NEC introduces Plans for Japan’s Latest Supercomputer Featuring Intel and AMD Innovations

NEC’s Bold Leap into Supercomputing

Get ready to mark your calendars: NEC Corporation is gearing up to deliver a next-generation supercomputer system to Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). This ambitious project, backed by the National Research and Development Agency, is set to go live by July 2025. It’s not just any supercomputer; this powerhouse will be a multi-architecture marvel, boasting the latest CPUs and GPUs, ample storage, and a lightning-fast network. But what does this mean for the future of fusion science research? Let’s dive in.

A Game Changer for Fusion Research

So, why is this supercomputer such a big deal? For starters, it’s designed to enhance research and development in the field of fusion science. This includes making precise predictions for experiments and crafting operational scenarios for the ITER project—an international collaboration aimed at harnessing the power of fusion energy. It will also support the Satellite Tokamak (JT-60SA) project and help in designing DEMO reactors, which are essential for achieving carbon neutrality. Imagine a world where fusion energy is a viable power source; this supercomputer is a step in that direction.

The DEMO project is particularly exciting as it aims to accelerate large-scale numerical calculations, pushing us closer to realizing a reactor that could contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions. With this supercomputer, NIFS will conduct numerical simulations for multi-scale and multi-physics systems, including fusion plasmas. This means researchers across Japan will have access to computational resources for collaborative research, fostering innovation and breakthroughs.

Impressive Specs Under the Hood

Let’s talk numbers. This supercomputer will primarily consist of 360 NEC LX 204Bin-3s, featuring a total of 720 Intel Xeon 6900Ps, along with 70 NEC LX 401Bax-3GAs, which house 280 AMD Instinct MI300As. Together, they’re expected to deliver a staggering theoretical performance of 40.4 Petaflops—about 2.7 times more than the combined power of the current supercomputers at QST and NIFS. That’s a serious boost in computing power!

What’s more, the NEC LX 204Bin-3 is equipped with MRDIMMs, which enhance performance for high-performance computing (HPC) tasks. The entire system is built on NEC’s years of experience in high-density packaging and efficient cooling technologies, ensuring it operates at peak performance.

A Collaborative Effort

NEC isn’t going it alone. They’ve partnered with industry giants like Intel and AMD to power this supercomputer. Intel’s Ogi Brkic expressed pride in integrating the Intel Xeon 6900P Series, which is the first server CPU in Japan to support MRDIMMs. This partnership promises to deliver significant advancements in memory performance and bandwidth, crucial for the complex calculations required in fusion research.

AMD’s Jon Robottom echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the inclusion of AMD’s Instinct MI300A GPUs further solidifies the supercomputer as a compelling solution for advanced research. These collaborations are not just about hardware; they represent a united front in the quest for innovative solutions in fusion science.

Supporting the Future of Research

But it doesn’t stop there. DDN is stepping up to provide high-performance storage solutions, ensuring that researchers can handle the vast amounts of data generated by complex simulations. Their collaboration with NEC aims to deliver stable performance and rapid data processing, accelerating discoveries in fusion science.

Freya Yu from Giga Computing highlighted their role in supporting nuclear fusion research with efficient Liquid Cooling solutions, which are essential for maintaining the remarkable processing speeds needed for accurate simulations.

And let’s not forget about the software side of things. Altair Engineering is bringing its PBS Professional software to the table for optimized job scheduling and workload management, ensuring that the supercomputer operates at peak efficiency.

Looking Ahead

As NEC continues to push the envelope in supercomputing technology, they’re not just focusing on industrial applications or AI/Big Data. They’re also committed to providing academic institutions with the HPC solutions needed to drive research forward. This supercomputer is more than just a machine; it’s a cornerstone for future discoveries in fusion energy and beyond.

In a world where energy sustainability is becoming increasingly critical, initiatives like this are vital. They represent hope, innovation, and the potential to change how we think about energy production. Keep an eye on this project—it’s bound to make waves in the scientific community and beyond.

Background Information

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About AMD:

AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

  

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About Giga Computing:

Giga Computing Technology is an industry leader in the enterprise computing market. Born out of GIGABYTE, Giga Computing maintains expertise in hardware manufacturing and product design while operating as a standalone business. This allows for increased investment in core competencies. Giga Computing offers a comprehensive product portfolio that addresses all workloads, from the data center to the edge. Their systems embody performance, security, scalability, and sustainability. With longstanding partnerships with key technology leaders, Giga Computing ensures its new products are advanced and launch with new partner platforms.

  

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About Intel:

Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

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Technology Explained

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CPU: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. It is the most important component of a computer system, as it is responsible for controlling all other components. CPUs are used in a wide range of applications, from desktop computers to mobile devices, gaming consoles, and even supercomputers. CPUs are used to process data, execute instructions, and control the flow of information within a computer system. They are also used to control the input and output of data, as well as to store and retrieve data from memory. CPUs are essential for the functioning of any computer system, and their applications in the computer industry are vast.

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HPC: HPC, or High Performance Computing, is a type of technology that allows computers to perform complex calculations and process large amounts of data at incredibly high speeds. This is achieved through the use of specialized hardware and software, such as supercomputers and parallel processing techniques. In the computer industry, HPC has a wide range of applications, from weather forecasting and scientific research to financial modeling and artificial intelligence. It enables researchers and businesses to tackle complex problems and analyze vast amounts of data in a fraction of the time it would take with traditional computing methods. HPC has revolutionized the way we approach data analysis and has opened up new possibilities for innovation and discovery in various fields.

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Liquid Cooling: Liquid cooling is a technology used to cool down computer components, such as processors, graphics cards, and other components that generate a lot of heat. It works by circulating a liquid coolant, such as water or a special coolant, through a series of pipes and radiators. The liquid absorbs the heat from the components and then dissipates it into the air. This technology is becoming increasingly popular in the computer industry due to its ability to provide more efficient cooling than traditional air cooling methods. Liquid cooling can also be used to overclock components, allowing them to run at higher speeds than their rated speeds. This technology is becoming increasingly popular in the gaming industry, as it allows gamers to get the most out of their hardware.

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Petaflops: Petaflops is a measure of computing speed, specifically one quadrillion floating-point operations per second. This technology is used to measure the performance of supercomputers, which are extremely powerful computers used for complex calculations and simulations. Petaflops technology has revolutionized the computer industry by allowing for faster and more efficient processing of large amounts of data. This has enabled advancements in fields such as weather forecasting, climate modeling, and drug discovery. Petaflops technology has also been utilized in artificial intelligence and machine learning, allowing for more accurate and sophisticated algorithms. In simpler terms, Petaflops is like a race car for computers, allowing them to process information at lightning-fast speeds and tackle complex problems that were previously impossible to solve.

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Xeon: The Intel Xeon processor is a powerful and reliable processor used in many computer systems. It is a multi-core processor that is designed to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. It is used in servers, workstations, and high-end desktop computers. It is also used in many embedded systems, such as routers and switches. The Xeon processor is known for its high performance and scalability, making it a popular choice for many computer applications. It is also used in many cloud computing applications, as it is capable of handling large amounts of data and providing high levels of performance. The Xeon processor is also used in many scientific and engineering applications, as it is capable of handling complex calculations and simulations.

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