China has unveiled a new supercomputer, the Sunway SW26010 Pro, which is four times faster than its predecessor. The chip is based on a new architecture that is designed for high-performance computing (HPC) and is expected to be used for a wide range of applications, including scientific research, national security, and artificial intelligence.
The Sunway SW26010-Pro processor and supercomputers based on it first became known back in 2021, but only this year at a high-performance computing conference did the SC23 developer publicly demonstrate this chip and talk about its architecture. The maximum FP64 performance of each Sunway SW26010-Pro is 13.8 teraflops – for comparison, the 96-core AMD EPYC 9654 is about 5.4 teraflops. Sunway SW26010-Pro is based on a completely new proprietary RISC architecture – it includes six core groups (CG) and a Protocol Processing Unit (PPU). Each CG cluster combines 64 computing cores (Compute Processing Elements – CPE) with a 512-bit vector engine, 256 KB of ultra-fast data cache and 16 KB of instructions; one management core (Management Processing Element – MPE) – superscalar out-of-order core with a vector engine, 32 KB L1 cache for data and instructions, 512 KB L2 cache; as well as a 128-bit DDR4-3200 memory interface.
Where it can be used?
This groundbreaking supercomputer promises to revolutionize a diverse range of fields, from scientific research and national security to artificial intelligence and drug discovery. Its immense computational power will empower scientists to tackle intricate scientific problems, such as molecular modeling and weather forecasting. In the realm of national security, the supercomputer’s capabilities will enhance intelligence gathering and threat analysis. And in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence, the SW26010 Pro will serve as a powerful tool for developing advanced algorithms and training sophisticated AI models.
In summary, China’s entry into the field of high-performance computing (HPC) has attracted global attention and sparked discussions about the implications of this technological advancement. Advocates of China’s supercomputing capabilities emphasize the potential for scientific breakthroughs and technological innovation that this achievement could facilitate. They envision a future where China’s HPC capabilities contribute to the advancement of fields such as medicine, energy, and environmental protection. In my humble opinion, the rapid development of China’s high-performance computing capabilities is indeed remarkable and has the potential to significantly impact various scientific and technological domains. However, it’s important to ensure that ethical considerations, data privacy, and security are carefully addressed as this technology continues to advance.
REFERENCES:
https://sundries.ua/en/china-unveils-its-newest-supercomputer-with-384-core-processor/
https://technewsspace.com/china-has-developed-a-384-core-sunway-sw26010-pro-chip-for-supercomputers-that-is-four-times-faster-than-its-predecessor/
https://bard.google.com/chat – for paraphrasing and structuring