US Military builds supercomputer from PS3's

[Kryja]

Found this during lunch at work. Interesting to say the least.

The United States Air Force has transformed almost 2,000 Japanese Sony PlayStation consoles into a powerful supercomputer suitable for military tasks.

The new computer, which has been named the Condor, was created from the gaming devices at the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in New York State in a bid to create a cost effective and green alternative to conventional technology.

The Condor consists of a cluster of 1,760 Sony PlayStation 3 processors fused with high-end technology to create a device which is 50,000 times faster than the average consumer laptop.

Believed to be the 34th most powerful supercomputer in the world, the device will handle tasks including artificial intelligence research, pattern recognition detection and the analysis of heavy quantities of images from surveillance systems.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...-consoles.html

[EtaCarinae]

Until someone builds the next supercomputer with Xbox units. I wonder which one would be more powerful if we take the same number of units. Xbox or PS3?
This would be an interesting match between corporate giants: Microsoft against Sony.

[ggdh]

Interesting, but not new: as posted in one of the comments:
http://spong.com/article/21364/PS3-L...oval-Hits-USAF

[kg4icg]

This was discussed during this passed summer, you are a little late.

[MrMojoZ]

Until someone builds the next supercomputer with Xbox units. I wonder which one would be more powerful if we take the same number of units. Xbox or PS3?
This would be an interesting match between corporate giants: Microsoft against Sony.

PS3s were used because they used to be Linux capable out of the box. No need to wonder which would be more powerful, the PS3 is better at the type of work they are crunching. Not too interesting.

[shoota]

yeah the ps3 cell processor is pretty darn good at crunching stuff if i remember right, it owns the xbox.

[Kryja]

Yeah I knew it was kind of old hat. I remember reading that people were installing Linux on their ps3's (Yellow dog or something like that) to run F@H. PPD was comparable to a Q6600 (please correct me if I'm wrong).

I just found it odd that they'd decide to use console hardware over pc

[CaptMorgan]

I just found it odd that they'd decide to use console hardware over pc

I think it was a situation of it being stable-set and forget possibly?

[Kryja]

But, as Movieman will tell you, that's what sossamans are for

[shoota]

but can sossaman's equal a q6600?

[Duh]

they are very close Cody

[shoota]

hmm..cool! I wish i had a sossaman rig, i don't feel like a genuine XS cruncher without one

[bearcatrp]

The navy did this a couple years ago. Almost bought one but after I heard Sony blocked installing Linux on it, decided not to get one.

[Aphex_Tom_9]

yeah, i remember reading about this. they actually have a problem with it now that the updates and such block installation of linux, so if any of the machines in their network updates itself, it's screwed.

[Kryja]

Cost wise, well in England at least, I could probably build 1.5 / 2 sossas for the cost of a ps3. Probably also use less power too.

Shame to hear that they've blocked them though. I've used mine about a three times in the past six months. Would be nice to get some use out of the 'superior gaming console'.

[D_A]

The current PS3s use less power than 2 Sossamans combined, but not by much.

[bearcatrp]

To bad the PS3 couldn't be used to crunch WCG. $249.00 for a 30gb PS3 at best buy today. Watched a demo car racing game, man the graphics are awesome. To bad I don't game anymore.

[D_A]

It's only an nVidia 7300 GPU, nothing special. Even I have better GFX hardware than that in my PCs. It's the Cell processor that give my inner geek an e-chubby, and the reality is it's only early days for the technology.