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Japanese Supercomputer Now No. 1 in World

Japan knocks China out of top spot

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 20, 2011 8:21 AM CDT

(Newser) – Japan is at the top of the computer heap for the first time in seven years, now that Fujitsu Co.’s supercomputer has bested that of a Chinese competitor. The “K Computer,” funded by the Japanese government, is the best-performing machine in the world, capable of handling more than 8 quadrillion (that's 8,000 trillion) calculations per second. Once completed next year, it will be able to perform 10 quadrillion calculations per second, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Fujitsu says the K Computer has so much computing muscle that it can now run a simulation of how a beating human heart responds to new medicine in two days, down from two years. It is more powerful than the next five systems on the list combined, easily besting China’s National University of Defense Technology supercomputer, which now holds the No. 2 spot. China and Japan each have one other machine in the top 10 and France has one. The other five spots, including the No. 3 spot, are held by the US.

Japan's national institute Riken president shakes hands with Fujitsu chairman as they announced that their joint development 'K Computer' became the world's fastest supercomputer on June 20, 2011.
Japan's national institute Riken president shakes hands with Fujitsu chairman as they announced that their joint development 'K Computer' became the world's fastest supercomputer on June 20, 2011.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
hopeandchange
Jun 20, 2011 7:18 PM CDT
This is really not that big a deal.  With the new multi core, multi threading processors and the custom Linux code to make it all happen, anyone with the money and space can do this.  You just keep adding processors until you run out of money.  Also, I would fully expect the US DOD has several that match or beat this but they are classified to run Nuclear Weapons simulations. For all practical purposes, this is a nothing article.
passinthru
Jun 20, 2011 7:09 PM CDT
now if only they could fix that pesky reactor...
guvner
Jun 20, 2011 1:40 PM CDT
Temporarily, until 'industrious' China steals the specs.

 
China • Japan • computer • supercomputer

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