Progress
| Country | Top speed (Tflops) |
Number of computers in TOP500 |
|---|---|---|
| China | 33860 | 61 |
| France | 1050 | 25 |
| Germany | 826 | 30 |
| Japan | 10510 | 26 |
| Russia | 350 | 12 |
| South Korea | 316 | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 275 | 27 |
| United States | 17590 | 255 |
The progress of supercomputing in China in the early part of the 21st century has been dramatic, in that it placed 51st in June 2003, then 14th in November 2003 and 10th in June 2004 and then 5th during 2005. By mid-2010 it had reached the 2nd spot and at the end of 2010 the top spot.
To date, Chinese supercomputers have used "off the shelf" processors, e.g. Tianhe-1 uses thousands of Intel and Nvidia chips, and uses the Linux operating system which is open source software. However, to avoid possible future technology embargo restrictions, the Chinese are developing their own processors such as the Loongson, a MIPS type processor.
According to the MIT Technology Review, the Loongson processor will power the Dawning supercomputers by 2012, producing a line of totally Chinese made supercomputers that reach petaflop speeds.
Read more about this topic: Supercomputing In China
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“Consider the China pride and stagnant self-complacency of mankind. This generation inclines a little to congratulate itself on being the last of an illustrious line; and in Boston and London and Paris and Rome, thinking of its long descent, it speaks of its progress in art and science and literature with satisfaction.... It is the good Adam contemplating his own virtue.”
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“pity this busy monster, manunkind,
not. Progress is a comfortable disease:”
—E.E. (Edward Estlin)