There’s a new supercomputer at the top of the TOP500 list. The supercomputer, called El Capitan, is located in California and has more than 1.7 exaflops of computing power. Frontier has therefore fallen back to second place, with the Aurora supercomputer in third place.
The new El Capitan system has debuted in the TOP500 list of November 2024 and is immediately at the top. The supercomputer is based on AMD’s Instinct MI300A APUs. Both CPU and GPU chiplets are combined on those chips; each MI300A has 24 Zen 4 cores, 228 CDNA 3compute-units and 128GB of HBM3 memory. El Capitan has a total of 11,039,616 CPU and GPU cores, which would amount to more than 44,000 of these MI300A APUs. The system has a peak power consumption of 34.8MW.
The El Capitan supercomputer achieved sustained performance of 1,742 exaflops in the High Performance Linpack benchmark in this edition of the TOP500 list, with a peak speed of 2,746 exaflops. The supercomputer is located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and will be used by the three National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories in the United States.
The supercomputer will be used, among other things, to simulate nuclear weapons in the American stockpile, to ensure that they function properly. A nuclear treaty no longer allows atomic bombs to be tested underground. El Capitan will also be used to support ‘non-classified missions’ related to US national security, including materials discovery, high energy-density physicsconventional weapon design and more.
The former fastest supercomputer, Frontier, has fallen to second place in the latest TOP500 list. This is also based on AMD hardware and achieves sustained performance of 1,353 exaflops. Aurora, which is based on Intel’s Xeon Max CPUs and Ponte Vecchio GPUs, is in third place with a computing power of 1,012 exaflops. That’s the same score that Aurora in the previous TOP500 edition from June achieved when the system was not yet fully operational. It is not clear why no new benchmark results for Aurora have been submitted.
From El Capitan-supercomputer. Bron: HPE
El Capitan: The New King of Supercomputers
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round! We’ve witnessed a glorious reshuffling in the realm of supercomputers, and standing tall at the forefront now is none other than El Capitan.
The Mighty El Capitan
Located in sunny California (where else could it be, right?), El Capitan has officially dethroned Frontier and Aurora, who’ve been sharing the podium like two very competitive siblings. With an astonishing computing power of more than 1.7 exaflops, it’s safe to say El Capitan is not just a pretty face; it’s an absolute game-changer in the world of high-performance computing.
This behemoth has made its grand debut in the TOP500 list of November 2024 and wasted no time claiming the top spot. Built on AMD’s Instinct MI300A APUs—because what’s the point in just having core processors when you can have a mashup of CPU and GPU chiplets? Each chip does the heavy lifting with an impressive 24 Zen 4 cores, 228 compute units, and a staggering 128GB of HBM3 memory.
Now let’s delve into the numbers. The El Capitan boasts a jaw-dropping total of 11,039,616 CPU and GPU cores. Yes, you read that right! That’s more cores than I have punchlines, and I’ve got a lot (trust me). To achieve this, we’re looking at a whopping 44,000 MI300A APUs. That’s quite the family reunion if you ask me!
The Power Behind It All
With a peak power consumption of 34.8 megawatts—which, when converted, could light up a small city—it’s clear this supercomputer doesn’t skimp on the juice. It achieves a solid performance of 1,742 exaflops during the High-Performance Linpack (HPL) benchmark. And, for those wondering, its peak speed? A staggering 2,746 exaflops. That’s faster than the last time I tried to run away from my problems!
What’s Cooking Down at Lawrence Livermore?
Housing this technological marvel is the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where it’s not just a pretty desk ornament. El Capitan will aid the National Nuclear Security Administration, simulating nuclear weapons to ensure they still pack a punch without the underground test site. A nuclear treaty? What a buzzkill, right? But fear not! El Capitan is also prepared to support ‘non-classified missions’ related to U.S. national security. What a versatile little rascal!
From discovering new materials to high energy-density physics and conventional weapon design, this supercomputer is busy ensuring that the U.S. remains a heavyweight in national security without actually blowing things up.
Looking Back: The Fallen Titans
Poor Frontier, once the king of the hill, has now been relegated to second place, waddling behind with a performance of 1,353 exaflops—almost adorable, but not quite there! Meanwhile, Aurora, which boasts Intel’s Xeon Max CPUs and Ponte Vecchio GPUs, rounds out the top three with 1,012 exaflops. However, one has to wonder: why hasn’t Aurora pushed any new benchmark results? Perhaps they’re so busy calculating the number of ways to keep their dignity intact.
Final Thoughts
So, here we are, folks! The supercomputing race just got a spicy twist thanks to El Capitan. It’s not just revamped computing; it’s a revolution! Wave goodbye to the old kings and bow down to the new overlord. If you thought your computer was fast, it might be time to reassess your expectations just a smidge. Until then, stay curious and keep watching this space—who knows what the next machine to challenge El Capitan will bring to the table!
For more jaw-dropping technological wonders, stay tuned!
A groundbreaking advancement in computational power has been marked by the rise of a new supercomputer, El Capitan, which has claimed the coveted top spot on the TOP500 list. Located in California, this powerhouse boasts an astonishing performance capability of over 1.7 exaflops, surpassing competitors like Frontier and Aurora, which now occupy the second and third positions respectively.
The El Capitan supercomputer made its impressive debut on the TOP500 list for November 2024, immediately asserting its dominance. This state-of-the-art system utilizes AMD’s Instinct MI300A Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), which integrate both CPU and GPU chiplets within each unit; every MI300A features 24 cutting-edge Zen 4 cores, an incredible 228 CDNA 3 compute units, and a substantial 128GB of HBM3 memory. Remarkably, El Capitan is composed of a staggering total of 11,039,616 CPU and GPU cores, equating to over 44,000 individual MI300A APUs. The overall system is designed to operate with a peak power consumption of 34.8 megawatts.
The supercomputer achieved sustained performance of 1,742 exaflops in the rigorous High Performance Linpack benchmark, soaring to a peak speed of 2,746 exaflops. Strategically located at the esteemed Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, El Capitan is set to play a pivotal role for the three National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories across the United States.
The applications for this cutting-edge supercomputer are diverse and critical. It will be utilized to simulate the performance and reliability of nuclear weapons within the American arsenal in an era where underground testing is prohibited by treaty. Additionally, El Capitan will facilitate various non-classified missions pertinent to U.S. national security, including materials discovery, high energy-density physics research, traditional weapon design, and much more.
The previous reigning champion supercomputer, Frontier, has now been relegated to the second position in the latest TOP500 compilation. This supercomputer, also powered by AMD technology, has reported a sustained performance of 1,353 exaflops. In third place is Aurora, which employs Intel’s Xeon Max CPUs alongside Ponte Vecchio GPUs, holding steady with a computing power of 1,012 exaflops. This marks the same performance level that Aurora recorded in the earlier TOP500 edition from June, prior to the full operational capacity of the system being realized. However, the absence of updated benchmark results for Aurora raises questions regarding its current status.
How does El Capitan’s performance compare to other supercomputers like Frontier and Aurora?
The El Capitan supercomputer’s peak power consumption reaches an impressive 34.8 megawatts, demonstrating its significant energy requirements for such monumental computing tasks. In the High-Performance Linpack (HPL) benchmark, El Capitan achieved sustained performance of 1,742 exaflops, with a peak speed of 2,746 exaflops. This performance is set to facilitate critical simulations for the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Diving deeper into its applications, El Capitan will primarily focus on crucial tasks such as simulating the functionality of nuclear weapons in the U.S. stockpile—a necessity due to the prohibitions on ground testing set by international treaties. Additionally, it will contribute to non-classified missions that enhance U.S. national security by aiding in the discovery of new materials, conducting research in high energy-density physics, and supporting conventional weapon design.
Poor Frontier, which previously held the title of the fastest supercomputer, has now slipped to second place with a sustained performance of 1,353 exaflops, while Aurora remains in third place at 1,012 exaflops, despite no recent benchmarking updates. This reshuffling has sparked curiosity about potential advancements in the supercomputing field, paving the way for future contenders to challenge El Capitan’s supremacy.
El Capitan not only showcases humanity’s incredible technological prowess but also poses significant implications for national security and scientific discovery. As we witness this thrilling evolution in computational performance, the anticipation builds for what future innovations might emerge in the world of supercomputers.
