Uncle Sam needs novel memory for nuke sims. So why did it choose Intel?

The US Department of Energy's Sandia National Labs believes that novel memory tech may be the secret to faster, more accurate nuclear weapon simulations. That's why this week the agency awarded a research and development contract to Intel – an outfit that has systematically dismantled its memory business over the past few …

[Pete 2]

Simulator, simulate thyself!

> have the potential to deliver more than 40x the application performance of our forthcoming NNSA exascale systems

You'd think that an outfit which exists to model nuclear detonations and hypersonic, turbulent, airflow would be able to come up with something a little more certain about the performance of its own futuristic computers.

Can't it model them, too?

[luis river]

True mem. tech option ?

Somebody Kown on what intel novel tech memory is one based? Not they are not...3dxpoint and nand flash techs, both selling by intel not too far. That novel mem tech is based and inspired I think, on previous developments by Intel and that it is a solid tech mem.option. Viewed the circumstances that is it a true mem. option. I Think.

[elsergiovolador]

Hot chips

I think the problem is that other chips like M1 don't get hot enough.

The simulation cannot be true to the original if it is not literally vaporising things in its vicinity.

[Ace2]

There is literally no level of spending on guns & bombs that is high enough such that the GQP will not attack the Democratic Party for trying to reduce it. Thus the cost doesn’t matter, write a blank check, Intel’s as good as anyone at spending government bucks.

[prh99]

Unless they're going to Ukraine, then they have an issue with the spending.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

It's their turn

The point if this is to hand out taxpayers money to support the national semiconductor company without it looking like communism or raising the eyebrows at the WTO

[heyrick]

The WOPR was right

I think everybody thinking that they need "more accurate" nuke simulations (in both East and West) needs to be sat down and forced to watch the entirety of Threads.

If one side launches, the other will retaliate. Other countries will get dragged in according to their allegiance. Anybody threatens Israel, they'll dust off the Sampson option and throw the nukes they don't have all over the place. Very much a "we'll all go down together" situation. Not Israel, everybody.

Humanity will survive, but those few that do won't much like the world they have to live in.

So we don't need more accurate simulations, we need to be figuring out ways to ensure this scenario never ever happens.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The WOPR was right

Which means ensuring that the existing stockpile works - without testing them.

If Russia was confident that the US's toys didn't work after 40years in storage with no tests - it might decide that other European cities are a nice place to visit for a special military operation.

Similarly if the Chinese believe that Russia's stockpile are now less than efficient, it might decide that the natural borders of the middle kingdom are a lot closer to Moscow.

[An_Old_Dog]

Re: The WOPR was right

... or watch the German animated short film, "Balance".

[Trigonoceps occipitalis]

Re: The WOPR was right

"Very much a "we'll all go down together" situation. Not Israel, everybody."

.

And we will all go together when we go.

What a comforting fact that is to know.

Universal bereavement,

An inspiring achievement,

Yes, we all will go together when we go.

.

Tom Lehrer

[Ididntbringacoat]

How did INTEL come by it's name? What were the prior careers of the Founders? Old ties bind well.

[MetalScythe]

Intel = Integrated Electronics…

[Anonymous Coward]

Intel

At first glance, asking a company with no memory business to develop a new memory technology seems daft.

OTOH, a company without an established memory busiess is less tied to existing designs, tools, and ways of thinking. This could be a savvy move.

[MetalScythe]

Re: Intel

That’s what I’m thinking, at the very least, they can -possibly- be agile in developing new technology not bound by legacy designs.