title: Fast neural net simulation with a DSP processor array.
abstract: This paper describes the implementation of a fast neural net simulator on a novel parallel distributed-memory computer. A 60-processor system, named MUSIC (multiprocessor system with intelligent communication), is operational and runs the backpropagation algorithm at a speed of 330 million connection updates per second (continuous weight update) using 32-b floating-point precision. This is equal to 1.4 Gflops sustained performance. The complete system with 3.8 Gflops peak performance consumes less than 800 W of electrical power and fits into a 19-in rack. While reaching the speed of modern supercomputers, MUSIC still can be used as a personal desktop computer at a researcher's own disposal. In neural net simulation, this gives a computing performance to a single user which was unthinkable before. The system's real-time interfaces make it especially useful for embedded applications.
authors.affiliation: Electron. Lab., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technol., Zurich.
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunzinger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guggenbuhl