What is a "Cell" Processor

Probably the trickiest concept when comparing the Tri-Core XBox 360 to the PS3 (technically a single core) processor is understanding the "Cell" processors that the PS3 uses. Technically the PS3 is a High speed PPC processor with 8 Cell co-processors .. of which 6 are available for general gaming use. (I don't have the link, and will dig it up .. but I read one cell is dedicated to the Sony OS and the other is a "spare" used to take the place of the other 7 cells should a defect occur).

Wikipedia has a good overview of the cell processor with a picture of the die. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(microprocessor)).

Here is an a great overview document explaining the cell architecture by a guy named Nicholas Blachford. Its http://www.blachford.info/computer/Cell/Cell0_v2.html

IBM Research page has two pages discussing the broadband cell processor and its architecture.

• http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/research.nsf/pages/r.arch.innovation.html
• http://www-03.ibm.com/chips/power/splash/cell/
  

Video: WindowsXP booting on PS3+Linux

Personally .. I love VM-Ware software. Especially when you can have fun like this .. booting Windows XP in a window on Linux on the PS3. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8800244920606286092&q=playstation+3&hl=en

Problems compiling libmythmpeg2 on PS3

Thanks to an anonymous poster for this link. There is a NZ focused MythTV site called "Gossamer Threads" that has a developement forum for MythTV. There is at least one small thread discussing compilation issues on PS3 ... its http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/dev/242005 .

Unfortunately my PS3 doesn't exist yet or I'd try compiling it myself. There isn't a store selling even the basic model for under $1000 ... so I'll wait for the reasonable prices to come .. But please post a comment on any success /failures in compiling on PPC especially if its on a PS3 so we can try to community fix the problem.

--PS3Penguin

Links for Yellow Dog Linux Downloads

Thanks to Диакон Николай for explaining why Sony would choose Yellow Dog. After doing some mild digging ..ran across Yellow Dog's free download page.

As always .. bittorrent is your friend.
Bittorrent dowload - http://cvs.terraplex.com/~owen/ydl4_torrents
Direct FTP downloads - http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/resources/downloads.shtml

Yellow Dog Linux? .. What's wrong with Red Hat?

Not sure why .. but Sony decided to go with Yellow Dog Linux as the default Linux install / port for the Playstation 3. From all I have read so far .. everything critical is being added to the standard Linux kernal ... It looks like "Terra Soft" (makers of Yellow Dog distribution?) are in the business of porting applications to the IBM Cell platform (Cell processor is what gives Sony PS3 its God like powers).

Open Platform for Playstation 3 Link

Just ran across Sony's "Open Platform" page for the Playstation 3.
Looks pretty basic. Just a FAQ and manual. But its more than any other gaming console has done for Linux!
http://playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/index.html

PS3 Penguins Google Groups

New Google Groups created to help organize open discussions for all PS3 Penguins.

its http://groups.google.com/group/PS3Penguins

Penguin Sightings: Fedora Core 5 on PS3

Just ran across this youtube video showing Fedora Core 5 on the PS3.

Hot PS3 Links

Official Sony Sites

Official Playstation Site - Sony's official US website.
Open Platform Site - Sony's site for detailing how to boot other OSes on the PS3.

PS3 as a game machine sites:

Playstation Univeristy- Looks to be a pretty fancy site focusing on gaming use of the PSE (I should call it the "expected" use of the hardware).
PS3Land - Playstation 3 focused news site.
PS3Focus - Another "news" site that focuses (sorry for the pun) on the Playstation 3.

PS3 For Linux:

???

MythTV+PS3 ... or should I call it Penguin Vision?

The more I think about it .. the more I like the idea of a PVR .. (That's Penguin Video Recorder to me)!

The PS3 just seems the ultimate MythTV frontend! .. DVI & HDMI with Digital Audio out (optical even)!!!

Plus Blue-Ray DVD, Bluetooth, Gigabit ethernet, USB 2.0 (great for external hard drives!!)

.. And on the 60GB model, add Wifi multiple memory cards (SD,Compact flash, and Sony stick of course)!

AND ... A reasonably big HD (20GB is plenty of space for a base MythTV install .. with room to cache a movie or two .. obviously you would need a back end server or file server).

Please post comments to any sites doing anything with MythTV on the PS3!

New Topics

Beyond installation tutorials and MythTV on PS3...
What would you like to see?
What creative uses for a PS3+Linux should we all develop?

Lets take the OSS movement to the next level!

Wanted: Penguin life guards!

I am looking for several good moderators / authors to help make this site a hot-spot for Play Station 3 Linux Mods!

Primary topics will be:

• MythTV - Using your Play Station 3 as a high-powered HDTV Multimedia center.
• OSS Installation - Installing various OSSes on your Play Station 3. (Tutorials and discussion).
  
• New Penguin Mods - What great mod would you like to see? Open discussion to see where we can take the PS3 Penguin movement!

What else? I want this blog to be a central hub to all things PS3+Linux!
Post a comment to my new ideas entry and lets discuss.

Play Station 3 is here! ... er.. sorta

After a very long wait .. the Play Station 3 has finally arrived!

I must say ... the specs look AWESOME!

Being a Linux geek I have long awaited a real gaming console that truly supports Linux! (X-Box hacks are just that .. hacks). I'm as anti-DMCA as the next guy .. but I prefer voting with my wallet over social activism (I.E. breaking Micro $oft$ copy protection to get Linux on board, although a p0ssibly fun and tempting pastime still gives $$$ into the hands of a manufacture that doesn't want to play with penguins!).

I say swim in the pools that don't have sharks!

Now .. cost is the only issue holding me back ... having a family keeps me from paying vultures for the "Very fist on your block" ... so instead of fighting the long lines and paying 3X its retail price on E-Bay (or the likes) .. I plan on waiting for Sony's retail stock supply to come back up to a completive pricing level. One "big red" store in my area is advertising the 20G PS3 (pre-order no less) for $1200! ... I believe the target retail price (after the Christmas mad-dash-rush) is closer to $500.

So for now I will have to live with reports from you on what these bad-boys can and can't don't!