Intel chips run nearly eighty per cent of the world’s fastest supercomputers

More supercomputers than ever are using Intel Corporation processors, according to the latest TOP500 list. The high performance computing (HPC) community is especially enthusiastic about the Intel Xeon 5500 processor series. Launched only 3 months ago these chips are already driving the research and analytical capabilities of 33 systems on the list.

The 33rd edition of the TOP500 list shows that 399 of the world's top 500 systems, including two in the top 10, now have Intel inside. Systems using Intel Xeon quad-core processors feature prominently in the list, holding 340 spots. Using reinvented high-k metal gate transistors, Intel's previous-generation quad-core 45nm Intel Xeon processor 5400 series is used in 263 systems.

Intel-based super computing platforms are playing a pivotal role in a number of research areas, from improving the safety of space exploration to forecasting global climate conditions. More ''mainstream'' industries, such as financial services and health care, are also using Intel-based systems to achieve faster, more accurate results, to speed the pace of innovation and improve competitive advantage.

In addition to hardware, Intel delivers software tools and technologies to maximise the value of HPC systems with Intel inside. Intel Cluster Ready architecture shortens the time to productivity of clustered systems while increasing software compatibility. Intel Cluster Tools, including compilers, libraries, and message-passing software, maximise the performance of the majority of TOP500 systems with Intel inside.

''High performance computing has emerged as one of the fastest growing segments of Intel's server business, and Intel is committed to continue to push the boundaries of the world's highest end supercomputers harder than ever before,'' said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of Intel's Server Platforms Group. ''The new Intel Xeon Processor 5500 series extends the world-record performance and energy efficiency the TOP500 supercomputers demand, and we are delighted to see once again that more supercomputers than ever before are embracing the Intel Xeon processor as a result.''

New Intel compilers, libraries and cluster toolkits available
Intel is now shipping Intel Compiler Professional Editions 11.1 for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. New features include elements of the recently released Intel Parallel Studio, product support for Intel Advanced Vector Extensions and updates for integration with Microsoft Visual Studio, Eclipse and Xcode. The update also incorporates enhancements to the Intel Fortran and C++ compilers, Intel Math Kernel Library and Intel Integrated Performance Primitives. The Intel Cluster Toolkits include an updated Intel MPI library.

The semi-annual TOP500 list of supercomputers is the work of Hans Meuer of the University of Mannheim, Erich Strohmaier and Horst Simon of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee.