Asustek Computer unveiled its first supercomputer on Monday, the desktop computer-sized ESC 1000, which uses Nvidia graphics processors to attain speeds up to 1.1 teraflops.
One teraflop is 1 trillion flops (floating point operations per second), a measure of computing speed. Computers able to perform at such high speeds can be used in a variety of ways, including scientific research, image manipulation, engineering modeling or for medical purposes.
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Nvidia has promoted its graphics cores as an alternative to microprocessors to build speedier computers that require less electricity.
The ESC 1000 is made for 64-bit computing and carries 24GB of DDR3 (double data rate, third generation) 1333MHz DRAM. The chassis on the supercomputer is 445 millimeters by 217.5 mm by 545 mm.
The ESC 1000 has a 500GB SATA II hard drive on board and its power supply is rated for 1100 watts.
A note in Asustek's literature said the ESC 1000 has a cost structure in software and hardware of $14,519 over five years, but an Asustek representative declined to give a per-unit price or when the ESC 1000 would be available globally. The supercomputers are ready to ship, he said.
The ESC 1000 is the result of collaboration between Asustek, Nvidia and Taiwan's National Chao Tung University.
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