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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."

6 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. UK commitment to science by BWJones · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have really been impressed with the level of commitment to science, research and education outside of the US right now and efforts like HECToR only consolidate that impression. While we here in the US have essentially dropped the ball on education and science funding for the past oh, six or seven years, the rest of the world is really stepping up. Of course I have mixed feelings about this as I am a US citizen who works in science and education, but it is also good to see other countries stepping up. For instance, a few months ago, I visited the University of Leicester and was truly impressed with the focus and quality of the research going on in the UK. Their commitment to bioscience funding is something that the US government should be very careful about as we stand to lose some valuable talent overseas if we are not careful...

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    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 good enough by damburger · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The UK GDP is 5th in the world (nominal) or 6th in the world (purchasing power parity). If our best supercomputer is coming in at 17th, we aren't spending enough on research.

    Not to belittle this project, of course, building the worlds 17th fastest supercomputer is an achievement in anyone's book - but it is a sign of where the UK government is weak.

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    1. Re:17th isn't good enough by AvitarX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wouldn't it make sense to compare total computing power to GDP, or at the least total scientific computing power?

      I would doubt for example you would have the same complaint if the UK had the 17-100 spots on the list.

      It could very well be that the UK is spending a lot more on research, but does not like to spend it on large super computersm or even spends it partnering with facilities in other countries.

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  3. 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'.

  4. Cray XT4 Supercomputer by icehawk55 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article really didn't say much about HECToR itself. It's a 60 cabinet Cray XT4 system that currently has over 5500 AMD dual core processors. We'll be upgrading it in stages over the next couple of years to over 250 Teraflops. Including some cabinets of the new Black Widow Vector product, now called the Cray X2 system. The Cray team, myself part of it, is actually a multinational effort. I'm a US citizen who is headed over to maintain the system, we have a Brit on the team and the third is also from outside the UK. It's an interesting situation. The biggest UK system, being maintained by two expats and a local. (-: ice_hawk55