A Japanese supercomputer has snatched the title of the world's fastest machine, ending China's brief reign at the top after six months.The K supercomputer, built by the Fujitsu Company, is as fast as one million desktop computers connected together.
It has more than three times the power than the previous title-holder and is capable of performing eight quadrillion calculations each secondA quadrillion is one followed by 15 zeroes and in computer jargon the speed is known as 8.2 petaflops.
The previous fastest machine was the Chinese computer Tianhe-1A, which was clocked at 2.507 petaflops and highlighted the emergence of China's growing technological and economic power.
The Tianhe- 1A machine was the first time China had topped the speed list, wrestling the title from the U.S. who had four of the top ten supercomputers.
It has more than three times the power than the previous title-holder and is capable of performing eight quadrillion calculations each secondA quadrillion is one followed by 15 zeroes and in computer jargon the speed is known as 8.2 petaflops.
The previous fastest machine was the Chinese computer Tianhe-1A, which was clocked at 2.507 petaflops and highlighted the emergence of China's growing technological and economic power.
The Tianhe- 1A machine was the first time China had topped the speed list, wrestling the title from the U.S. who had four of the top ten supercomputers.
