Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 1
News, page 4 Arts & Entertainment, page 7
Opinions, page 5
Sports, page 3
Study Break, page 6
Sudoku, page 6
Tech supercomputer leaves others in dust HokieSpeed is a lean, green, computing machine. Virginia Tech’s newest supercomputer is the highest-ranked commodity supercomputer in the United States, according to the Green500 List — a compilation of the most energy-efficient supercomputers in the world. Although HokieSpeed is currently ranked 11 on the Green500 List, the supercomputers ranked above it are either from other countries or were made for custom uses. Additionally, HokieSpeed is rated 96 on the most recent Top500 List, an industry-standard ranking of the world’s fastest supercomputers. Wu Feng, who spearheaded the HokieSpeed project, said the supercomputer’s energy efficiency comes from a combination of both software and hardware expertise, along with two processing units working together to fulfill two different computing capabilities. Feng, an associate professor in Tech’s computer science and electrical and computer engineering departments, compared the inner workings of HokieSpeed to that of the human brain. While humans only use one-half of their brain at a time, HokieSpeed is metaphorically able to use both parts simultaneously to get more work done. “It’s something that will enable us to accelerate the discovery process,” Feng
to equal the processing power of
SUPERCOMPUTER you would need
FIVE THOUSAND MAC PROS
said. “There’s a myriad of benefits from the fact that it’s much more energy efficient and faster than anything we’ve ever had in the past, and it was done at a very low cost.” Among the possibilities with HokieSpeed are the abilities to track hurricane paths, test bridge durability, see how certain viruses evolve over time and even compute a cure for cancer. Feng said HokieSpeed’s capabilities can be used by researchers in more than just the computer science discipline. The liberal arts, business and finance departments can use it to create a variety of what-if simulations. Feng also said computing is evolving to become the third pillar of science, following theory and experimentation. “It’s becoming an indispensible tool with respect to making discovery,” he said. “This is about what we can do together as a society in moving forward our intellectual knowledge.”
LumenHAUS adds another award to its list
Tech’s supercomputer
HOKIESPEED is 22 times faster than
SYSTEM X, Tech’s previous supercomputer
Mark Gardner, Virginia Tech’s network research manager who assisted in putting HokieSpeed together and testing its components, said the supercomputer’s performance transcended the team’s goals for the system. “My initial goal was to do 100 teraflops, which was about eight times more powerful than System X,” Gardner said. “Once we reached that goal, my next goal was to reach the top 100 on the Top500.”
HokieSpeed is capable of perfoming at
TERAFLOPSwhich is
455
news staff writer
ONE
ABBY HARRIS
per 455 TRILLION OPERATIONS second
see HOKIESPEED / page four
Blacksburg dining gets facelift
OPENING OF COOK OUT AND CHANGES TO OTHER RESTAURANTS BRING STUDENTS NEW OPTIONS NICK CAFFERKY & MICHELLE SUTHERLAND news editors
COOK OUT OPENS ON SOUTH MAIN
FILE / SPPS
LumenHAUS, an energy-efficient house, was awarded twice.
TECH STUDENT PROJECT RECOGNIZED BY AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE PRISCILLA ALVAREZ news staff writer The LumenHAUS project, created by Virginia Tech faculty and students, has been awarded the 2012 Institute Honor Award for Architecture from the national component of the American Institute of Architects, making it the first university group to win this acclaimed award. The energy-efficient house generates more power than it uses over the course of the year. This project competed with the top designers in the world and was one of 500 entries received by the AIA.
“The creative use of materials and the flexibility of its components quickly respond to changes in the environment through automated systems that optimize energy consumption,” one of the jurors said. The LumenHAUS project also walked away with the top prize at the European Solar Decathlon in 2010 and was the first house from that competition to proceed to win the AIA award. The house was displayed in Washington, D.C., Times Square, Madrid, Spain, Millennium Park and at the Farnsworth House in Plano III.
Replacing the Hardees at 1311 South Main St. is Cook Out, a North Carolina-styled fast food chain. Although it has only been open for a few weeks, the restaurant has quickly become wildly popular among students. “I’ve been (to Cook Out) in North Carolina,” said Amanda Brown, a freshman hospitality and tourism management major. “We went to visit colleges, and my one friend just loves it down there.” Brown’s reaction to the restaurant’s opening was no less than thrilling. “When I found out one opened in Blacksburg, I was so excited,” she said. “I was jumping up and down and everyone was like, ‘What are you doing?’” Although college campuses can be very competitive environments for new restaurants, management is confident that it can carve out its own niche. “Our quality is always at the highest standard, our prices are very reasonable, and those two things alone are very good for us,” said Mike Chelenza, Cook Out’s district manager.
EL RODEO OPENS, STILL NEEDS LIQUOR LICENSE Over break, El Rodeo opened its second Blacksburg location at the First & Main shopping center. But, it is still waiting for the state to issue its liquor license. Management does not know when it will receive the license.
“It’s government issued — we cannot rush it. It’s up to them to drop it off,” said Sergio Arellano, the manager of the new restaurant. It typically takes five to seven weeks to get the license, but Arellano said it is taking longer because there was a mix up with the corporate name in the paperwork. However, Arellano said business has been “not bad at all” and expects it to pick up once the license is delivered.
GREEN’S REMODELS Green’s Grill and Sushi Bar will be closed until next Thursday for renovations, according to a sign on its door. The restaurant is pushing the counter farther back, and adding a small bar for serving beer and wine, Richard Layman, the general contractor told the Roanoke Times.
CASTLE’S KETTLE & PUB TO OPEN NEXT MONTH Anthony Faulds, the Castle’s Kettle & Pub co-owner, expects the Irish pub to open at the end of February. The restaurant on North Main Street started construction in July and originally planned to open in November.
RITA’S OFFERS CAKES Rita’s is now offering ice cream custard cakes and custard cookie sandwiches, and expects to serve up hot soft pretzels by February. “There are a lot of events with students and student organizations, and I think it will be a locally good item in the winter,” said Jim Hagan, the owner of the Blacksburg (Top) A Cook Out employee calls out an order to the newly opened, frenzied restaurant. (Middle) Virginia Tech students chow down at the new fast food joint. (Bottom) Green’s franchise. is temporarily closed for renovations. Photos by Zach Crizer, Collegiate Times