Acta Numerica

Table of Contents - Volume 21 - 2012  

Research Article

High-performance computing systems: Status and outlook*

J. J. Dongarraa1 and A. J. van der Steena2

a1 University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Manchester E-mail: dongarra@eecs.utk.edu

a2 NCF/HPC Research, L. J. Costerstraat 5, 6827 AR Arnhem, The Netherlands E-mail: steen@hpcresearch.nl

Abstract

This article describes the current state of the art of high-performance computing systems, and attempts to shed light on near-future developments that might prolong the steady growth in speed of such systems, which has been one of their most remarkable characteristics. We review the different ways devised to speed them up, both with regard to components and their architecture. In addition, we discuss the requirements for software that can take advantage of existing and future architectures.

Footnotes

* Colour online for monochrome figures available at journals.cambridge.org/anu.