A supercomputer is an extremely fast data processing oriented computer, that performs at, or near currently highest operational rates for computers. These computers are also called high performance computers because of their capability to execute the problem is in the billions of floating point operations. Supercomputers are used to solve the complex computational problems, and it processes hundreds of millions of calculations per second.
Supercomputers are the largest, fastest and the powerful and then most expensive computers made. Like other systems, supercomputers can be accessed by many individuals at the same. Supercomputers are used primarily for scientific applications that are mathematically intensive. These computers plays an important role in the field of computer science.
ARRIVAL DATE:
Supercomputers were first introduced in the 1960s and for several decades the fastest were made by Seymour Cray at Control Data Cooperation, Cray Research and subsequent companies bearing his name or Monogram.
USES OF SUPERCOMPUTERS:
The common applications for supercomputers includes:
- Weather/ Climate forecasting.
- Analysis for data and information.
- Astronomical observation.
- Integrate design for engineering products.
- For solving large input scientific calculations and advanced scientific problems.
- Nuclear weapons and Reactors.
FEATURES:
Supercomputers have certain distinguishing and great features. Unlike conventional computers, they usually have more than one CPU, which contains circuits for interpreting program instructions and executing arithmetic and logic operations in proper sequence. The use of several CPUs to achieve high computational rates is necessitated by the physical limits of circuits technology. Innovation in cooling techniques supercomputer systems, processor and memory circuits are immersed in cryogenic fluid to achieve the low temperatures at which they operate faster.
Read more: What Is The Internet Of Behaviour (Iob) And Why Is It The Future?
Rapid retrieval of stored data and instructions is required to support the extremely high computational speed of CPUs. Many of the supercomputers have very large storage capacity.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Number of CPU Cores: 23,392(28 cores/ nodes)
- Cores Per Node: 28 cores/ node(48 cores/ node/ node for huge Mem nodes)
- Local Disk Space Per Node: 1500 GB in/tmp
- Computer CPU Specifications: Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4 for compute 2.4 GHz 14 cores per processor.
ADVANTAGES OF SUPERCOMPUTER:
1- Cost Effective
2- Security
3-Complex Tasks
4- Environmental Friendly
5- Speed
DISADVANTAGES OF SUPERCOMPUTER:
1- Physical Size
2- Maintenance
3- Storage
4- Heat Release
5- Power Consumption
PRICE/ COST:
In the market for a top of the Line is supercomputer. Aside from the $6 to $7 million in annual energy costs, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 million to $250 million for design and assembly not to mention the maintenance costs.
SOME SUPERCOMPUTERS:
Summit, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Sierra, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Sunway TaihuLight, National Supercomputing Center.
Tianhe-2A China.
Trinty Los Alamos National Laboratory USA.
UPCOMING SUPERCOMPUTERS:
The EXASCALE Computing Project (ECP) hopes to build an EXASCALE computer by 2021. On March 2019, The United States Department Of Energy and Intel announced The First EXAFLOPS Supercomputer would be operational at Argonne National Laboratory by the end of 2021.
Image source
