HPC@Green IT Green High Performance Computing Methods
The authors present methods to reduce computer energy consumption by a better use of resources and by maximizing the efficiencies of applications. The processor frequency is adjusted to the needs of the running job, leading to a power drop in servers and
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Historical highlights
“Je lis dans l’avenir la raison du pr´esent.” Alphonse de Lamartine, French writer (1790–1869)
Abstract This chapter acts as a short historical survey of both the computers and the applications evolution. The evolution of the computers starting from the “Bones” of J. Napier to compute the Logarithms in the XVIIth century to the last up-to-date IBM BG/Q supercomputer is first presented. We then parse the algorithms evolution from the second century BC to the Car-Parrinello method. The TOP500 and GREEN500 supercomputer lists are discussed and a new parameter is proposed that better characterizes main memory access dominated applications.
2.1 Evolution of computing In the present chapter, we concentrate on information that can contribute to the understanding of the more recent hardware, to the basic software evolutions, and to a better design of HPC applications. Important dates and inventions are presented in Table 2.1. Further details on the evolution of the computing until 1965 has been described superbly in the book by Michael R. Williams [142], and a more in depth look into the detailed organization of the computers can be found in the book by Tanenbaum [126]. The Abacus [55] was very probably the first computing support. It is still intensively used in Asia. The invention of the logarithms initiated computing in Europe. The first table of logarithms was made by the Swiss mathematician and watch builder Jobst B¨urgi who used it to support his private studies on mathematical series applied to astronomy. The natural base and 10 base logarithms were published by Napier and Briggs shortly afterwards. To compute the logarithms precisely, Napier built a mechanical computing machine using single-digit multiplication tables engraved on thin rods. Although Napier called these “numbering rods”, the designation “Napier’s bones” (see in [142] and [56]) became popular, as durable sets usually were made from animal bone, horn, or ivory. Blaise Pascal built an add and substract machine for his father who was a tax collector. Other mechanical
R. Gruber, V. Keller, HPC@Green IT, C Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010 DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-01789-6 2,
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2 Historical highlights
Year
Who
1617 1623 1642 1666 1674 1678 1820 1822 1834 1890 1928 1935 1943 1946 1948 1948
J. Napier W. Schickard B. Pascal S. Morland G.W. Leibniz R. Grillet C. F. Gauss C.X. Thomas Ch. Babbage H. Hollerith IBM K. Zuse A. Turing Eckert/Mauchly J. von Neumann Bardeen, Brittain, Shockley Williams, Kilburn Wilkes, Wheeler, Gill Slotnick, NASA, Burrough Seymour Cray Sterling et al. NEC
1948 1949 1968 1976 1997 2002
Table 2.1 The evolution of computing Technology Type/name “Bones” Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Human Mechanical Punched cards Punched cards EM relays Tubes, relays Tubes, relays Tubes Transistor
Multiplication Add/substract Add/substract Add/substract All operations All operations Least squares All operations Differences All operations All operations Z1 Collossus ENIAC IAS
Applicatio
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