ps3?

[themasher]

is the PS3's cell processor really that powerful?

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and if it is why don't we just use PS3's instead of PC's?

 

[jpbaloga]

only linux os can be put into the ps3 so why would you use a ps3 than a pc?

 

[Mazo]

Because it's extremely hard to program to run over that many cores and have everything perfectly balanced. It's just not easy for game designers to do, that's why the 360 is superior.

 

[NoPeace]

Yes the Cell Processor is that powerful. Why else would IBM use them in their servers they sell.

And why don't people use them as computers? Well 2 problems pose from it.

1) At the moment only Linux runs on it and most users don't
2) It's crippled with only 256mb of RAM

Sure the CPU is amazingly fast and it has a good high end GPU but the low amount of RAM hold it back from being used as a desktop.

If it had 1gb of RAM I'm sure tons of people will be using it as desktops.

For crying out loud. It has eight highly efficient 3.2ghz processors. And not to mention it only costs $600usd.

Last time I check you can get a 4800+, 1gb of RAM, and intergraded graphics for that much in the shops.

I'm sure more people will be using it as a desktop when the PS4 comes around with more RAM.

Until then we have to wait for either that or the desktop release of the Cell processor. (Which was spouse to be this year.)

NoPeace - out

 

[Mazo]

Havn't taken into account the sheer effort that has to be put in to code any program that will balance the load equally over all those cores NoPeace.

 

[NoPeace]

Havn't taken into account the sheer effort that has to be put in to code any program that will balance the load equally over all those cores NoPeace.

You don't have to balance the load equally over the cores.

Split it up.

Do audio processing on 1 core, AI on another, physics on 1-2 cores, env objects on another core and right there you have 5 cores in use. Then you can just program the other 3 to do any other random things. Like processing the lighting effects for the GPU and other things like data management and with the last one you can use it to help out the others.

You don't even have to use all 8-cores. But it does give you much more head room to handle data.

Having a separate core just for AI and sound will improve performance a lot with lots of physics enabled.

8 cores = tons of possibilities

And it's just a matter of time before people get the hang of not having to use a single core to do multiple things.

NoPeace - out

 

[kip0130]

i heard the 8800 GTS was far more powerful GPU wise than te pS3

 

[SiK]

Which would be true as the PS3's GPU is based on the GeForce 7800GTX more or less.

 

[themasher]

so if they would make a PC with PS3 cpu+X360 GPU and 2GB ram wed be set for a while?

 

[Robert]

You don't have to balance the load equally over the cores.

Split it up.

Do audio processing on 1 core, AI on another, physics on 1-2 cores, env objects on another core and right there you have 5 cores in use. Then you can just program the other 3 to do any other random things. Like processing the lighting effects for the GPU and other things like data management and with the last one you can use it to help out the others.

You don't even have to use all 8-cores. But it does give you much more head room to handle data.

Having a separate core just for AI and sound will improve performance a lot with lots of physics enabled.

8 cores = tons of possibilities

And it's just a matter of time before people get the hang of not having to use a single core to do multiple things.

NoPeace - out

Yeah if there were 8 datapaths to the CPU. I bet only 3-4 cpus will be used most of the time as the data speed of the bus will be too slow.

If your going to split it up for different tasks you might aswell have chips for each. I guess the only reason to put them all together is so they can share a cache thus sending info faster to each processor. Also having each modual the same means it can swap over if it needs to or can use more if it needs more power to one thing.

They might aswell of stuck all the bits of a PC together into one chip

 

[SiK]

so if they would make a PC with PS3 cpu+X360 GPU and 2GB ram wed be set for a while?

You would most likely need programs specifically made to get a performance boost off of 8 cores or you wouldn't notice any differences.

 

[NoPeace]

so if they would make a PC with PS3 cpu+X360 GPU and 2GB ram wed be set for a while?

8800 GTX > X360's Xenos

You would most likely need programs specifically made to get a performance boost off of 8 cores or you wouldn't notice any differences.

Pretty much. Just like with quad cores. You get no gain going from a same clocked dual core to the same clocked quad core.

Though when it comes down to it. You can do more at once if you can manage to send each thread to a different core. Which most OSes can't do well.

The load balancing on both XP and Vista is horrible. Though Vista does a much better job at it.

With XP on a quad core you are looking at 50%-20%-5%-5% load balancing on a multi threaded app. On vista its 40%-40%-15%-10%. Much better but still not equal.

NoPeace - out

 

[iNs@nE]

Oh yeah it is! Am right now flat at the HD effects.