Around the world, supercomputers tend to run on one of several processor brands: Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA, the latter typically used for Deep Learning and machine learning applications. However, you may be surprised to learn that the world’s most powerful supercomputer run entirely on ARM-based processors.
You might also be surprised to learn that the world’s most powerful supercomputer is located within Japan at the RIKEN Centre for Computational Science. At the heart of the supercomputer is a 48-core A64FX SoC supplied by the Japanese brand, Fujitsu. Specifically, 158976 of them, capable of outputting 415.5 petaflops of data with a peak performance of an exaflop. Further, the system doesn’t seem to contain any sort of dedicated GPU that would otherwise help it process AI-based applications.
As you can imagine, the Fugaku supercomputer wasn’t cheap to built, neither was it quick. Upon completion, the system’s cost was more than US$1 billion (~RM4.28 billion) and took more than six years of design and assembly. As to what it’s currently being used for, researchers with access to the system are reportedly using it to help in their research around the current coronavirus.
(Source: Engadget // Image: Nikkei)
