Chinese chip technology now powering world's fastest supercomputer

San Francisco

IN A threat to US technology dominance, the world's fastest supercomputer is being powered by Chinese-designed semiconductors for the first time. It's a breakthrough for China's attempts to reduce dependence on imported technology.

The Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer, located at the state- funded Chinese Supercomputing Centre in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is more than twice as powerful as the previous winner, according to TOP500, a research organisation that compiles the rankings twice a year. The machine is powered by an SW26010 processor designed by Shanghai High Performance IC Design Centre, TOP500 said on Monday.