Linux the FASTEST!

[Chriis]

A new supercomputer code-named "Roadrunner" is being touted as the world's fastest machine so far. Designed and built by IBM, this super computer, costing nearly $100 million, can operate at 1 petaflop per second, which is equivalent to one thousand trillion calculations per second.

This makes it twice as fast as the reigning "numero uno" aka IBM's Blue Gene system at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Again, Blue Gene is nearly three times faster than top contenders on the current 'top 500 supercomputers' list.

Additionally, "Roadrunner" is also billed to be the world's first hybrid supercomputer. Interestingly, it has been designed using components originally designed for video game platforms such as the Sony Playstation 3. "Roadrunner" operates on open-source Linux software, works in conjunction with x86 processors from AMD, and has 80 terabytes of memory.

Sorry Bill

[barbedsaber]

f@h

think about it, if it spent 1 or 2 hours on it, where would we be?
(yes I know that f@h is meant for distributed processing, but still...)

[Steveway]

Not like we did expect something different.
Linux is clearly one of the best options for supercomputers and of course for personal desktops (even though people tend to disagree with the last one.).

[NovaAesa]

80 terabytes of memory?!?!?! That's huge!!!

[rickyjones]

Linux is the fastest because it is running on the fastest supercomputer? I'd love to see comparative tests but the supercomputing market does not have Microsoft's eyes....

It makes me happy to know that Linux is running on it but come on, leave Microsoft alone in this regard. Mock Microsoft when they announce that their OS will be running on the next supercomputer, and then only if it fails to run on it.

This is definitely a good thing for open source software, showing how adaptable it is.

Sincerely,
Richard

[barbedsaber]

80TB of ram, hey, isn't that the recommendation for Vista?

[KingTermite]

Nothing new....Linux has been the platform of supercomputers for a few years already. This isn't the first.

[Npl]

Has more to do with all those Cell-Processors than the Operating system. If Roadrunner gets MSDOS running, it will still be the fastest computer in the world....

[Tom Mann]

I was going to mention that, Windows will never run on Roadrunner as Microsoft will not support PowerPC (hence Cell) processors.

[Npl]

I was going to mention that, Windows will never run on Roadrunner as Microsoft will not support PowerPC (hence Cell) processors.

There are a couple (thousands) dualcore AMD-CPUS that could run Windows easily. Cells are acting as accelerators and could be aswell doing so on top of Windows - thats a bit like saying I cant run Windows because I got a NVidia GPU and Windows aint running on that GPU.