NEC receives supercomputer order from Japanese research institution
NEC has successfully secured an order for the next-generation supercomputer from Japan's Quantum Science and Technology Research and Development Agency (QST) and the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). This highly anticipated new supercomputer has a clear deployment plan: it will be installed at QST's fusion energy laboratory in Kamikita-gun, Aomori Prefecture. There, it will become the core equipment for fusion research and is expected to be fully operational by July 2025, embarking on a crucial journey to support scientific breakthroughs.
The supercomputer that NEC is responsible for building boasts an intricate internal structure. It is composed of 360 LX 204Bin-3 units and 70 LX 401Bax-3GA units, integrating top-notch hardware products from three technology giants: Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA. The 360 LX 204Bin-3 units are dual-CPU node servers. In this unit design, two Intel Xeon 6900P "Granite Rapids-AP" processors are meticulously installed, serving as the core computing components of the server and providing robust data processing capabilities for the entire system. Additionally, the MRDIMM memory modules ensure efficient data storage and retrieval, enabling rapid responses to various complex computing demands. The 70 LX 401Bax-3GA units are equally impressive, each capable of housing four AMD Instinct MI300A accelerators/data center APUs. These accelerators and APUs significantly enhance the supercomputer's performance in handling complex scientific computing tasks, enabling it to swiftly process massive amounts of data and complex models.
For network connectivity, this supercomputer employs NVIDIA's Quantum-2 QM9700 InfiniBand switch with a port speed of 400Gb/s. This advanced switch plays a crucial role in the entire system, akin to the core hub of an information highway, ensuring data is transmitted between units with extremely high speed and stability, and guaranteeing efficient and coordinated operation of the entire supercomputer system.
Upon completion, this supercomputer is expected to achieve a theoretical performance of 40.4 petaflops. Taking into account various complex factors during actual operation, this performance level is roughly comparable to the top 30 supercomputers on the TOP500 list. This formidable computing power is approximately 2.7 times the combined computing capacity of the existing supercomputers at QST and NIFS, undoubtedly providing unprecedented computational resources for the field of fusion science research.
This supercomputer has been entrusted with an important mission, primarily serving various research and development activities in the field of fusion science. For instance, it will provide precise predictions for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and its precursor project, the JT-60SA superconducting tokamak prototype reactor. With its powerful computing capabilities, researchers can more accurately simulate various experimental parameters and potential scenarios, allowing them to prepare countermeasures ahead of time and thus providing a solid foundation for the smooth progression of experiments. Furthermore, this supercomputer will also participate in the design work of the DEMO reactor aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. In the global context of actively addressing climate change, the design of the DEMO reactor is of significant importance for achieving carbon neutrality goals, and the involvement of the supercomputer will greatly accelerate the design process, enhancing the scientific rigor and feasibility of the design schemes.
