High performance computers have been around for a little longer than two decades but it wasn't until the early 1990s that the international community decided that they needed a new way of assessing and measuring supercomputers. In 1993, a benchmark test and subsequent list known as the Top500 was born. The Top500 is responsible for categorizing the power and capabilities of the top 500 high performance computers in the world. The majority of this article will list the manufacturers of the top 10 supercomputers of that list and describe the high performance computers that they have developed.

What is High Performance Computing
High performance computing, or supercomputing, is the process of using very advanced computer systems to perform tasks or solve problems. High performance computing is used in many different fields and in many different industries but is most commonly used for research and simulations. For example, medical researchers might use a high performance computer to sift through massive amounts of data or cross-reference information. On the other hand, scientists, automobile manufacturers, and the military all use high performance computers to simulate everything from storms to mid-air helicopter explosions.

Cluster Computing
While high performance computing uses advanced computer systems to tackle problems, cluster computing combines the computational ability of many computers to form one large computer network. Oftentimes, however, cluster computers are made up of individual high performance computers which produce outstanding results when combined with other supercomputers. Generally, each supercomputer in a cluster computer has a specific task that it performs while working with the rest of the network to share results. Cluster computing is oftenly found in large government agencies and large corporations, particularly ones that manufacture their own computer equipment.

Sun HPCHigh Performance Computing
Sun Microsystems, a leader in hard drive compression and computer manufacturing, owns two of the top 10 supercomputers of the Top500 list. Sun is an independent subsidiary of Oracle and focuses specifically on producing excellent computer equipment and making technology as small as possible. With that in mind, they have produced their supercomputers in the same fashion. Both of the supercomputers listed in the top 10 of the Top500 list, the Opteron and the Xeon, belong to the Sun Constellation System and come in at 9th and 10th place, respectively. Sun HPC is not limited to the models that are listed on the Top500, however, as they actually produce and sell high performance computers and systems to organizations, companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and private foundations on a regular basis.

IBM
IBM has also made significant breakthroughs in the science of high performance computing and currently holds 4 of the top ten positions in the Top500 list, one being the Roadrunner or BladeCenter and the rest being various models of Blue Gene systems. Roadrunner is the second most powerful supercomputer in the world according to the November 2009 list but IBM's real prize winner in high performance computing is the Blue Gene Solution. Blue Gene has been deployed on a much more widespread manner than Roadrunner so it is used and recognized more. Blue Gene has been used to map the genome, keep track of nuclear weapons, aid scientists in medical breakthroughs, and even replicate the computational ability of the human brain. In fact, IBM won the National Medal of Technology and Innovation this year for the Blue Gene Solution.

NUDT
The NUDT, or National University of Defense Technology, in China holds the 5th supercomputer in the Top500 list known as the NUDT TH-1. The NUDT TH-1 is actually a cluster computer that is responsible for mostly research, although it does conduct many simulations and management protocols for the Chinese military. The device itself holds over 98,000 GB, runs the Linux Operating System, and was installed in 2009.

SGI
SGI, or Silicon Graphics, Inc., produced the 6th supercomputer on the Top500 list known as the SGI Altix ICE 8200EX. The computer system is now run by NASA and has replaced NASA's old supercomputer, the Columbia, that, while once at position 2 in the Top500, has quickly been side-stepped by more advanced technology in recent years. The new model is responsible for running simulations, research, and a number of other tasks at Ames Research Center in California.

Cray
Cray is a manufacturer of supercomputers that currently holds two of the top ten positions on the Top500 list. Cray's Kraken comes in at third place while the Jaguar holds the honorary position of being the most powerful computer in the world. Jaguar is now being used by scientists to confront issues like fusion, combustion, renewable energy, climate control, and materials science.