Dongarra is one of the authors of the Linpack computing benchmark, introduced way back in 1979. With this benchmark, supercomputing sites can rate computers' relative performance at solving a set of linear equations.
Dongarra's group has ported Linpack to the iPad 2 to see how fast it really is, according to the New York Times. Tests on the iPad 2 have so far only been run on a single core of the A5 processor, but Dongarra estimates that a dual-core Linpack run will yield performance of between 1.5 and 1.65 gigaflops -- that's up to 1.65 billion floating-point operations per second. That raw performance means that the iPad 2 would have remained on the list of the world's speediest supercomputers until about 1994.
The single-processor tests of the iPad 2 matched the Linpack results of the four-processor version of the Cray 2 supercomputer (pictured). Back in 1985, the eight-processor version of the Cray 2 was the fastest computer in the world.
Yeah, the iPad 2 is a 21st century device, but its comparable benchmarks to supercomputers of the past are still pretty impressive when you consider it's thinner than a notebook and is cooled by plain old air. Most of the old supercomputers it rivaled required specialized cooling, custom-built enclosures and raised flooring. Just think: in 20 years or less, the power of today's fastest supercomputer could be in an iPhone.
Of course, if you want to build a supercomputer out of Apple hardware, it's easier to start with the bigger ones.
Thanks to Brian for the tip.
iPad 2 would have bested 1990s-era supercomputers originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/09/ipad-2-would-have-bested-1990s-era-supercomputers/
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