High Performance Computing (HPC), which unlocks the ability to simulate complex, real world problems, as well as powering AI and ML workloads, is rapidly becoming a crucial part of the modern day world.
HPC most commonly leverages traditional architecture CPUs and GPUs, however, as the increasing user demand for more capability meets a growing focus on sustainability, alternative options are required.
RISC-V offers benefits in performance and energy efficiency to HPC through the potential for customization and specialization. With increased availability of commodity RISC-V high-performance CPUs and PCIe accelerator cards, RISC-V is the serious alternative ISA option for HPC.
Video: RISC-V for HPC: Where we are currently and where we need to go
Hear Nick Brown from the EPCC at the University of Edinburgh, and chair of the RISC-V HPC SIG, giving his views on the direction and development of RISC-V at the recent RISC-V Summit North America
The RISC-V ISA is the resource efficient cost-effective alternative for HPC workloads
Right-Sized
The RISC-V ISA is modular and configurable, with a small base extendable through standard or custom extensions to support additional capabilities. This means hardware can be right sized to meet just the workload requirements, reducing cost and power resource consumption.
Future Proofed
A scalable modular ISA allows the implementation to be adapted and customized to deal with current, legacy and future workloads. This ensures a system is future proofed as priority use cases and workloads change over time.
Unified ISA
RISC-V enables a unified ISA across general purpose CPUs and customized accelerators. This allows the use of a single tool chain and architecture across the platform, simplifying development, accelerating time to deployment, and reducing cost and complexity
Enhanced Choice
A wider range of hardware solutions from multiple vendors and across geographies stimulates competition and improves choice and value for the HPC community.
Profile Compatibility
Binary software compatibility across solutions aligned to a profile base on a common set of ISA extensions. The use of profiles such as RVA23 stimulates a rapidly expanding ecosystem of open source and commercial software, optimizing choice and reducing support burden for operators.
No License Fee ISA
Unlike commercially owned alternatives, the use of the open standard RISC-V ISA does not incur license or royalty fees. This reduces cost for operators and removes the inconvenience of vendor lock-in created by longer term commercial contractual arrangements
The RISC-V ISA is flexible and customizable to address HPC-specific requirements and encourage innovation
Control Development Direction
RISC-V puts organizations in control of their technology roadmap, enabling them to create innovative differentiated HPC based on a trusted industry standard.
Customizable Featureset
Custom, specialized, HPC-specific extensions can be developed, either through the ISA or integrated via the extensions mechanism. This enables the integration of features and innovation that other ISAs cannot.
Correct Hardware Choice
HPC systems often deploy established off-the-shelf components intended for alternative workloads. RISC-V allows operators to choose hardware specifically designed and configured for HPC workloads without incurring higher cost or compromising performance.
Exploration and Experimentation
The flexible modular nature of the RISC-V ISA promotes exploration and experimentation to accelerate and perfect HPC development and optimize performance, energy efficiency, and cost.
Precise Functionality
Using optional extensions to customize the ISA means that specific HPC use cases are not encumbered with the entirety of the ISA that may have been developed for other use cases.
Bespoke Features
The extensibility of RISC-V enables bespoke HPC hardware solutions that other architectures do not address, such as special accelerators or IP for memory-bound applications.
HPC on RISC-V is a diverse open ecosystem driven by its community
Wide Ecosystem In Place
The growing RISC-V ecosystem already enables the technologies required for current and future HPC. This includes hardware processor cores, accelerators, IP, EDA and verification tools, software, and an engaged development community.
Collaborative Contribution
Members directly contribute input to the direction of the ISA through participation in steering groups to develop the standard and guide extensions to address future HPC requirements.
Community Pooled Resources
A strong software ecosystem is vital for HPC. RISC-V enables the pooling of community resources, reducing the individual software development resource burden and allowing focus on specific competencies.
Minimize Supply Chain Risk
The wide breadth of choice offered by the RISC-V ecosystem reduces supply chain risk allowing multiple sourced options and preventing single vendor lock-in or over reliance on a single solution.
A Global Standard
RISC-V is a global open standard, shaped by contributions worldwide and not controlled by any single entity. Its diverse ecosystem facilitates multi-sourcing, reducing risk and preventing vendor lock-in for future developments.
Hear from our Members About RISC-V and HPC
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