Japanese K Computer Fastest in the World

The Kei Computer at the Riken Advanced Institute for Computational Science in Japan has just taken the top slot on the list of 500 most powerful computers. The so-called K Computer is quite the behemoth, capable of performing 8.2 quadrillion calculations per second. Though its processing chops are quite a marvel, its physical footprint is nothing to be sneezed at: 672 cabinets house over 68,000 Fujitsu SPARC64 VIIIfx processors. What’s more, simply running this “energy effecient” supercomputer costs $10 million a year, and uses about as much power as 10,000 homes.

Of course, eight-odd quadrillion calculations is not good enough for the K Computer’s creators. The word “kei” apparently means 10 quadrillion, meaning that if things go according to play, the K Computer will be the reigning champ for some time to come.

(NYTimes via Engadget, Gizmodo, photo via Riken)