Fujitsu A64FX
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2019 |
| Marketed by | Fujitsu |
| Designed by | Fujitsu |
| Common manufacturer | |
| Architecture and classification | |
| Technology node | 7 nm |
| Microarchitecture | In-house |
| Instruction set | ARMv8.2-A with SVE and SBBA level 3 |
| Physical specifications | |
| Cores | |
The A64FX is an ARM architecture microprocessor designed by Fujitsu.[1][4] The processor is replacing the SPARC64 V as Fujitsu's processor for supercomputer applications.[5] It is powering the Fugaku supercomputer.[4][5][6]
Design
Fujitsu collaborated with ARM to develop the processor; it will be the first processor to use the ARMv8.2-A Scalable Vector Extension SIMD instruction set with 512-bit vector implementation.[4] A prototype computer using the processors was ranked as the 159th fastest computer in the world on the Top 500 list in November 2019.[7]
The processor uses 32 gigabytes of HBM2 memory with a bandwidth of 1 TB per second.[4] The processor contains 16 PCI Express generation 3 lanes to connect to accelerators, e.g. GPGPUs and FPGAs.[1] The reported transistor count is about 8.7 billion.[4]
Each CPU has 48 cores built as a "node" - the Fugaku node has 4 "assistant cores", however Fujitsu intends to produce lower specification machines with zero or two assistant cores.[2][3]
Implementations
Fujitsu designed the A64FX for the Fugaku. As of June 2020 the Fugaku is the fastest supercomputer in the world by TOP500 rankings.[8] Fujitsu intends to sell smaller machines with A64FX processors.[2][3] Anandtech reported in June 2020 that the cost of a PRIMEHPC FX700 server, with 2 A64FX nodes, was ¥4,155,330 (c. US$39,000).[9]
Cray is developing supercomputers using the A64FX.[10] The Isambard 2 supercomputer is being built for a consortium in the United Kingdom, led by the University of Bristol and also including the Met Office, using the Fujitsu processors.[11][12] It is an upgrade to the Isambard supercomputer which was built with the Cavium ThunderX2, another ARM architecture microprocessor.[12]
See also
- Comparison of ARMv8-A cores
- SPARC64 V
- ThunderX2 - another ARM architecture high performance computing microprocessor
- Huawei Kunpeng 920 - also an ARM high-performance microprocessor, but developed by the Huawei-owned HiSilicon. Only available in China.
References
- ^ a b c "Hot Chips 30 conference; Fujitsu briefing" (PDF). Toshio Yoshida.
- ^ a b c "Fujitsu Launches New PRIMEHPC Supercomputers Using Fugaku Technology - Fujitsu Global". www.fujitsu.com. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "FUJITSU Supercomputer PRIMEHPC Specifications". www.fujitsu.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Fujitsu Successfully Triples the Power Output of Gallium-Nitride Transistors - Fujitsu Global". www.fujitsu.com. Fujitsu. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ a b Morgan, Timothy Prickett (24 August 2018). "Fujitsu's A64FX Arm Chip Waves The HPC Banner High". The Next Platform. Retrieved 8 March 2020.>
- ^ https://www.r-ccs.riken.jp/en/postk/project/outline
- ^ "A64FX prototype - Fujitsu A64FX, Fujitsu A64FX 48C 2GHz, Tofu interconnect D | TOP500 Supercomputer Sites". www.top500.org. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ https://www.top500.org/system/179807/ SUPERCOMPUTER FUGAKU - SUPERCOMPUTER FUGAKU, A64FX 48C 2.2GHZ, TOFU INTERCONNECT D
- ^ Cutress, Dr Ian (26 June 2020). "HPC Systems Special Offer: Two A64FX Nodes in a 2U for $40k". www.anandtech.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Cray, Fujitsu Both Bringing Fujitsu A64FX-based Supercomputers to Market in 2020". HPCwire. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ Bristol, University of. "February: GW4 Isambard - News and features - University of Bristol". www.bristol.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ a b Burt, Jeffrey (9 March 2020). "Isambard 2 Is About Driving Technology Diversity". The Next Platform. Retrieved 9 March 2020.