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FASTRUN: A special purpose, hardwired computer for molecular simulation
Author(s) -
Fine Richard,
Dimmler Gerd,
Levinthal Cyrus
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
proteins: structure, function, and bioinformatics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.699
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0134
pISSN - 0887-3585
DOI - 10.1002/prot.340110403
Subject(s) - national laboratory , computer science , instrumentation (computer programming) , host (biology) , replication (statistics) , division (mathematics) , supercomputer , general purpose , operating system , computer architecture , physics , engineering physics , ecology , statistics , mathematics , arithmetic , biology
We describe the design, construction, and performance of a special purpose, hardwired accelerator for molecular mechanical calculations called FASTRUN. The processor was designed at Columbia University in 1984, constructed in the Instrumentation Division of Brookhaven National Laboratory, and delivered to Columbia in final form in 1989. It was rendered functional for molecular mechanics in early 1990. Together with its host Star array processor, FASTRUN has a measured performance for molecular dynamics simulations which compares favorably with present day supercomputers. The hardware replication cost of FASTRUN is on the order of $100,000.00