U.S. Eases Export Restrictions On High-Speed Computers For Global Markets

President Bush on Wednesday allowed U.S. companies to sell high-speed computers to countries such as Russia, China and India, easing a Cold War-era ban designed to halt the spread of nuclear arms. Computer makers may now export computers capable of complex 3D modeling, fluid dynamics calculations and other advanced applications to Pakistan, Vietnam and other "Tier 3" countries without specific permission from the government.. . . President Bush on Wednesday allowed U.S. companies to sell high-speed computers to countries such as Russia, China and India, easing a Cold War-era ban designed to halt the spread of nuclear arms. Computer makers may now export computers capable of complex 3D modeling, fluid dynamics calculations and other advanced applications to Pakistan, Vietnam and other "Tier 3" countries without specific permission from the government.

The Bush administration more than doubled the processor speed limit, from 85,000 millions of theoretical operations per second (Mtops) to 195,000 Mtops.

A typical U.S. home computer now sold in retail stores is capable of roughly 2,100 Mtops. But the limits on computing power come into play on more powerful workstations and servers.

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