IBM claims new computer is now world's fastest

20 October 2004 News

IBM has announced that its Linux-based IBM BlueGene/L supercomputer has surpassed NEC's Earth Simulator in Japan to become the world's most powerful supercomputer. Using the industry-standard LINPACK benchmark, the BlueGene/L system attained a sustained performance of 36,01 Teraflops, eclipsing the three year old top mark of 35,86 Teraflops for the Japanese Earth Simulator in Yokohama, Japan, said IBM.

Designed as a new approach to cost-effective, ultra-powerful supercomputing, the BlueGene/L system is 1/100th the physical size (29,7 m² vs 3019,4 m²) and consumes 1/28th the power (216 kW vs 6000 kW) in comparison to the Japanese Earth Simulator, according to IBM.

The largest planned BlueGene/L machine, which is scheduled for delivery to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California in early 2005, will occupy 64 full racks, with a peak performance of 360 teraflops, said IBM. The accompanying illustration shows an artist's rendition of what BlueGene/L will then look like.

The Advanced Super Computing (ASC) Program of the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is a primary collaborator on the BlueGene project. LLNL is operated for the NNSA by the University of California.

For more information see www.llnl.gov/asci/platforms/bluegenel.

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