I could see some sort of computational architecture optimized for matrix math that doesn't necessarily help for non-matrix operations. For instance, think back to the 70s and Floating Point Systems: A box you'd hang on your PDP-11 (or other computer) that does FFTs, and only FFTs. Made life a whole lot easier for applications like CAT scans, but didn't do much for generalized computational problems.
Jim Lux -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ivan M Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 7:49 AM To: Beowulf Mailing List Cc: Gerson Ferreira Junior; Matheus Viana; Daniel de A. M. M. Silvestre; Lucas Rodrigues; Marcel Nogueira d' Eurydice Subject: [Beowulf] K Computer built for speed, not use http://www.sciencemag.org/content/338/6103/26.full?rss=1 "Japan's K computer made headlines in June 2011 as the world's fastest supercomputer and again last November when it became the first computer to top 10 petaflops—or 10 quadrillion calculations per second—solving a benchmark mathematical problem. (...) And now, after a year of testing and software development, as the $1.4 billion K computer is put to work on real-world problems, some scientific users say it was too narrowly built for speed." Interesting claim. What kind of architecture structure would benefit Linpack and would hinder real-world applications? Cheers _________________________________________ Ivan S.P. Marin, PhD Postdoctoral Associate Département de géologie et de génie géologique Pavillon Adrien-Pouliot, local 3744 1065. ave de la Médecine Université Laval Québec (Québec) Canada G1V 0A6 418-656-2131 poste 7246 [email protected] _______________________________________________ Beowulf mailing list, [email protected] sponsored by Penguin Computing To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf _______________________________________________ Beowulf mailing list, [email protected] sponsored by Penguin Computing To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
