The UK's Fastest Supercomputer

bmsleight writes "The Guardian has a story on the HECToR, The largest supercomputer in the UK — around five times more powerful than its predecessor, HPCx, which is also at the University of Edinburgh. It measures up well internationally, sitting at 17 in the top500.org list of the most powerful computers in the world."

Re:UK commitment to science

[oojimaflib]

In other news, bioscientists at the university of Leicester have developed a new species of grass. It promises to be at least two times greener than comparable varieties in the US.

17th isn't bad

[magarity]

It measures up well internationally, sitting at 17
 
The British don't mind being at any number as long as the best French *whatever* is lower ranked - 19 in the case of the latest supercomputer list. Although they might be a little out of sorts that Spain is above them at 13.
 
Note: if you are British or have any British friends, the above is 'funny' or 'insightful', not 'flamebait' or 'troll'.

But does it know...

[Billosaur]

...the answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything?

Re:UK commitment to science

[Silver Sloth]

The University of Edinburgh has a long history of being at the cutting edge in computing. I worked there in 1972 at the School of Artificial Intelegence under Donald Michie [wikipedia.org] and Robin Popplestone [umass.edu] (well, I washed up the coffee cups!)

Of course, if you ask a Scot, then most of the major technological advances of the 19th century were made north of the border and that proud heritage is alive and well today. Sassenachs may differ.

Re:17th isn't bad

[funkatron]

Note: if you are British or have any British friends, the above is 'funny' or 'insightful', not 'flamebait' or 'troll'.

Anyone that needs telling is clearly not British.

Re:17th isn't bad

[Dogtanian]

The British don't mind being at any number as long as the best French *whatever* is lower ranked - 19 in the case of the latest supercomputer list.

I'd say us Scots feel the same way about having the UK's fastest computer rather than the Sassenachs ;-)

Mod Points

[Anonymous Coward]

Imagine a beowulf cluster of these...!

Re:Sweden's got #5

[Anonymous Coward]

The Swedish computer is used by the "top-secret" government spooks FRA, which basically has same functions as USA:s NSA.

I think I have to start using a _real_ strong crypto now...