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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Define Supercomputer. |
The most powerful computer in terms of performance and data processing. These are specialized and task specific, used by large organizations. Used for research and exploration purposes, like NASA uses supercomputers for launching space shuttles, controlling them and for space exploration purpose.
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What is the Exascale Supercomputer?
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On 29th July, 2015, President of the United States, Barack Obama, approved the development of an Exascale Super Computer. The Exascale Super computer will be 30 times faster and more powerful than today’s fastest Super Computers.
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Why was the Exascale Supercomputer approved? |
The need to develop such a high performance Supercomputer comes after China’s surge in high performance computing. However, the US still tops the list of Supercomputers with 233 high performance machines. China has 37 Supercomputers but they lead the list of the most powerful and high performance supercomputers since June 2013.
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What is the Tianhe - 2? |
Presently, China’s "Tianhe – 2" is the world’s faster Supercomputer. The Tianhe – 2 can perform 100 Petaflops, i.e quadrillions of floating point operations per second.
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Name 4 uses for a Supercomputer. |
1. Space Exploration 2. Earthquake studies 3. Weather Forecasting 4. Nuclear Weapons Testing |
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Supercomputers are used to work on problems who's primary constraint is _____. |
calculation speed |
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Mainframe computers are used to work on problems who's primary constraint is _____. |
input/output and which demand reliability above all else
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) conduct large amounts of very fast and complex calculations on data stored in memory. These computers are built to purpose to run complex simulations or beating grand masters in chess. |
Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) process the large amounts of data that come into them from external sources, such as credit card transactions or payroll processing.
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) push the limits of computational speed, discovering what is possible for a computer to do.
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Supercomputers |
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Rather than pushing up against the boundaries of what’s possible, (Supercomputers/Mainframes) focus on reliable completion of large tasks and processing of transactions.
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) run multiple programs concurrently |
Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) support many concurrent users
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) support new and legacy software (backwards compatibility)
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) run many different kinds of operating systems (z/OS, Linux, etc.)
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) uninterrupted operation
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) have performance measured in Millions of Instructions per Second (MIPS).
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) perform tasks on huge amounts of external data
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) are flexible enough to run many kinds of applications and tackle broad business tasks
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Mainframes |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) focus processing power to execute a few programs or instructions as quickly as possible
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) focused on speed and accelerated performance
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) push boundaries of what hardware and software can accomplish
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) typically run a variant of Linux as their operating system
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) are typically run at maximum capability, putting the computer’s full processing resources toward solving a particular problem
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) are often a cluster or grid of smaller computers working together on whatever problem they are looking to solve
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) have performance measured in Floating Point Operations per Second (FLOPS)
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) execute complicated computations using large internal memory
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Supercomputers |
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(Supercomputers/Mainframes) have dedicated purposes for tasks like scientific research or engineering models
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Supercomputers |
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Define Microcomputer. |
What we use at home, cell phones, desktop computers, tablets, laptops, calculators, etc. |
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Define PDA (not Public Display of Affection) |
Personal Digital Assistants. Tightly integrated computers that often use flash memory instead of a hard drive for storage. These computers usually do not have keyboards but rely on touchscreentechnology for user input. PDAs are typically smaller than a paperback novel, very lightweight with a reasonable battery life. A slightly larger and heavier version of the PDA is the handheld computer. |
