TOKYO – June 28, 2021 – Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN) and Kobe University announced today that MN-3, PFN’s deep learning supercomputer, has achieved an energy efficiency of 29.70 gigaflops-per-watt (Gflops/W) and topped the latest Green500 list of the world’s most energy-efficient supercomputers for the second time since June 2020. The new achievement exceeds MN-3’s previous record of 26.04 Gflops/W in the November 2020 Green500 list by 14.05%.

PFN’s MN-3 deep learning supercomputer

Powered by MN-Core™, a highly efficient custom processor co-developed by PFN and Kobe University specifically for use in deep learning, MN-3 started operation in May 2020 on a trial basis. Drawing on its software development expertise, PFN continuously improved MN-3’s software stack for higher efficiency and computing performance.

The system used for MN-3’s performance measurement consisted of 32 nodes and 128 MN-Core processors. PFN has made improvements to the software as well as the computer system as a whole to boost energy efficiency, which resulted in a 10.25% increase in computing performance and a 14.05% increase in energy efficiency compared with the November 2020 record. MN-3’s latest energy efficiency record is 40.7% higher than the June 2020 record when MN-3 topped the Green500 list for the first time with the same MN-Core processor. This achievement highlights PFN’s software expertise that made maximal use of MN-Core and MN-3’s potential.

In addition to improving the HPL (High-Performance Linpack) performance, PFN has made significant progress in MN-3’s computing performance for practical deep learning workloads with a specialized compiler for MN-Core. PFN plans to continue improving hardware and software for MN-Core and MN-3 for their use in research and development for autonomous driving, robotics, drug discovery and more.

“We are truly excited to lead the Green500 list once again after coming in first place in June 2020,” said Yusuke Doi, VP of Computing Infrastructure at PFN. “As a processor specialized for deep learning, MN-Core is built on the philosophy that the hardware’s potential can be maximized through software. We believe that there is a growing importance of building hardware and software in tandem, and PFN’s strength lies in this synergy. Our specialized deep learning compiler we recently announced is testament to this. Putting deep learning at the focal point of our research and development efforts, we will continue strengthening our computing resources and software stack that releases the full potential of our hardware.”

The comparison of systems used for measurement and their respective performance are as follows.

Green500 Certificate