Building a stand-alone 256-core RISC-V computer

If you are interested in building your own supercomputer with 256 RISC-V cores, you may be interested in this project video. It details an ambitious method of creating a 256-core RISC-V supercomputer using interconnected microcontrollers. The video guides you through the intricacies of design, assembly and troubleshooting, highlighting the challenges encountered and the brilliant solutions developed along the way.

The journey begins with a humble but crucial step: assembling 16 RISC-V microcontrollers, each connected by an 8-bit bus. Turning on the pink LED on each microcontroller serves two purposes:

• Simplifying the implementation of a bus system
• Facilitating monitoring of system functionality

This initial configuration forms the basis of the supercluster and sets the stage for future complex work.

Construction of a stand-alone 256-core RISC-V supercomputer

With the foundations laid, it was time to scale up to a larger cluster of 16 superclusters. This phase poses significant design challenges, especially in managing GPIO extensions and bus systems. The key to success is to ensure effective communication between microcontrollers without overcrowding the bus. Finding the right balance is crucial to maintaining optimal performance and reliability.
To manage superclusters effectively, the blade cluster is introduced. This adapter board, equipped with two microcontrollers, acts as the supervisor for the superclusters. By assigning each supercluster its own bus, data bottlenecks are prevented, ensuring smooth and efficient communication. The blade cluster proves to be revolutionary in its overall design, streamlining data flow and increasing system performance.

At the heart of the mega cluster is the blade base, which is responsible for connecting the cluster blades and communicating with USB. To ensure optimal performance, higher clock speeds are necessary at this level. Larger microcontrollers must efficiently handle data from their smaller counterparts, which requires fast and reliable data processing. The cassette base serves as a central hub, ensuring seamless integration and communication throughout the system.

The assembly process requires extreme attention to detail because each connection and component plays a key role in the overall functionality of the supercomputer. Initial tests show promising results, and the synchronized blinking of the LED indicates proper communication between the microcontrollers. However, a missing command line was discovered in the bus system, requiring further investigation and modification.

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Adapting and Overcoming: Modifying the Bus System

To solve the problem of missing command line, a clever solution was developed. By reassigning the clock line to a control signal, better control and communication between microcontrollers is achieved. Additionally, a collision detection protocol has been implemented that effectively deals with data packet collisions. This modification demonstrates the importance of adaptability and problem-solving when faced with unexpected challenges.

Ensuring smooth operation: dealing with collisions

Collisions are an inevitable part of any complex system, and this unique design is no exception. To mitigate the effects of collisions, processors are programmed to detect them and resend packets after random waiting times. Each processor is assigned a unique ID to ensure fair distribution and collision detection. This approach minimizes data loss and ensures smooth operation, even in the face of occasional collisions.
During rigorous live testing, the bus system and protocol are put to the test. The system effectively handles collisions and delays, confirming the effectiveness of unique design choices and modifications. The impressive design and countless hours of hard work and troubleshooting that went into creating this 256-core RISC-V DIY supercomputer are truly astounding.

As you can see in the video, building a 256-core RISC-V supercomputer is not for the faint of heart, but it offers a journey full of challenges, innovations and triumphs. By carefully navigating the complex design, assembly and troubleshooting processes, it is possible to create a 256-core RISC-V supercomputer.

Video source: source

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