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IBM's Cell Processor — Not Just for PS3 Anymore

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the processor-before-the-games dept.

TechFreep writes to tell us that IBM has released a new line of QS20 Blade Servers based on the processor they developed for the Playstation 3. From the article: "Today IBM announced a new line of high-powered QS20 Blade Servers intended for use in seismic research, encryption, digital image rendering and military surveillance applications. Each QS20 will include two nine-cored Cell Processors clocked at 3.2Ghz apiece, which were developed along with Sony and Toshiba for Sony's upcoming Playstation 3 console. As Playstation 3 isn't scheduled for release until November, the QS20 will mark the first application in which the highly-touted Cell will be available to consumers."

5 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing for you to see here. Please move along. by Doytch · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aint that the truth. The damn things aren't even being built yet.

  2. High availability by Doctor+Memory · · Score: 4, Funny
    the highly-touted Cell will be available to consumers.
    Sure, as long as you're spying on someone else's armed forces, analyzing their armaments via seismograph and taking pictures that you then encrypt to send to your superiors. Bet they'll be backordered for the holidays!
    --
    Just junk food for thought...
    1. Re:High availability by jthill · · Score: 4, Funny

      Cool. What's the working title on THAT game?

      --
      As always, all IMO. Insert "I think" everywhere grammatically possible.
  3. Re:Different markets by jamstar7 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Nope. It was concieved as a component for massively parallel processing, but using it in the playstation was the only way to get the volume production that I need to get the kind of reliability I want for my nuclear simulations.

    OK, lemme see if I get this right...

    I buy a PS3. Hook it to the net. Leave it on 24/7. Your nuke simulating supercomputer comes over the net & scams spare cycles off of me a la SETI@Home.

    Did I miss anything?

    --
    Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step on the path to true panic.
  4. Re:Mac OSX? by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Anyone else expect to see a Mac OSX Xserve running these babies in 2008?"

    nope.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect