The Japanese supercomputer Fugaku, developed by Fujitsu and Japan’s Riken Research Institute, has been named the world’s fastest computer in the TOP500 biannual ranking, marking the return of a Japanese supercomputer to the top spot after nine years. outperforming their American and Chinese counterparts. It is also the first time that an ARM processor-based supercomputer has topped the list.
These types of supercomputers are used to perform very complicated tasks, such as quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, space explorations, etc., which require specialized high-performance calculations. In this case, Fugaku is operating in a trial phase to search for potential drugs with which to treat COVID-19 and analyze what impact treatment with these drugs would have on the human body.
No. 1 in the TOP500 ranking
The last time a Japan-based supercomputer achieved the top position was in 2011, also developed by Riken and Fujitsu. It is known as “supercomputer K”. Fugaku is followed by two supercomputers from the United States and two from China.
The characteristics of Fugaku
Fugaku is powered by Fujitsu’s 48-core A64FX SoC and is 2.8 times faster than IBM’s Summit supercomputer, which ranks second on this year’s Top500 list. The Japanese supercomputer has also reached the top positions in other publications such as Graph 500, HPL-AI and HPCG.
The machine achieved a throughput of 415.5 petaFLOPS , far outpacing the second fastest device, Summit (installed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US), with a throughput of 148.8 petaflops.
