and boost team morale.
In the sphere of the world’s TOP500 fastest supercomputers, the United States alone has produced 277, Europe has brought forth 153 and China only 21, the November World Top 500 List said. It is indeed a big gap, and Li Nan thought it was time for China to catch up.
Thus far, all supercomputers developed in China, including Tianhe-1, have been built without the use of independently developed CPUs. But it is reported that the Shuguang-6000, expected to go into operation in 2010, will be installed with China-made Loongson CPUs, with complete domestic independent intellectual property rights.
Supercomputers and Life
How far removed is the supercomputer from our daily lives? Many people see it as something that only animates the realm of scientists and engineers, never really impacting the rest of us.
For online game players, it is the supercomputer that makes possible the thousands of millions of users that access a single website. The World of Warcraft, for example, has as many as 400,000 players online at any given moment.
Supercomputers have made countless contributions to biomedicine. Normally, it takes about 10 to 15 years to develop a new medicine from compound filtration to clinical testing. The supercomputer can help scientists isolate the proper amounts from millions of compounds in a comparatively short period, bringing closer the identification of cures to stubborn diseases like cancer or AIDS.
Brokerage houses require these high-speed computing systems, as a delay of 0.01 second would result in radical changes. The daily turnover of the world’s brokerage houses reaches more than US $400 billion; with every second seeing around US $180 million change hands. Only supercomputers can guarantee these transactions will run smoothly.
The term supercomputer itself is rather fluid, and today’s supercomputer tends to become tomorrow’s ordinary computer. Dou Wenhua, professor with the NUDT, said the current supporting technology is semiconductor technology, while in the future it will utilize nanometer or quantum-computing technology.
When quantum computer is developed, everyone will be able to have his or her very own portable supercomputer.
A single-day’s task load for Tianhe-1 might take a mainstream dual-core personal computer 160 years to complete, working non-stop – if it could even hold up that long. In terms of memory capacity, Tianhe-1 is equivalent to four national libraries, each with a storage capacity of 27 million volumes.
Tianhe-1 Backstory
A supercomputer consists of hundreds or even thousands of processors, which enable it to perform tasks of a size or complexity that no other single computer can. It is known for being the most capable and efficient with the largest memory capacity in the computer family.
The Petaflop used to be the benchmark for the process of improving the calculating speed of a supercomputer. The United States, for example, initiated a project for developing the Petaflop ability as early as the 1990s, but was unable to achieve it until 2007. As of November 2009 the fastest supercomputer in the world is the Cray XT5 Jaguar system based at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. with an experimental performance of 1.759 Petaflops and peak performance that reaches 2.331 Petaflops.
Tianhe-1, successfully went into operation in October 2009, allowing China to become the second country with the capacity to produce a Petacomputer. The system cost around RMB 600 million to build, and was jointly financed by the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) and the Tianjin Binhai New Area, a major economic development zone centered in the northern port city of Tianjin.
Compared to its counterparts in foreign countries, Tianhe-1 features a state-of-the-art combination of CPU and GPU. GPU, aka graphic processing unit, is an accelerator that helps the computer run faster. Normally, however, only 20 percent of its capacity can be developed. Tianhe-1 increased its efficiency to 70 percent. Overseas GPU producers, impressed by the machine’s achievements, clamored to cooperate with the Tianhe-1 researchers.
Zhou Xingming, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), introduced a user-friendly interface and menu, along with full mouse control in order to create a more ergonomic operating experience. More importantly, Tianhe-1, as a standardized supercomputer, is entirely compatible with most applications across all fields.
For the development of such technology, secrecy is always a concern. The data and production information of different users are strictly separated; even the system’s administrator does not have full access. In other words, users can only gain access to their own data, somewhat like renting a safety deposit box in a bank.
Tianhe-1 will be transported to its new home in Tianjin Binhai New Area by the end of 2010. The 155-ton system, with 103 refrigerator-like cabinets, will fill an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. It is expected to perform the tasks of processing seismic data for petroleum exploration, conducting bio-pharmaceutical computing as well as aiding in the design of aerospace vehicles.
From Yinhe-1 to Tianhe-1
In 1983 the NUDT successfully developed Yinhe-1, China’s first-generation supercomputer with a speed of 100 million operations per second. China became the third nation to develop a supercomputer, following the U.S. and Japan. Restricted by technical conditions, every solder joint in its circuit boards had to be welded by hand; hundreds of thousands of electric wires were connected by hand as well, which had to be repeatedly checked for security concerns.
Following Yinhe-1, Shuguang-4000A made the list of the world Top 10 supercomputers in 2004, a milestone in the history of China’s supercomputer development. In June 2008 Shuguang-5000A again ranked among the Top 10. This feat garnered praise from the New York Times, which touted China’s entrance into the top levels of the global high-performance computer industry.
A widely accepted point of view was that it was a qualitative change for a supercomputer to increase its calculating speed from 100 Teraflops to a Petaflop. It could not be realized by merely expanding scale but needed improvments in overall systematic construction. Therefore, Tianhe-1 proves to be a great leap forward in technological innovation.
Preliminary research and development plans were set forth in 2005, and engineering blueprints began in 2008. The R & D team was made up of over 200 researchers, most of whom held doctorate degrees. The average age of core members was only 36. “None of them had a full weekend off or a vacation during the four years of development,” said Li Nan, chief coordinator of the program. Researchers worked in three shifts a day and the research center was brightly lit all year long. For the eight-day National Day holiday in 2009, they were given only one day off – to watch the National Day parade and boost team morale.
In the sphere of the world’s TOP500 fastest supercomputers, the United States alone has produced 277, Europe has brought forth 153 and China only 21, the November World Top 500 List said. It is indeed a big gap, and Li Nan thought it was time for China to catch up.
Thus far, all supercomputers developed in China, including Tianhe-1, have been built without the use of independently developed CPUs. But it is reported that the Shuguang-6000, expected to go into operation in 2010, will be installed with China-made Loongson CPUs, with complete domestic independent intellectual property rights.
Supercomputers and Life
How far removed is the supercomputer from our daily lives? Many people see it as something that only animates the realm of scientists and engineers, never really impacting the rest of us.
For online game players, it is the supercomputer that makes possible the thousands of millions of users that access a single website. The World of Warcraft, for example, has as many as 400,000 players online at any given moment.
Supercomputers have made countless contributions to biomedicine. Normally, it takes about 10 to 15 years to develop a new medicine from compound filtration to clinical testing. The supercomputer can help scientists isolate the proper amounts from millions of compounds in a comparatively short period, bringing closer the identification of cures to stubborn diseases like cancer or AIDS.
Brokerage houses require these high-speed computing systems, as a delay of 0.01 second would result in radical changes. The daily turnover of the world’s brokerage houses reaches more than US $400 billion; with every second seeing around US $180 million change hands. Only supercomputers can guarantee these transactions will run smoothly.
The term supercomputer itself is rather fluid, and today’s supercomputer tends to become tomorrow’s ordinary computer. Dou Wenhua, professor with the NUDT, said the current supporting technology is semiconductor technology, while in the future it will utilize nanometer or quantum-computing technology.
When quantum computer is developed, everyone will be able to have his or her very own portable supercomputer.