Japanese K computer now fastest in the world
Baku, June 21 (AZERTAC). According to The New York Times, the computer, called “K” is three times faster than the next fastest computer, a Chinese computer, Tianhe-1A, that previously held the highest spot.
K, built by Fujitsu, can make 8.2 quadrillion calculations each second. “K” stands for “Kei,” meaning 10 quadrillion, or the number of calculations per second researchers hope K will one day be able to perform per second. K`s abilities are the equivalent of linking one million desktop computers.
K is made out of 672 computer racks, with 68,544 computer processing units (CPUs) but the lab plans to raise that number to 800 racks, a move that will make the machine even speedier and more powerful.
The goal of the Fujitsu K Supercomputer is actually to reach a whopping of 10 petaflops by the year of 2012. Although it currently has not reached that threshold yet but its power is more than the next five supercomputers combined.
It requires electricity sufficient to power 10,000 homes for a full year and is capable of pumping out at 8.2 quadrillion calculations per second, a speed that is three times faster than the Tianhe-1A`s.
The Fujitsu K Supercomputer is the first time a Japanese supercomputer that tops the Top500.org`s rankings since 2004. It packs a massive, 68,544 CPUs and records a world`s top performance at 8.162 petaflops. But they won`t stop there, they will always strive to add more “cores” to this supercomputer to make it to always stay at the top. The next aim is to add about 100,000 cores to the K.
Scientists expect that the computer will be used in fields including climate research and disaster prevention, as well as medicine. The machine is scheduled for deployment in 2012.
“Bringing together hundreds of thousands of components to quickly launch such a massive-scale computing system-which would have been nearly impossible using conventional technologies-requires an incredible level of reliability”, wrote Michiyoshi Mazuka, Chairman of Fujitsu Limited in a press release. "I believe that this reliability is truly the pinnacle of Japanese manufacturing."
The U.S. has five of the world`s ten most powerful computers, with a computer in Oak Ridge, Tennessee coming in third on the overall list.
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