Supercomputing in China - Progress

Progress

Comparison (November 2012)
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

Famous quotes containing the word progress:

    Social and scientific progress are assured, sir, once our great system of postpossession payments is in operation, not the installment plan, no sir, but a system of small postpossession payments that clinch the investment. No possible rational human wish unfulfilled. A man with a salary of fifty dollars a week can start payments on a Rolls-Royce, the Waldorf-Astoria, or a troupe of trained seals if he so desires.
    John Dos Passos (1896–1970)

    If any proof were needed of the progress of the cause for which I have worked, it is here tonight. The presence on the stage of these college women, and in the audience of all those college girls who will some day be the nation’s greatest strength, will tell their own story to the world.
    Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)

    pity this busy monster, manunkind,

    not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
    —E.E. (Edward Estlin)