SciNet Consortium

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SciNet computer system

The SciNet Consortium operates a supercomputer in Toronto , Canada. The consortium includes the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals. SciNet facilities are located on the University of Toronto campus. The data center is located approximately 30 km north of the Vaughan campus. On the TOP500 list, which records the fastest 500 computers in the world, SciNet is in 39th place (2010).

Specifications

The system is based on the IBM System x iDataPlex supercomputer. The system works with 30.240 Intel 5500 Series 2.53 GHz processors. The computer consumes as much electricity as 4000 normal computers combined. The whole system is water-cooled. At cooler temperatures, the system is automatically switched to air cooling to save energy. The supercomputer needs a floor space of 280 m 2 . The supercomputer is the largest Intel processor-based computer in the world.

partner

  • University of Toronto (Founder)
  • Hospital for Sick Kids
  • Mount Sinai Hospital
  • Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
  • Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care

Research areas

The system is used for astronomy and astrophysics, space travel as well as engineering research, biomedical research, physical research for high-energy particles, for planetary physics, for integrative bioinformatics and for chemical physics.

Web links