Re:WOW that's some amazing stuff, I think I saw a friend programming simple FPGA's at uni, or somethign similar. That's a pretty amazing sounding "hypercomputer" though.
Re:That's why I said, 'Average', Vespasian. This is not your run of the mill super computer.
If you lok at it from the persepctive from each processor disipitating 50 watts, then 32 processors would disipitate more than your average heater. This is you're run of the mill super computer.
That's using you're standard chip technology. Not FPGA.
Re:"If i'm not mistaken, the average super computer disipitates more heat than the average house heater."
Nevertheless, this band of outsiders claims to have created a reconfigurable "hypercomputer" that performs like a supercomputer but sits on a desktop, uses very little electricity, needs no special cooling systems and costs as little as $175,000.
Re:Just imagine it this way.
Instead of having a processor with it's native instruction set and hardware architecture, like the crusoe, translating instructions on the fly..
Imagine a chip that would have the ability to rearrange itself on the fly to optomize itself to any application. A shape shifter for example..
Like a CPU that could turn itself into a P4 like CPU for multimedia then when you switch to a number crunching load, in a few moments notice, transform itself into an Athlon or even a DEC alpha. That is what this technology is all about. Rearranging itself on the hardware level. It has the ability, instead of optomizing the software to itself, optomizing itself to the software. Also, any performance enhancments they might find that will enable it to do it's task better can be reprogrammed in software and then it would rearrange itself into the new configuration.
Imagine being able to Flash a Thunderbird into a Palomino! Only better.
Re:What would the advantage be over something like what Transmeta does?
Re:I don't know if I implied anything was wrong with that, but certainley there's nothing wrong with that. The only thing that caught me off guard is that you can like them that much without having any extensive contact with them. Do you work around them, or do you just admire their massive power??
If i'm not mistaken, the average super computer disipitates more heat than the average house heater. Take the Japanese earth simulator for example. The airconditoner system in there moves system close to 'Natrual disaster' levels. Last time I heard 20-30MPH winds going down in there. It just seems Super computers are monstrous beasts that few people use but many people admire. Heh.
Re:he doesn't smoke, he doens't drink, he doesn't gamble – GIVE HIM HIS SUPERCOMPUTER I SAY !!!
Re:It sure would be an expensive hobby, that's for sure!
Re:Man, you really love super computers, Vespaian. Is there something wrong with that?
Re:Man, you really love super computers, Vespaian. That being said, I think this would allow a higher degree of optimisation because you can optomize the CPU for the program without redesigning fabs, just redrawing the chip.
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