http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/ Engadget Comments for NC State engineer crafts academic cluster with PlayStation 3s http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 10th 2007 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 10th 2007 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Was wondering when a (notable) cell cluster would turn up in one guise or another.]]>Mar 10th 2007 6:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
"This concoction", not, "he was concocting."]]>Mar 10th 2007 7:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Pythagoras ]]>Mar 10th 2007 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 10th 2007 8:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 10th 2007 8:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.ps3grid.net/

More info, I guess, after march 23rd... 8-)]]>Mar 10th 2007 8:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/btw where did you get the idea that the GPU is able to share its VRAM with the system ram because that is just not true.]]>Mar 10th 2007 8:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
No, he/she's right. The Cell processor can access the RSX's 256MB of GDDR3, and vice versa.]]>Mar 11th 2007 3:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.cs.uiuc.edu/news/articles.php?id=2007Feb5-231]]>Mar 11th 2007 7:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/

10 PlayStation3s that were bought by one person that wasnt returned because it failed to sell on ebay. First time for everything I guess :)]]>Mar 11th 2007 12:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 11th 2007 12:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
:D]]>Mar 11th 2007 12:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
The bandwidth is as follows:
RSX 22.4GBs Video Memory
||
15GBs (RSX to Cell) / 20GBs (Cell to RSX)
||
Cell 25.6GBs System Memory

So, the RSX can read/write at a maximum of 15GBs through the Cell, but it would limit the Cell b/w to 10.6GBs usable. Although the Cell has the bandwidth in reverse, the RSX disallows the Cell full use of it's memory, which is what I recall last time I read into it.

The 360 is setup like a T, with the GPU and CPU at the ends of the top bar of the T, a memory controller in the middle and the memory at the bottom. Both the GPU and CPU are connected to it with a 10.8GBs buss (or 10.4, I can't remember) The memory controller is then connected to the memory at 22.4GBs (split between the GPU/CPU [10.8 + 10.8]).

The Cell can read/write twice as fast (as well as the RSX) to each of their own memory as the 360 can. The advantage the 360 has over the PS3 lies in the fact that the memory can be used by either as demands change, but the PS3 is limited in how much memory the Cell can use effectively. But if you followed the speeds listed above, the Cell can read/write data much faster from it's limited memory.

If I remember correctly (it's been a while) your standard PC has less than 10GBs bandwidth from CPU to memory as well. I think last I read it's around 8GBs.

Anyway, much more info than you wanted to know :P]]>Mar 11th 2007 7:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
Come on Engadget, post something that actually took some effort. You know, like running Linux on a device that doesn't happen to have an easy to use installer (like 360, or *sniggers* Wii).]]>Mar 11th 2007 8:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
You know someone has already made a 360 linux-ready distro and there is supposedly an easy to use installer in the works. Doesn't work on unmodified systems, but if you or anyone else is interested, I'm sure www.xbox-scene.com has the info (it was on their front page, if it's not by now check the archives and/or the forums).

- Tony R.]]>Mar 11th 2007 9:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
Kudos again, but if you really want to get some number crunching done instead of a "just go and try it" project, then it'd be better to contact IBM. I'm sure universities get a discount rate as well.

- Tony R.]]>Mar 11th 2007 9:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 15th 2007 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
- Tony R.]]>Mar 16th 2007 1:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 11th 2007 9:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/Mar 12th 2007 11:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/10/nc-state-engineer-crafts-academic-cluster-with-playstation-3s/
I am curious about the performance of this verses a standard cluster.]]>Mar 14th 2007 6:47PM