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The UK's Fastest Supercomputer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the hello-computer dept.

bmsleight writes "The Guardian has a story on the HECToR, The largest supercomputer in the UK — around five times more powerful than its predecessor, HPCx, which is also at the University of Edinburgh. It measures up well internationally, sitting at 17 in the top500.org list of the most powerful computers in the world."

8 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Re:UK commitment to science by oojimaflib · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, bioscientists at the university of Leicester have developed a new species of grass. It promises to be at least two times greener than comparable varieties in the US.

  2. 17th isn't bad by magarity · · Score: 5, Funny

    It measures up well internationally, sitting at 17
     
    The British don't mind being at any number as long as the best French *whatever* is lower ranked - 19 in the case of the latest supercomputer list. Although they might be a little out of sorts that Spain is above them at 13.
     
    Note: if you are British or have any British friends, the above is 'funny' or 'insightful', not 'flamebait' or 'troll'.

    1. Re:17th isn't bad by funkatron · · Score: 3, Funny

      Note: if you are British or have any British friends, the above is 'funny' or 'insightful', not 'flamebait' or 'troll'.

      Anyone that needs telling is clearly not British.

      --
      "Welcome to our world. We are the wasted youth. And we are the future too." Yes, I know these are stupid lyrics.
    2. Re:17th isn't bad by Dogtanian · · Score: 2, Funny

      The British don't mind being at any number as long as the best French *whatever* is lower ranked - 19 in the case of the latest supercomputer list. I'd say us Scots feel the same way about having the UK's fastest computer rather than the Sassenachs ;-)
      --
      "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  3. But does it know... by Billosaur · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...the answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything?

    --
    GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
  4. Re:UK commitment to science by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 1, Funny

    The University of Edinburgh has a long history of being at the cutting edge in computing. I worked there in 1972 at the School of Artificial Intelegence under Donald Michie and Robin Popplestone (well, I washed up the coffee cups!)

    Of course, if you ask a Scot, then most of the major technological advances of the 19th century were made north of the border and that proud heritage is alive and well today. Sassenachs may differ.

    --
    init 11 - for when you need that edge.
  5. Mod Points by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Imagine a beowulf cluster of these...!

  6. Re:Sweden's got #5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Swedish computer is used by the "top-secret" government spooks FRA, which basically has same functions as USA:s NSA.

    I think I have to start using a _real_ strong crypto now...