A Chinese scientific research center has built the fastest supercomputer ever made, replacing the United States as maker of the swiftest machine, and giving China bragging rights as a technology superpower.

The computer, known as Tianhe-1A, has 1.4 times the horsepower of the current top computer, which is at a national laboratory in Tennessee, as measured by the standard test used to gauge how well the systems handle mathematical calculations, said Jack Dongarra, a University of Tennessee computer scientist who maintains the official supercomputer rankings.

Although the official list of the top 500 fastest machines, which comes out every six months, is not due to be completed by Mr. Dongarra until next week, he said the Chinese computer “blows away the existing No. 1 machine.” He added, “We don’t close the books until Nov. 1, but I would say it is unlikely we will see a system that is faster.”

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Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Science & Technology • * International News & Commentary • America/U.S.A. • Asia • China

1. BlueOntario wrote: To how many Americans is this a challenge to do better and to how many just a sign of the times? October 28, 8:43 am | [comment link]

2. Payton wrote: Time for us to unveil the HAL-9000. October 28, 9:45 am | [comment link]

3. Sick & Tired of Nuance wrote: Isn’t outsourcing great?  This globalization thing is really working out, huh?  Gotta love GATT.  Gotta love the Clinton technology transfers to the Red Chinese. Run Forrest, run! October 29, 12:22 am | [comment link]

4. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote: It’s very sad, but when I see the words computers and China together, up come the word associations: spam, hacking and trojans. China needs to look to its image. October 29, 12:31 pm | [comment link]

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