Bede is the N8’s Power and GPU-based high-performance computing (HPC) platform run by the N8 Centre of Excellence in Computationally Intensive Research (N8 CIR). Unlike traditional x86 platforms, Bede is GPU-based and makes use of NVIDIA’s NV Link high-bandwidth interconnects to move tensor outputs between the GPU and system memory. This unique architecture is ideally suited to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications. Bede will also be able to work with much higher resolution imagery than has previously been possible.

Since the system was handed over on 17 August, the team at Durham University have been working to fully commission the system ready for its formal launch. They have tailored the hardware and software environments to make it as easy as possible for researchers to maximise the benefits of the system’s unique GPU-based architecture.

Experienced users of high-performance platforms will be familiar with accessing a system such as Bede. However, researchers new to HPC shouldn’t be put off from applying for access. Each of the N8 universities has a research software engineer (RSE) dedicated to supporting Bede and its users. At Manchester the support will be provided by the Research IT Infrastructure team.

The system is not restricted to N8 CIR’s current research priorities of Digital Health and Digital Humanities. Researchers from all academic domains should consider applying for access. Each of the N8 Universities (Durham, Lancaster, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York) have equal access to the machine. In addition, there is a separate allocation for non-N8 EPSRC-funded researchers.

Full details of the system can be found on the N8 CIR website.: The page includes overviews of the system’s hardware, its software environments, details of the comprehensive RSE support available to users and an explanation of how to register projects and user accounts.