The super supercomputer

IBM has launched Blue Gene/P, the second generation of the world’s fastest computer, which it said almost triples the performance of the Blue Gene/L.

The computer can carry out tasks such as modelling an entire human organ to determine drug interactions, and IBM claimed drug researchers could run simulated clinical trials on 27 million patients in one afternoon using just a small part of the machine’s full power.

The Blue Gene/P is able to operate continuously at speeds exceeding one petaflop, or one quadrillion operations per second, and can be configured to reach speeds of more than three petaflops. It is also said to be 100,000 times more powerful than a home PC and be able to process more operations in one second than the combined power of a stack of laptop computers 2.4km high.

Purpose-built to fit in smaller spaces, IBM said that the supercomputer uses less electricity and is seven times more energy efficient, compared with other commercially available designs.