High performance computing has kindled a revolution in the biological sciences in recent years. The complex modeling and analysis tasks associated with the biosciences require high-performance compute strength not available with commodity servers and clusters. Additionally, such research areas as gene sequence analysis, cluster comparisons, homology modeling, Hidden Markhov Models, and genetic algorithms require significant storage resources to achieve outstanding results. SGI solutions for Computational Biology address these computational and data storage challenges.

The SGI® Altix® XE product line delivers top performance and superior configuration flexibility in a cost-effective solution that is easy to build and deploy. The Altix XE servers run 32-bit and 64-bit applications on single CPUs and across clusters.

When the goal is to quickly produce simulations of complex proteins over biologically relevant timescales, a significant speedup in processing is required. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) is a breakthrough technology that enables dramatic speedup in modeling run times. SGI® Altix® servers with SGI® RASC™ (Reconfigurable Application Specific Computing) computation blades leverage the power of FPGAs, utilizing gate array technology that can be reconfigured by the user for optimal performance on a specific algorithm. Furthermore, RASC technology provides this dramatic increase in computing speed with only minimal increases in power consumption. System price and footprint are significantly lower than large clustered servers with comparable processing power.

With SGI solutions for the Biosciences, researchers gain a competitive advantage. These researchers complete larger complex modeling and analyses in record time and model at higher theory levels. SGI solutions shrink time to market and reduce costs by providing:

• Scaling superiority for all model sizes and theory levels
• Flexibility to handle large and small simulations on a single server
• Fastest performance with computational chemistry applications
• Single system ease of management
• Industry standards

For additional information:

• SGI® InfiniteStorage Solutions for The Sciences: Reducing Time to Insight through Sophisticated Data Management (PDF 4.2M)
• SGI RASC Technology: Application Acceleration with FPGA-based Reconfigurable Computing
• First-Ever Simulation of Functioning Organism Spawned by Ingenuity of Illinois Researchers and Power of SGI® Altix®