Skip to main content

IBM’s Roadrunner supercomputer hits early retirement due to power usage

IBM Roadrunner Supercomputer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Los Alamos National Laboratory has pulled the plug on the IBM-built supercomputer Roadrunner after just five years of service as it has become too much of a power hog. 

The Roadrunner was the first supercomputer in the world to be able to handle one million billion calculations per second (petaflop). Back in June 2008, it was the fastest supercomputer. Five years later, it still held the number 22 spot on March 31, 2013, the day it was taken offline.

To achieve petaflop computing speeds, IBM combined two kinds of processors into one machine – a strategy that was unheard of at the time. The Roadrunner was powered by 6,563 dual-core processors from AMD, each of which were linked to a special graphics processor (PowerXCell 8i) that was originally designed for the Sony PlayStation 3, but tweaked for scientific computing.

The Roadrunner’s hybrid architecture was revolutionary. “[It] got everyone thinking in new ways about how to build and use a supercomputer,” said Gary Grider from the laboratory’s High Performance Computing Division. “Specialized processors are being included in new ways on new systems, and being used in novel ways. Our demonstration with Roadrunner caused everyone to pay attention.”

Unfortunately, the Roadrunner has become too power inefficient for the lab to keep in commission, especially as newer supercomputers with more computing prowess – and that also require less energy to power – become available. According to Ars Technica, the Roadrunner required 2,345 kilowatts to hit 1.042 petaflops. To give you a sense of how power hungry the Roadrunner has become next to its contemporaries, the supercomputer occupying the twenty-first spot needs just 1,177 kilowatts of power, while the supercomputer ranking in the twenty-third spot has a clock speed of 1.035 petaflops using just 493 kilowatts of power. 

Just because the Roadrunner will no longer run nuclear weapons simulations for national security doesn’t mean that it has become completely useless. Scientists at the lab will be studying how the Roadrunner works to inform future supercomputer designs before it is dismantled in about a month. IBM’s Roadrunner will go down in supercomputer history for being the first to reach petaflop speeds and for being a pioneer in processor design. You won’t be forgotten, Roadrunner!

[Image via Los Almos National Laboratory]

Editors' Recommendations

Gloria Sin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gloria’s tech journey really began when she was studying user centered design in university, and developed a love for…
I tested the three best 14-inch gaming laptops. There’s a clear winner
Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

Over the past few years, the category of 14-inch gaming laptops has grown tremendously. You'll find multiple models among the best gaming laptops, but there are three key designs that are all begging to be your high-end portable gaming powerhouse.

I'm talking about the Razer Blade 14, Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and HP Omen Transcend 14. All three are thin and light gaming laptops that pack the latest hardware from Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, and they all deliver an excellent gaming experience. There are a surprising number of differences between the three laptops, however, and one of them has a clear edge.
Specs and pricing

Read more
PC airflow guide: How to position your fans for best cooling
Exhaust fan in PC case.

Fan placement is an important component in your system's cooling. The quantity, positioning, and orientation of fans affects overall system performance, noise levels, and how often you need to clean your whole system out. Although you aren't going to see a dramatic difference in your PC's performance from adding one more fan, or making sure they're pushing instead of pulling (or vice versa), it's still useful to optimize this part of your PC's cooling to get the best experience for you, the PC user.

So, whether you're looking to boost your system's cooling to improve your overclock, or want to keep your fan speeds as low as possible without overheating, here's a guide to PC airflow, as well as some suggestions on fan placement and position that you might find useful.
Get the basics down

Read more
Why you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air
The 14-inch MacBook Pro on a window sill.

There are plenty of reasons to buy a MacBook Air instead of a MacBook Pro. If you want a MacBook on a budget, you don't necessarily need the goodies that come with upgrading to the MacBook Pro.

That being said, I'm going to argue for spending a little more. In my experience, the MacBook Pro offers several distinct advantages that help justify a higher price, especially with the introduction of the more affordable MacBook Pro 14 with the base M3. If you can stretch your budget a bit, here's why I think you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air.
Setting the stage: pricing

Read more