Dataflow Computing in Extreme Performance Conditions

Abstract Reconfigurable computers, generally based on field programmable gate array technology, have been used successfully as a platform for performance critical applications in a variety of industries. Applications targeted at reconfigurable computers can exploit their fine-grained parallelism, predictable low latency performance and very high data throughput per watt. Traditional techniques for designing configurations are, however, generally considered time consuming and cumbersome and this has limited commercial reconfigurable computer usage. To solve this problem, Maxeler Technologies Ltd, working closely with Imperial College London, have developed powerful new tools and hardware based on the dataflow computing paradigm. In this chapter, we explore these tools and technologies and present a case study on how they have enabled a weather forecast application to be accelerated almost two orders of magnitude compared to conventional widespread technologies.