Adapting NASA's MAPSS Databases to Desktop Computing

Abstract

The capability of desktop computers has increased greatly over the past several decades, even outpacing some of the first supercomputers. A standard Intel i7-4790 processor can run at 90 Gigaflops. This means it can complete almost ten to the tenth operations per second. Hence, in a time when you can buy a new 8th generation intel processor for a few hundred dollars, an older 4th generation intel processor is more powerful than the most powerful computer in the world in 1993. In this research, we examine code developed for a NASA supercomputer and run it on a standard personal computer. Our results suggest that for simple tasks, such as pulling down information from the servers, the software is capable of running on a standard desktop. This demonstrates that when NASA produced code is adapted to a modern desktop computer, the computer can process the given information. In summary, we can show that modern desktop computers not only have more processing power than some of the first supercomputers, but can easily handle applications attended for processing large sums of data. From a larger perspective, this shows how computers evolved to the point where what is considered an outdated processors is still leagues above what was first produced. This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NNX15AK02H NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium.