A Case Study of Parallel Processing: Informatics vs Scientific Computing

Abstract

Informatics and Scientific Computing approach parallel processing in a different way. We briefly describe the different points of view of both camps. Next we concentrate on a case study in the area of scientific computing. The problem chosen is from Physical Chemistry (self-consistent field computation). We describe the problem, the sequential solution, the parallelization strategy and present the performance values we have achieved. Our implementation is based on a 60-node transputer system, available at the Parallel Processing Laboratory in Basel.