PS3 Cell Chip

[vladittude0583]

It seems that every report regarding the PS3's Cell Chip yields great news whether it be for medical, security, etc. Some reports even compare it to Intel chips. Is it possible for the Cell to be used for Desktop PCs, Laptops, etc?

The Cell has 8 cores in one processor right?

I mean, Intel already has their quad-cores, so why not an 8-core? Is it too expensive or is it just that the programs are not there yet to utilize so many cores?

[shatta]

the cell chip was not from lays....

[maximiza]

I think one of the cores are disabled on the PS3 and they are not real independant cores, BUT , the power has not even been tapped. The 8 core ones are used by the military and medical stuff. They have a video of the PS3 doing ray tracing graphics somewhere, which is the future of video games.

[Sonny]

I think the PS3's I bought along with million's of others is the best most advanced piece of equipment money can buy

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by vladittude0583

It seems that every report regarding the PS3's Cell Chip yields great news whether it be for medical, security, etc. Some reports even compare it to Intel chips. Is it possible for the Cell to be used for Desktop PCs, Laptops, etc?

The Cell has 8 cores in one processor right?

I mean, Intel already has their quad-cores, so why not an 8-core? Is it too expensive or is it just that the programs are not there yet to utilize so many cores?

The chip has many uses, IBM uses it in servers. No reason it could not be in a laptop but not likely running Windows. Interesting enough is that Toshiba is also one of the developers of the chip and plans to use it in HDTV's in the future:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_microprocessor

[zoon_ii]

Originally Posted by maximiza

I They have a video of the PS3 doing ray tracing graphics somewhere, which is the future of video games.

what's that..?

visual example?

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by zoon_ii

what's that..?

visual example?

Ray Tracing

Example of Ray Tracing Benefit

[xtop]

cell isn't ideal for consumer consumption. it'll do linux on the ps3. but you won't see this in desktops or laptops. cell and x86 processors are different beasts

[ahaxton]

Yeah I think no matter how hard hackers and all try it cant be fully used as a desktop because of the chip.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

I guess we'll find out. My take on it is...if it can be used in numerous server applications, it can be used as a desktop/laptop PC. But, with Intel coming out with a 80 core processor, the Cell can't compete with that.

[xtop]

yeah but we wont be seeing an 80 core intel chip anytime soon. and the architecture is still too different.

[jorg]

the cell will be used as an accelorator in desktop like in servers mite start seiing in mac becuase of the ,main main ppc actucture and such
the cell works more like a gpu then a cpu its kinda the in batween
the cell can be 10x more powerfull then intels most current but it need more specific programming

[vladittude0583]

So far, all I have heard in terms of the Cell chips application beyond the PS3 is that of in IBM Servers, Stanford University's Folding @ Home, and a Physicist using it for astrophysical calculations over at M.I.T. (I think). Has the cell been used in other facilities besides those I just listed? What about another university using several PS3's to do some computational work? Thanks.

[ahaxton]

Would kind of stink as a desktop if we cant play any games. Considering the architecture I don't think we could even attempt at one point to play a pc game? Same with a lot of apps too right? because of the difference in the architecture?

[jorg]

u can try but its slow becuase the code is very robust and it just uses the main ppc and hardly teh spes (which is a source of major power)

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by maximiza

I think one of the cores are disabled on the PS3 and they are not real independant cores, BUT , the power has not even been tapped. The 8 core ones are used by the military and medical stuff. They have a video of the PS3 doing ray tracing graphics somewhere, which is the future of video games.

one has been disabled in the sense for MESHED ERA REDUNDANCY and the SPE's are full independant cores..the SPE's can issue DMA commands to other SPE's but not with the MAIN part of the memory block due to the process would take a hit..the Cell is a streaming processor there is not Branch prediction because it uses a call file mail command design the PPE gives the SPE's a task and the SPE's can issue to DMA commands to each OTHER SPE or DMA TO THE CORE Memory block that's how the Cell processor overcomes the Memory Wall latency problem's that trad. processors have. but also the other limitations that the other Processors don't get with this type of processor design. in other chip designs there is trade off's

[powersfoss]

Originally Posted by joeorc

one has been disabled in the sense for MESHED ERA REDUNDANCY and the SPE's are full independant cores..the SPE's can issue DMA commands to other SPE's but not with the MAIN part of the memory block due to the process would take a hit..the Cell is a streaming processor there is not Branch prediction because it uses a call file mail command design the PPE gives the SPE's a task and the SPE's can issue to DMA commands to each OTHER SPE or DMA TO THE CORE Memory block that's how the Cell processor overcomes the Memory Wall latency problem's that trad. processors have. but also the other limitations that the other Processors don't get with this type of processor design. in other chip designs there is trade off's

Yeah, but we want TECHNICAL details! C'mon, man! ;-)

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by jorg

the cell will be used as an accelorator in desktop like in servers mite start seiing in mac becuase of the ,main main ppc actucture and such
the cell works more like a gpu then a cpu its kinda the in batween
the cell can be 10x more powerfull then intels most current but it need more specific programming

I hated the fact that Cell research has stopped. The 45nm 6GHz Cell was where the research has stopped. I guess those will probably be in the PS4 (2 of them...each).

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by Ascended_Saiyan

I hated the fact that Cell research has stopped. The 45nm 6GHz Cell was where the research has stopped. I guess those will probably be in the PS4 (2 of them...each).

I remember (or do I?) reading somewhere that theoretically they can put 4 Cells on a chip; is that right?

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Ascended_Saiyan

I hated the fact that Cell research has stopped. The 45nm 6GHz Cell was where the research has stopped. I guess those will probably be in the PS4 (2 of them...each).

nah. cell 2, if anything at all. cell cost a lot of money, i wouldn't be surprised to see it canned