High-performance computing, or HPC, is when connected supercomputers are used to solve advanced, complex problems at speed. HPC can mean high-performance computing or high-performance computers, depending on the context. Several technologies are brought together in HPC, including programs and electronics, computer architecture, system software and algorithms, working under a single canopy to produce fast, efficient results of the kind that are unachievable by regular computers. HPC systems use computing resources concurrently to deliver sustained performance.
Viderium operates and creates data centres and other forms of data solutions for the facilitation of HPC.
Supercomputers Vs. General Purpose Computers
The performance of general-purpose computers is measured in MIPS, which stands for million instructions per second. With supercomputers, performance is instead measured in FLOPS, which stands for floating-point operations per second. A supercomputer is defined as one which has the capability to far outperform general-purpose computers in terms of speed, reliability, efficiency and problem-solving capacity. There are supercomputers that have the capability to perform up to around a hundred quadrillion FLOPS, with the majority of the fastest using Linux as their operating system.
High-Performance Clusters
A high-performance computing system does not necessarily contain any components that you would not find in a general-purpose computer. The difference is mainly in quantity, as HPCs are made up of computing clusters configured to work together. Where a general-purpose computer typically contains a single processor, a supercomputer contains several processors, each comprised of anywhere between two and four cores. Each individual computer within an HPC cluster is referred to as a node, so a supercomputer with 64 nodes may have up to 256 cores all working in tandem. When high numbers of individual nodes work efficiently together, they can often solve problems that would be too complex for a single computer to solve by itself.
HPC System Implementation
HPC systems require a low-latency network with high bandwidth so that the individual nodes and clusters can communicate and connect with one another. High-performance computing is used across multiple disciplines, including climate modelling, geographical data analysis, the biosciences, electronic design automation, modelling for the oil and gas industry, and within entertainment and the media. Small to medium businesses may also use some form of high-performance computing, using a cluster as small as four nodes or 16 cores. Despite the smaller size, this type of HPC can still help solve problems faster and more efficiently that a single general-purpose computer.
