PC Help Guide

The largest and most advanced supercomputer in the U.K. has been unveiled in Edinburgh. With the power of 12,000 desktop PCs, the mammoth machine called HECToR is the country’s fastest computer and one of the most powerful in Europe.

The computer’s 60 teraflops (trillion operations per second) have been up and running since autumn 2007, but Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling Tuesday marks the official start by unveiling a plaque at Edinburgh University’s Advanced Computing Facility, BBC reported.

HECToR is four times more powerful than Britain’s previous best computer HPCx, which will continue to run. However, HECToR ranks only 17th in the list of the world’s most powerful computers (as measured against the popular TOP500 list).

The purpose-built machine is housed in 60 wardrobe-sized cabinets in the University of Edinburgh’s advanced computing centre near the Scottish capital. After years of development, Chancellor Alistair Darling is due to attend the official launch ceremony for the 113 million pound machine.

Despite its vast power, it falls short of the world’s fastest computer, Blue Gene/L, which can reach speeds of 478 teraflops.