SUPER COMPUTERS

BY ADITYA JADHAV
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

Supercomputers are some of the most powerful and advanced computing systems in the world,
capable of processing billions of calculations per second. They are used for a variety of
applications, including scientific simulations, weather forecasting, cryptography, and data
analysis. In this presentation, we will explore the history, technology, and uses of
supercomputing.
 WHAT ARE THE OTHER TYPES OF
COMPUTERS?

• Personal computers (PCs)

These are the most common type of computer and are used by individuals for a variety of purposes, such as for work, entertainment, and
communication. There are two main types of personal computers: desktops and laptops. Desktops are larger and more powerful, while
laptops are portable and designed for mobility.
• Mainframe computers
Mainframes are large, powerful computers that are used by large organisations, such as corporations and government agencies. They are
used for mission-critical applications, such as financial transactions, and can handle very large amounts of data and hundreds of
simultaneous users.
• Server computers
Server computers are used to manage, store, process and transmit data over a network. They can be small computers in a local network or
large computers in a data center that support the needs of many users and organizations.
• Workstations
Workstations are high-performance computers designed for scientific and engineering applications.
They are similar to personal computers in terms of size and shape, but are more powerful and have specialized hardware and software.
CONTINUED
• Embedded computers
Embedded computers are computer systems integrated into other devices, such as phones, cars, and appliances. They are
designed to perform specific tasks and are not typically designed to be user-programmable.
• Tablet computers
Tablets are a type of personal computer that are designed for portability and ease of use. They have touchscreens, can run
mobile operating systems, and are often used for entertainment and communication.
• Gaming computers
Gaming computers are high-performance personal computers that are designed specifically for playing video games. They
typically have powerful processors, graphics cards, and a lot of memory to support the demands of modern video games.

These are the main types of computers, but there are also other specialized computers that are used in niche applications.
No matter what type of computer you choose, it's important to consider the specific needs and requirements of your tasks
before making a purchase.
HISTORY OF SUPERCOMPUTING

• The first supercomputer was developed in the 1960s by Seymour Cray at Control Data
Corporation (CDC). The CDC 6600 was introduced in 1964 and was considered the first true
supercomputer. It was able to perform up to 3 million floating-point operations per second
(FLOPS) and was used for scientific and engineering calculations.
• Since then, the development of supercomputing has continued to evolve, with faster and more
powerful machines being developed each year. Some of the notable milestones in the history
of supercomputing include the development of the Cray-2 in 1985, the IBM Deep Blue system
that defeated the world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, and the unveiling of the first
petaflop supercomputer, Roadrunner, in 2008.
TECHNOLOGY OF SUPERCOMPUTING
• Supercomputers are made up of thousands of processors that work in parallel to perform
complex calculations. They use high-speed interconnects to communicate with each other and
access shared memory. In addition, supercomputers are equipped with large amounts of
memory, which allows them to store large amounts of data and maintain fast access times.
• One of the key technologies used in supercomputing is parallel processing, which allows the
processors to work on different parts of a problem at the same time. This results in faster and
more efficient calculations, as compared to sequential processing where the processors work
on one part of the problem at a time.
• Another important technology used in supercomputing is high-performance storage, which
provides fast access times to large amounts of data. This is critical for many scientific and
engineering simulations, which require access to large amounts of data in real-time.
USES OF SUPERCOMPUTING
Supercomputing has a wide range of applications in fields such as science, engineering, finance, and
government. Some of the most common uses of supercomputing include:
• Scientific simulations: Supercomputers are used to perform complex simulations in fields such as
physics, chemistry, and biology. For example, they can be used to model the behavior of particles,
predict the outcome of chemical reactions, or simulate the behavior of complex biological systems.
• Weather forecasting: Supercomputers are used to perform complex atmospheric simulations, which are
used to make weather forecasts. They can simulate the behavior of the atmosphere, including factors
such as temperature, pressure, wind, and precipitation.
• Cryptography: Supercomputing can be used to perform large-scale cryptography calculations, which are
used to secure sensitive information such as financial transactions and government communications.
• Data analysis: Supercomputers can be used to analyze large amounts of data, such as in the fields of
finance, healthcare, and marketing. They can be used to perform complex data analyses, such as
predictive modeling, cluster analysis, and market research.
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, supercomputing has come a long way since the first supercomputer was developed
in the 1960s. Today, supercomputing is an essential tool for many fields, and its use continues to
expand as technology advances. The combination of powerful processors, high-speed
interconnects, and large amounts of memory make supercomputing a valuable tool for solving
complex problems and advancing our understanding of the world.
SOURCES

• Wikipedia, "Supercomputer" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercomputer)