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Linux For Cell Processor Workstation

Posted by timothy on from the interesting-things-on-the-horizon dept.

News for nerds writes "The Cell processor from Sony, Toshiba and IBM, has been known as the chip that powers the upcoming PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, but except for that very little is known about how it's applied to a real use. This time, at LinuxTag 2005 from 22nd to 25rd June 2005, at Messe- und Kongresszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, Arnd Bergmann of IBM will speak about the Cell Processor programming model under Linux, and the Linux kernel in the first Cell Processor-based workstation computer, which premieres at Linuxtag 2005."

4 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Another Demo loop by BagOBones · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Too bad that at LinuxTag 2005 all you will get to see is a looped video on running "real time" on "similar hardware" simulating the great development advanced you will be able to achieve with the new cell processor.

    Maybe the old man face and duck in water tech demos from the PS2 will also appear.. Did any PS2 game ever look as good as sonys techdemos?

    --
    EA David Gardner -"... but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun."
  2. Re:The Linux role in hardware design by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 5, Insightful
    how it has given chip/platform makers a specific, generic target OS that they can use freely to get something useful running on their hardware quickly

    Perhaps because it is a Unix work-alike, and this was the original design goal of Unix?

    --
    Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
  3. Re:Perhaps he is right though by rpozz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I doubt this is the result of a 5 year plan simply because Jobs loves Intel. That's just pure insanity.

    The other possibility is that Apple have got seriously pissed off watching IBM spew out the 3-core G5 for the XBox 360, the Cell for the PS3, and leaving them with an aging 2.7GHz CPU.

  4. Re:Some words about Big Blue by bWareiWare.co.uk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Okay what do we know about IBM:

    • The have designed the chips for all the major consoles.
    • The have dumped their Intel based PC business.
    • They have dumped their partner for Power based PCs (IBM would have hardly had to bend over backwards to continue the Apple relationship - they must have basically stonewalled them for Job's to risk a jump to Intel.)
    • They are very Linux friendly.

    What does that mean?

    • They are going to ship an unbelievable volume of chips, allowing them to make highend chips cost effectively.
    • They have no tires to the existing PC business and are completely free to do something new.
    • They have a powerful and adaptable OS that they can push for everything from mobile phones to big iron.

    If I was Intel/Microsoft/Apple/Lenovo I would be running for the hills. IBM is about to try and redefine computing again.

    I am not simply recycling the hype about the CELL being better then sliced bread. I truly think the signs are there that IBM is going to go head long into the Workstation/Embedded/Client/Server market with a CELL/Linux architecture and are going to try and settle some very old debts with Wintel.

    I don't now whether they will successes. I expect it will come down to whether they can make programming the SPU's as easy as x86. But I think it will be a very interesting few years.