What is the difference between Super Computers and Embedded Computers?


Let us understand what supercomputers are.

Super Computers

The supercomputer is treated as the most dynamic computer in performance and processing. Supercomputers are adequate to solve immense numerical calculations, scientific problems and therefore it is known as number crunchers. They are complex to design and require teamwork research and development.

Supercomputers are enhanced to implement only a small number of programs. This makes it possible for them to implement these few programs at a very high speed. Because of their inhibiting cost, they are used in high-end places such as in scientific research centers. The supercomputer involves thousands of processors, allowing it to clock in at very large speeds calculated by petaflops.

These computer types are also very large because of the multiple parts and elements contained in their design. An example of a supercomputer is Tianhe-2, which is placed in the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou, China. It features 3.12 million cores, enabling it to run at speeds of 33.86 petaflops.

The goal of the supercomputer is to perform billions of floating-point operations in only a second. Supercomputers are used for weather prediction, quantum mechanics, nuclear energy research, neurological research, and such difficult types of operations that need fast execution.

Embedded Computers

An embedded computer is represented as a controller programmed and controlled by a real-time operating system with a dedicated service within a larger mechanical or automated system, frequently with real-time computing constraints. It is fixed as part of a complete device often involving hardware and mechanical parts.

Embedded systems are task-specific, defining they are constructed to implement one task instead of a variety of tasks. While the true design of a specific embedded system is based on its intended function, it generally includes a processor, a power supply, and memory and connection ports.

The connection ports send data between the processor and some peripheral devices, the processor interprets the data using the integrated software, and the power supply powers the assembly. The elements within an embedded system can be divided down into hardware and software elements which are as follows −

Hardware elements contain the processor (either a microprocessor or microcontroller that processes digital signals and stores them in memory), sensors (to modify physical sense data into electrical signals), analog-to-digital converters (to convert analog electrical signals to digital signals), digital-to-analog converters (to convert digital data to analog data), and actuators (to compare actual output to memory-stored data to choose the right one).

Software elements change in complexity based on the embedded system. However, industrial-grade embedded systems can use easy software with limited memory capacity.

Updated on: 18-Nov-2021

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