The Altix 4700 will be a major plus for 350 researchers in Quebec
MONTREAL, Feb. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - The Altix 4700, the most powerful
shared-memory supercomputer in Canada, is now available to 350 scientists in
Quebec, thanks to a major in-kind contribution from SGI Canada to the Quebec
Network for High Performance Computing (RQCHP), a group comprising five
university-level institutions (Université de Montréal, Université de
Sherbrooke, Concordia University, Ecole Polytechnique and Bishop's
University).
The RQCHP now possess the Altix 4700 supercomputer wich offers 384
dual-core processors (768 cores) and 1,536 gigabyte (GB) of random-access
memory (by comparison, a personal computer today has less than 1 to 2 GB of
RAM). It will vastly increase the capacity and performance of Quebec's
existing pool of high-performance computing systems. In theory, the Altix 4700
is capable of performing 4,9 Teraflops (a teraflop equals one trillion
operations per second). The powerful new SGI system alone represents 30% of
the total performance capacity of the RQCHP.
"What makes SGI's help so important - I can't stress this enough - is
that it will allow many research centres in Quebec to be competitive in an
environment where technology is changing very rapidly," said Université de
Montréal Rector Luc Vinet, speaking today at a ceremony honoring the SGI
Canada donation. Also present were Robert Davidson, Director, Programs and
Operations, Canada Foundation for Innovation and Martin Pinard, President of
SGI Canada, together with professors David Sénéchal and Michel Côté,
respectively RQCHP Director and Université de Montréal Site Director for the
inter-university computing network.
"With the Altix 4700, our researchers can now count on one of the most
powerful shared-memory supercomputers in the world,"(1) Université de Montréal
Dean of Arts and Science Joseph Hubert added. "New doors will open for our
researchers, who will be able to perform complex calculations that were almost
unimaginable until now."
"We're delighted to be contributing toward the advancement of science in
Quebec and facilitating a whole world of innovations and discoveries, a world
where the scope of human imagination is the only limit, said Martin Pinard,
President of SGI Canada. It's obvious today that high-performance computing
plays a crucial role in the majority of scientific discoveries. With its
incomparable features, including sustained performance and massive memory, the
Altix 4700 is the tool par excellence for scientists in the 21st century."
Studies by RQCHP researchers are relevant to a vast range of scientific
fields and their spinoffs influence sectors such as healthcare,
pharmaceuticals, the automotive, aerospace, physics, chemistry and
nanotechnology, to name just a few. The performance of the supercomputers that
researchers can access has a definite impact on the possibilities for
conducting valuable research. The Altix 4700 makes possible vastly shorter
time frames for simulations... in some cases reducing periods of two weeks to
a mere two minutes.
About RQCHP
The RQCHP is a network of researchers in high-performance computing at
the Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Concordia University,
Bishop's University and the Ecole Polytechnique. The network comprises a pool
of advanced computer facilities that provide its members with the computing
resources crucial to the progress of their work in various fields, including
(among others) astrophysics, medicine, nanotechnology and transportation.
About SGI Canada
SGI Canada a subsidiary of SGI, is headquartered in Saint-Laurent,
Québec. The company has offices in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver and
certified partners throughout the country. For more information, visit
http://www.sgi.com/global/canada/.
About SGI - Innovation for Results(TM)
SGI (NASDAQ: SGIC) is a leader in high-performance computing. SGI
delivers a complete range of high-performance server and storage solutions
along with industry-leading professional services and support that enable its
customers to overcome the challenges of complex data-intensive workflows and
accelerate breakthrough discoveries, innovation and information
transformation. SGI helps customers solve their computing challenges whether
it's enhancing the quality of life through drug research, designing and
manufacturing safer and more efficient cars and airplanes, studying global
climate, providing technologies for homeland security and defense, or helping
enterprises manage large data. With offices worldwide, the company is
headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and can be found on the Web at
www.sgi.com.
About the Université de Montréal
Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, the
Université de Montréal is one of the top universities in the French-speaking
world. Founded in 1878, the Université de Montréal today has 13 faculties and
together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and Ecole
Polytechnique, constitutes the largest centre of higher education and research
in Québec, the second largest in Canada, and one of the major centres in North
America. It brings together 2,400 professors and researchers, accommodates
more than 55,000 students, offers some 650 programs at all academic levels,
and awards about 3,000 masters and doctorate diplomas each year.
(1) The Altix 4700 ranks 155 on the benchmarked list published by
TOP500(R) Supercomputers (see www.top500.org).
For further information: Marie-Françoise Hervieu, Allard Hervieu
Communication, (514) 972-9112 or mfh@ahcom.ca
