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View Full Version : Not another Cell thread! I had to do it!

GwymWeepa
23-May-2005, 22:57
Alright, so I noticed there is a folding@home team for beyond3d...I personally run Seti in the background while working on my archaic PC at home...I think distributed computing used for scientific purposes is a fantastic idea. Well I was wondering, what are the chances of ps3 or even either of the two other consoles allowing you to run such programs when the system is idle or not using much of its over-all horsepower (like when watching dvds)? I know Cell was designed with distributed computing in mind (as implied by its name), and they've mentioned an estimate on how quickly Cell could complete a Seti data packet...but will they allow us to actually run these sorts of software? Does anyone have any concrete info? Also, in your opinion, will Cell really be all that much better than a typical PC when running said data?
DemoCoder
23-May-2005, 23:17
CELL was designed as an offshoot from IBM Research on Blue Gene for protein folding, so there's a very good chance a farm of CELLs would do good on folding@home. Seti AFAIK is simply signal transform algorithm so should run well on pretty much any system.
digitalwanderer
23-May-2005, 23:24
STOP WITH ALL THE CELL THREADS ALREADY!!!! :shock:

C'mon, even I am getting bored with 'em all. :?
Vaan
23-May-2005, 23:24
It would be a BIG POINT if PS3 come with some kind of distributed computing software to enhance some kinds of investigations while being on internet or IMing.
Carl B
23-May-2005, 23:27
It would be a BIG POINT if PS3 come with some kind of distributed computing software to enhance some kinds of investigations while being on internet or IMing.

I don't know - I'm not sure how many consumers would react to that, as powerful a tool as that could be. It's a little too 'techy' to expect it to come to much if it's a user opt-in situation, and all sorts of red flags if it's not. If they do it I'll be surprised - and probably contribute my own spare Cell cycles - but I'm not holding out for it in terms of PS3.

It might be a big point for you and others, but not for 99% of the population.
Vaan
24-May-2005, 00:08
It might be a big point for you and others, but not for 99% of the population.


Of course. But just imagine the hype... "When you run a PS3, you are helping to find the cure to Cancer"... LOL, that would be a BOMBAAA :mrgreen:
wco81
24-May-2005, 00:25
If these consoles are as noisy as many suspect, most people will just turn them off when not playing games. That's the difference between computers and appliances.

Will people keep the Xbox360 on and plugged in so they could get messages or invites on XBL?

Hmmm. :?:
Monty
25-May-2005, 17:23
i use media center on the xbox more than play games, so if next gen consoles had a similar sort of media center to play films and such then i certainly wouldnt mind pumping up my F@H score whilst watching things.

i'd probably get quite a few points as well cos i watch alot.
GwymWeepa
02-Jun-2005, 09:53
If these consoles are as noisy as many suspect, most people will just turn them off when not playing games. That's the difference between computers and appliances.

Will people keep the Xbox360 on and plugged in so they could get messages or invites on XBL?

Hmmm. :?:

Hmm, that could be solved by the chip ratcheting down its power consumption (lowering its speed naturally), reducing the need for a fan (so it slows down, quieting itself).

Honestly I think a poster above me made a great point...curing cancer with the ps3, that could be a very interesting angle. They could make an argument, via properly placed ads, that buying a ps3 for your child COULD be seen as an act of charity.
london-boy
02-Jun-2005, 13:48
It might be a big point for you and others, but not for 99% of the population.


Of course. But just imagine the hype... "When you run a PS3, you are helping to find the cure to Cancer"... LOL, that would be a BOMBAAA :mrgreen:

well i'm sorry i don't want framerate issues just to help people with cancer!!! i mean, let's get our priorities right!
Titanio
02-Jul-2005, 00:11
I'm sure with Linux apparently going to be available on PS3, and pretty soon, a Seti port will happen. There's already a linux version out there, so all we'd need is some enterprising individual(s) to optimise it to use the SPEs..et voila. Of course, not every PS3 could run it, but those with Linux could.