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Self-wiring Supercomputer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the but-what-will-wirers-do-for-a-living dept.

redcone writes "New Scientist is reporting on an experimental supercomputer made from Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) that can reconfigure itself to tackle different software problems. It is being built by researchers in Scotland. The Edinburgh system will be up to 100 times more energy efficient than a conventional supercomputer of equivalent computing power. The 64-node FPGA machine will also need only as much space as four conventional PCs, while a normal 1 teraflop supercomputer would fill a room. Disclaimer: At this point in time, the software needed to run it, which is the key to the project, is vaporware. "

17 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. OK, everybody. by Scoria · · Score: 3, Funny

    From this point forward, no Terminator references will be permitted. ;-)

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    1. Re:OK, everybody. by Strange+Ranger · · Score: 2, Funny

      From this point forward, no Terminator references will be permitted. ;-)

      Ok but... I'll be back.

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    2. Re:OK, everybody. by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 2, Funny

      From this point forward, no Terminator references will be permitted. ;-)

      No problemo. B-)

  2. Being Built by NETHED · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, if its being built, then they MUST have some sort of plan. Its not like we're in the tech bubble again.

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  3. Eventually..... by DoraLives · · Score: 4, Funny

    these things will be a sort of pinkish grey with a funny convoluted surface appearance, weigh a few pounds, and float in tanks of clear liquid.

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    1. Re:Eventually..... by Dr.+Weird · · Score: 3, Funny

      And as a result give consistently unreliable, biased answers for even the simplest of numeric tasks. I love progress.

  4. They must be waiting for... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Longhorn to be released.

  5. Awake me when it becomes self-aware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    And just before it starts sending people to the past

  6. Mmmmmmm... by 10000000000000000000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    field programmable gatorade...

  7. Colossus: The Forbin Project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    First response from new supercomputer was to request all residents of Crete be relocated for some reason.

  8. Nup by Mattygfunk1 · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... is vaporware.

    It's not vaporware until it doesn't arrive ;)

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  9. Skywhatnow by FidelCatsro · · Score: 2, Funny

    This sounds like Skynet , a self wiring supercomputer that will go on to dominate the world ..
    Please everyone go to the place and dump the thing in some molten metal before its too late... We dont want another awfull Terminator sequal

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    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  10. Vaporware? by Sensible+Clod · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't worry, just let the machine write its own software.

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  11. Obligatory... by amstrad · · Score: 3, Funny

    Has it already wired itself to imagine a Beowulf cluster of itself?

  12. Sounds like my current project by booyah · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have this killer project going, its all opensource.

    its called Duck Nuckem Tournement 2012. its multiplayer, will run on the phantom console, and is all opensource.

    ofcourse the project itself is vaporware as of the time of this writing....

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  13. Buffer overflows by antispam_ben · · Score: 2, Funny

    i wonder how buffer overflows will be handeled

    If it runs Microsoft software, they won't be.

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  14. Re:Important Question! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes, these days lots of people try to stuff finnish programmers into a variety of electronic devices...