SCHEDULE: NOV 10-16, 2007

(Super)computing on FPGAs, GPUs, Cell and Other Exotic Architectures: Challenges and Opportunities

Session: Exotic Architectures

Event Type: Panel

Time: 8:30am - 10:00am

Session Chair: Rob Pennington

Panelist(s): Tarek El-Ghazawi, Jack Dongarra, Paul Woodard, Wen-mei Hwu, Douglass Post

Location: A2 / A5

Abstract:
Computational scientists are turning their attention to emerging computing technologies (FPGAs, Cell/B.E., GPUs, etc.) as means for continuous application performance improvements while putting limits on the space/power requirements. Even though these chips were not designed with the HPC applications in mind, their performance characteristics and general availability make them very attractive for HPC applications in spite of the relatively high entry cost when considering programmability and architectural limitations. This Panel will look at the range of newly emerging computing architectures from the perspective of HPC systems and applications developers and will attempt to identify the trends, challenges, and opportunities for these technologies to enter the mainstream HPC. Specific questions for the Panel include: Can (and under what circumstances) these systems deliver the advertized performance? The challenge of software development and effective use of the technology. What vendors can/should do to satisfy the needs of computational scientists eager to use these architectures?

Chair/Panelist Details:

Rob Pennington (Chair)
NCSA

Tarek El-Ghazawi
George Washington University

Jack Dongarra
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Paul Woodard
University of Minnesota

Wen-mei Hwu
University of Illinois

Douglass Post
DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program

Home | About | Contact Us | Registration