Iran Builds Supercomputer From Banned AMD Parts

Stony Stevenson writes with the news that, despite a ban on US PC hardware, Iranian techs have built an enormously powerful supercomputer from 216 AMD processors. The Linux-cluster machine has a 'theoretical peak performance of 860 gig-flops'. "The disclosure, made in an undated posting on [the University of] Amirkabir's Web site, brought an immediate response Monday from AMD, which said it has never authorized shipments of products either directly or indirectly to Iran or any other embargoed country."

Comments

Re:I am encouraged by this

[gardyloo]

This tells me that there are university professors and students who are passionate about hi-tech. That passion is a productive alternative to the other model we have of Iran as a bunch of wild eyed fundamentalists who want to bomb the world back to the 8th century. Perhaps this competing force of moderation in Iran will grow its influence through hi tech and universities. Interesting. Substitute "United States" for "Iran", and see how things change...

Re:They are the Boogeymen!

[immovable_object]

Boy, you are naive. What are supercomputers used for in the DOD? Nuclear weapon simulations. By simulating the nuclear weapon, you can test your designs without needing to (re)build a bunch of bombs.

If Iran builds a nuclear weapon, the entire middle east landscape changes. Iran can now threaten Saudi Arabia, Israel and others with the use of nuclear weapons. It takes them from a bunch-of-religious-radicals with guns to a bunch-of-religious-radicals with a nuclear bomb.

It then turns from a discussion of equals in the middle east to a discussion of nuclear powers (Israel and Iran) and everybody else.