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macbookformeNov 30, 2010
Wow!
"Total cost is about $2 million. That's ten to 20 times cheaper that what traditional computing equipment might cost"
sanmanDec 1, 2010
that's why I think cloud gaming will beat out existing consoles by giving us way cooler games at way lower cost
more efficient use of hardware
more efficient distribution
will improve internet infrastructure faster than porn
sreyanotfilcDec 1, 2010
Which may be the reason why Sony and Microsoft is stating that their current console may last 10 years before releasing a new one. I would love to be part of either of their R&D departments. Once bandwidth get's much bigger cloud gaming will take off.
Can you imagine playing a game thats ran by a supercomputer?
yaosioDec 1, 2010
It's also 10 to 20 times slower than what a $10 million-$20 million system would cost.
brian5475eDec 1, 2010
This is old ass news, they been doing this for years now.
amyvernonDec 1, 2010Submitter
The computer was just unveiled this week. Maybe they've been working on it for a while, but the computer was just completed.
amaoicanDec 1, 2010
This particular cluster computer may be new but cluster computers (even those made out of PlayStations) is nothing new.
amyvernonDec 1, 2010Submitter
This article was about this cluster computer, which is the DoD's fastest computer. Which is not "old ass" news.
amaoicanDec 1, 2010
I suspect if the article had a different title - eg "DOD unveils latest, fastest, PS3 cluster" - it would not have gotten brian's hate. But then again, latest in a series doesn't sound nearly as interesting as first of its kind, and to someone who doesn't know about previous PS3 clusters, the title as-is might suggest this was a new concept.
yaosioDec 1, 2010
Considering it's one of the slowest, not the fastest, I'm not sure why they are saying it's the fastest.
darkshade5616Dec 12, 2010
It has a peak performance of 500 TFlops and will be a top 50 supercomputer. How in the hell can you say it's the slowest?
spam396Dec 1, 2010
This is old news. They were pissed off when Sony removed Linux support from firmware because that whats they were using.
beinssDec 1, 2010
I was about to say. Isnt this information At least 3 years old?
frayedknotjeffDec 1, 2010
Yeah but Sony needs a bit of hack news out for the PS3, because Kinect is stealing the limelight with all the kool hack news going around about it.
davidtcDec 1, 2010
Love when random blogs pick up on something and decide to call it something new.
ryebryeDec 1, 2010
The funny part is how they bought all those Ps3s when Sony was still losing a few hundred bucks on each unit sold.
Sony subsidized the DoD :)
davidtcDec 1, 2010
That's why they did it. It was the cheapest way to create a super computer.
alienkidDec 1, 2010
Not after the 3.21 update came out they aren't.
rusty0101Dec 1, 2010
If you go to do the update from an earlier release, you are informed that the update does remove the ability to launch other operating systems, and asked to confirm that you want to perform the update. So long as you don't give Geek Squad $125 (or so) to update your console for you, you have the option of not performing the update. I seriously doubt that the DOD folks maintaining the Condor supercomputer are going to perform the 3.21 update.
The reason you, or someone who's not interested in doing the update is that without it, apps like the latest Netflix, Hulu+ and the latest games available through the Playstation Online store, won't be available to you. If you are not interested in those sorts of things, and if you bought the PS3 to be a cheap way to run linux I don't see why those things would interest you, there's no really good reason to update to a post 3.20 update. Is there?
deceasedvirusDec 1, 2010
To continue on what you were saying, chances are the DoD removed the ps3 OS all together. Additionally they probably flashed the firmware/chip set all together and have their own HDD's/OS running. If I remember the story a year ago, Sony was WORKING with the DoD to take the pre-slim models off the shelf and send them to the AFB. I wouldn't be surprised if we flashed everything to get rid of backdoor/monitoring systems if sony (a private company not a military) would be so stupid to have some put in.
jshhmrDec 1, 2010
Could they do the same with XBOX's? Serious question.
davidtcDec 1, 2010
They would need like 100 times more consoles. Hahaha!
amaoicanDec 1, 2010
I also enjoy disparaging Microsoft. Let's tweet each other.
triple110Dec 1, 2010
Yes...Sort of. You could build a cluster server with them, but you would not get the same "calculation" power that the cell processor has to offer. The XBox360 architecture is more closely based on a desktop PC using an off-shoot of Xeon processors.
deceasedvirusDec 1, 2010
Honestly, Yes and No. One could hack out a super computer comprised of 360's. But the DoD wanted the raw power of the Cell processor. In terms of Calculations per minute the PS3 has the 360 beat out. Thus you would need more consoles there fore a higher budget, on what the DoD calls a "experimental" server farm. I think the DoD will be very pleased with it's decision.
EDIT: triple110 made my same point.
pethanksDec 1, 2010
That's a great combination!
BIGTRINDec 1, 2010
I want one...
freakazoidzaDec 1, 2010
What a waste of money. AMD are bringing out 16 core PC CPUS`s soon. Going to make ps3 look dumb.
IfindsitesDec 2, 2010
I bet there are a bunch of generals at the pentagon that play Call of Duty. They have probably turned some of the surveillance rooms into a man cave :)