A Japanese supercomputer built by Fujitsu Co. has grabbed the title of world's best-performing machine from a Chinese competitor, returning Japan to the top of the computer arms race for the first time in seven years. The computer is three times faster than its Chinese rival.
Installed at Japan's Institute of Physical and Chemical Research and also known as Riken, the Japanese government-funded "K Computer" performs more than eight quadrillion (8,000 trillion) calculations per second. K Computer is a play on the Japanese word "kei" for the number 10 quadrillion, which will be the number of calculations the machine is targeted to handle once it is completed in 2012.
Supercomputers are used for earthquake simulations, climate modelling, nuclear research and weapons development and testing. Businesses also use the machines for oil exploration and rapid stock trading.
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