TOP500

The TOP500 project was initiated in 1993 to refresh and enhance the statistics of the Mannheim supercomputer, which had been operating for seven years. Our straightforward approach to the TOP500 does not set a specific definition for "supercomputer." Instead, we utilize a benchmark to rank these systems and determine their eligibility for the TOP500 list. The benchmark we selected is Linpack, which evaluates systems based on their capability to solve linear equations, represented as A x = b, with a dense random matrix A. This means any supercomputer, regardless of its design, can qualify for the TOP500 list as long as it can solve linear equations using floating-point calculations. Although we've faced criticism for this choice since the beginning, we can confidently state after two decades that it has contributed significantly to the success of TOP500—making Linpack a wise selection. Furthermore, there hasn't been a viable alternative to Linpack. Other benchmarks would have their own specificities but wouldn’t be as readily available for all systems, which is crucial since compiling the TOP500 lists biannually is a complex undertaking.