Technology Overview

DeCypher represents a recently introduced class of technology known as Configurable Computing (also known as reconfigurable computing). A Configurable Computer is one in which tasks are accelerated by direct execution in special hardware. 

A type of silicon chip known as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is used. Unique to Configurable systems is the hardware's ability to dynamically adapt (re-wire its on-chip logic quickly an unlimited number of times) via software control, to incorporate new functionality at ultra-high speeds.

Prior concerns about early obsolescence, associated with fast but rigid-function custom chips (called ASICs) are now a thing of the past. On DeCypher's FPGAs, the "inner-loop" of each complex algorithm executes in a single clock cycle on hundreds to thousands of parallel processing elements inside the DeCypher accelerator array. As the next job is begun, DeCypher's FPGAs adapt in less than a second to conform to the requested algorithm. In contrast, conventional CPUs require tens to thousands of cycles to perform each iteration for complex bioinformatics algorithms. 

The result?  Raw horsepower for mission critical resource goals and a five to ten year jump on Moore's Law. Wouldn't you rather drive your discovery team's goals with a solution offering price-performance of the future than manage a 1,000+ CPU server farm?

With genetic data now doubling every six months, three doublings (8x) will take place within the next eighteen months, while Moore's Law will only reduce computing costs by half.  You'll need four times more IT budget just to stay even, and that doesn't count new loads from larger query sets, more users, and the additional analysis methods you'll be running to remain competitive.

To learn more about FPGA-based configurable computing technology see

• Villasenor, J. and Mangione-Smith, W. H.,
  Configurable Computing.
  Scientific American June 1997:66-71
  
  
• Hardware goes soft
  The Economist, 22 May 1999:89-90
  
  
• Srikumar S. Rao
  Chips that change their spots
  Forbes Magazine, 1 December 1997
  
  
• A list of additional web sites relating to configurable computing has been compiled by the BRASS group at UC Berkeley
  
  
• "Programmable logic shortens the lengthy, costly prototype process and moves new products to market faster...Programmable logic’s main advantage over application-specific circuits is the software. Application-specific circuits are just how they sound--processors build around hard-wired software programs. The less-rigid programmable logic software used with the [FPGA] chips can be reprogrammed, saving the cost of designing a new chip."   
  —Investor's Business Daily, Page 1, February 25, 2000.

DeCypher: [Introduction] [Scalability] [Algorithms]
[Tera-BLAST™] [FPGA Technology] [Interface] [Platform]