By KIMBERLY DEMUCHA
demucha@newsroom.byu.edu
BYU has purchased a $5 million supercomputer 1,000 times faster than a regular computer, allowing industrial students to design three-dimensional objects without actually building them.
Because of the new supercomputer, General Motors has formed a partnership with BYU, said R. Brent Adams, associate professor of industrial design.
Industrial design students will be working with GM to develop a portfolio for GM's newest project, the Hummvee, he said.
GM wants to work with BYU and its supercomputer because it has the capability of cutting the design time from five years to one-and-a-half years.
'This partnership will allow students to receive real world training, increasing their marketability,' Adams said.
Usually federal money is used to purchase items of such a large scale, giving state or national agencies control over how the supercomputer is used. Since the money for the supercomputer was privately donated, BYU has complete freedom over projects involving the supercomputer.
The new SGI supercomputer was introduced to the campus community at a ceremony in the Crabtree Technology Building Tuesday.
The $5 million computer system will be housed and used by the College of Engineering and School of Technology, but it will also serve many other departments across campus.
Among other things, the new machine will be utilized for DNA research, genealogical studies and FARMS research. The 14-foot long, one ton computer has 32 processors, 32 gigabytes of RAM and 1,500 gigabytes of hard drive space. A typical computer only has one processor, 16 to 64 megabytes of RAM and some six gigabytes of hard drive space.
'This machine will be a significant addition to the computing power on campus,' said Brent Smith, manager of Computer Aided Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing.
Programmers present at the ceremony demonstrated some of the machine's capabilities. For example, the supercomputer allows its users to input data and create a visual three-dimensional picture of it.
As for the Hummvee, students can design the vehicle without ever making a model, Adams said.
The computer was purchased with money donated by builder Ira Fulton from Phoenix, Ariz. Fulton was on hand for the unveiling ceremony and had the honor of powering up the machine. The supercomputer has been named Mary Lou, in honor of Fulton's wife.
'Thanks to the support from Mr. Fulton and SGI, we will be able to put state-of-the-art technology at the fingertips of our students,' said Doug Chabries, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology.
Fulton is a frequent donator to campus programs who said he's committed to providing students with the most up-to-date equipment and facilities.
'If the best work and students are to come out of BYU, then we must have the most advanced equipment to work with,' Fulton said. 'I will continue to aid the university because we can have all kinds of theories, but without the equipment the students won't succeed.'