Sony wrangles Cell chip into ZEGO BCU-100 video rendering system

Not that most of us are on the hunt for 1U server blades to build a rendering farm out of, but it's always fun to see Sony's PS3 hardware put to a use that actually earns Sony money. The Cell-based ZEGO BCU-100 includes the PS3's RSX graphics processor and is designed for processing HD video. Sony plans to work with software developers to take advantage of the unique architecture, and will be launching 'em later this year in the States. No word on price.

[Via Electronista]

[JUM @ Aug 14th 2008 7:53PM]

The RSX is the modified NVIDIA 7800, not the Cell.

[aetherdeus @ Aug 14th 2008 8:27PM]

FTFA: "The ZEGO platform is based on Sony's Cell Broadband Engine..."
Paul, you might wanna change the article to say "..also includes the PS3's RSX...", just for technicality.
Still, good to see IBM and Sony getting some more mileage out of the ol' Cell. Other industries are starting to use the Cell-based Blades for big computations, too.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 14th 2008 10:33PM]

It does include the CELL BBE, I just hope they give the RSX and CELL each more than 256mb of ram that's in the current PS3.

And in my opinion, the small amount of high speed ram just isn't enough. At minimum, the PS3 should have had 512mb and possibly 768-1024MB.

[ddaw735 @ Aug 14th 2008 8:07PM]

OH SHIT A NEW COMMENT SYSTEM

[Lotheron @ Aug 14th 2008 8:31PM]

Yeah, and you still can't reply to a reply.

[steven @ Aug 14th 2008 8:30PM]

test

[steven @ Aug 14th 2008 8:31PM]

Sorry, I used to post under the name SteveMB and I can finally post again after being banned for saying anti-Apple stuff.

[xValentine @ Aug 14th 2008 9:45PM]

Is it really only anti-apply comments?

[xValentine @ Aug 14th 2008 9:46PM]

oops typo.

*anti-apple*

:)

[Nabiel @ Aug 14th 2008 8:46PM]

Why stick with RSX? Lots of more high-end cards out there.

[Temple @ Aug 14th 2008 10:14PM]

Likely due to available APIs and development tools that are already available for the PS3, and don't have to be redesigned for this iteration. Also, the volume sales of this machine is likely going to be incredibly small, hence getting off the shelf tech is much more cost effective.

Remember, this is a blade system where multiple machines are going to be staked above each other and running in parrellel. Cost is a very important issue if you are going to be buying multiple blades.

Also, since this is a video-rendering system, and not used for 3D rendering, the benefits of using a more complex system with higher power consumption where most of the 3D capabilities are going to go unused is suspect. And most of the video rendering is likely going to take place in the Cell not the RSX.

[Jon MacDoanld @ Aug 14th 2008 8:54PM]

ummmm just trying out this comment thing

[OiD @ Aug 14th 2008 9:04PM]

It's celling all wright!

[octoberasian @ Aug 14th 2008 9:08PM]

It makes me curious:

With Nvidia's Quadraplex (8800-based) and Sony's RSX (7800-based), why would developers go for this over the Quadraplex?

[tuaamin13 @ Aug 14th 2008 9:39PM]

Cost?

Ease of use? It sounds like it's a 1U PS3, meaning you can basically just look at PS3 references to learn the system. Insomniac for one has a lot of stuff available to help other programmers.

[Skyride @ Aug 14th 2008 11:17PM]

But the Quadroplex is sooooooooooooooo much faster than the RSX, its probably a 4 digit number in performance increase percentage.

[loosely_coupled @ Aug 16th 2008 4:46AM]

completely different. The RSX is probably next to meaningless as the CELL BE is what is going to be doing most of the video rendering...

[Game_playa @ Aug 14th 2008 9:12PM]

OH SHIT A NEW COMMENT SYSTEM( TEST ).

[max @ Aug 14th 2008 9:14PM]

i wonder if you install linux on it can you use the graphics card

[Zorque @ Aug 14th 2008 9:51PM]

Probably the first good use for the Cell.

[WickedEast @ Aug 15th 2008 9:47AM]

The other good use of a cell is you in it.

[AlphaTeam @ Aug 14th 2008 10:51PM]

I'm looking forward to OTF HD encoding,

[Skyride @ Aug 14th 2008 11:11PM]

Wow, I hate AOL. But anyway.

Whats the point in this. Anyone who genuninely needs this sort of stuff will already be looking at nvidia tesla systems. Tesla = GPU designed for offloading CPU work to GPU. They are just awesome pieces of kit (and price accordingly).

Considering I have just modified my 7900GTX to use Quadro FX 5500 drivers, I can assure you that the nvidia driver system would not need to be reporgrammed to move from the RSX. I haven't tried doing anything with my PS3 in terms of modding but im not using it for gaming anymore so its either mod, ebay or both. Im liking the sound of the latter option.

[linuxamp @ Aug 15th 2008 12:16AM]

You do realize that Weblogs Inc (Engadget etc) has been owned by AOL since 10/2005 right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weblogs_Inc#History

[Holger @ Aug 15th 2008 3:46AM]

Hm... is it just me or does this sound like Sony screwing it up again?

I mean the cell is nice and this is probably a nice rig... but unless they have a really simple API or SDK that developers can use, people are gonna stick with what they are used to.

[neofolklore @ Aug 15th 2008 7:45AM]

wait till dark_alex cracks the firmware on this thing

[tyler @ Aug 15th 2008 8:22AM]

I'm guessing the price will be $499 and $599. Then just $499.. followed by $399 eventually..

[Zeus.:God @ Aug 15th 2008 10:24AM]

I honestly don't see the point in this... It's just a PS3 in a different case, it seems.