US Regains Supercomputer Crown

IBM's Sequoia has taken the tip mark on the list of the world's fastest supercomputers is to US.

The newly commissioned network trumped Japan's K Computer done by Fujitsu that fell to second place.

It is the initial time the US can affirm stick location given it was battered by China two years ago.

Sequoia will be used to bring out simulations to help expand the life of aging chief weapons, avoiding the need for real-world subterraneous tests.

It is commissioned at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

"While Sequoia may be the fastest, the underlying computing capabilities it provides give us increased certainty in the nation's chief deterrent," mentioned National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) director Thomas D'Agostino.

"Sequoia moreover represents one after another American care in high opening computing."

The P.C. is able of working out in one hour what instead would take 6.7 billion people using palm calculators 320 years to total if they worked non-stop.

Although the US's efforts helped secure it the lead, its on the whole itemize of 3 computers in the tip 10 was worse than 6 months ago when it had five.

China and Germany both have two supercomputers, whilst Japan, France and Italy have one.

But IBM valid to be the heading producer claiming 5 out of the tip 10 spots.

David Turek, clamp boss of low computing at the firm, told the BBC his firm had been scheming to retake the tip mark for two years.

"Substantial formulation went in to this. We knew the day would come."

Sequoia is 1.55 times faster than the Fujitsu model, and uses over 1.5 million processors.

In more aged the Japanese model has reduction than half the number of CPUs (central estimate units).

The IBM supercomputer is moreover more appetite effective than the Fujitsu model.

Sequoia consumes 7.9 megawatts compared to the K P.C. that uses 12.6 megawatts.

Mr Turek described Sequoia as the "pinnacle of appetite efficiency" and mentioned the greeting had been "very enthusiastic."

"Government laboratories in Europe have already voiced interest," he said.

The list is published every 6 months by German Professor Hans Meuer and US-based Professor Jack Dongarra.

Prof Dongarra told the BBC it was doubtful that another producer would pull ahead of IBM in the next year.

"Sequoia is really impressive," he said.

The initial P.C. to take the tip location on the list was the CM-5/1024 in 1993, written by Thinking Machines.

According to Prof Dongarra, Sequoia is 273,930 times faster.

"A computation that took 3 full days to discriminate on the Thinking Machines in 1993 currently may be done in reduction than one second on the Sequoia," he said.