Eight PS3 'Supercomputer' Ponders Gravity Waves

**Cap'n 1time** · October 18th, 2007, 20:48

Originally Posted by mcdougall57

a super computer is classed as a computer built with millions of pounds and contains hundreds of processors

A super computer is not defined by how much it costs (or weighs if that is what you were talking about), nor does it necessarily have to have hundreds of processors (though clustering is the easiest and cheapest way to go about it). I dont know exactly at what point a cluster becomes a super computer, but more than likely it has more to do with how many FLOPS (Floating Point Operations Per Second) it can work with. From my short google surf I see that the PS3 is capable of calculating at 2 Terra FLOPS. 8 * 2 is 16 TFLOPS. Does this kick your computers ass? Yes. If you clustered 2 of your computers would it kick your ass? Yes. If you clusted 4 of your computers would this kick your ass? Yes. 8? Most likely. 10? Still highly possible.

While this doesnt push out the whopping 180+ TFLOPS some of IBM's super computers can, It is remarkably powerful and cheap. This does not devalue the word "super" at all.

**jamotto** · October 19th, 2007, 07:10

Originally Posted by Basil Zero

Not as one unit, but when you have multiple units together, than yes it might be possible.

It would take 140+ units to equal a IBM Blue Gene/L supercomputer. They would have to do something like Folding@home, as wiring that many PS3's together is not feasible.

**Cap'n 1time** · October 19th, 2007, 18:01

Originally Posted by jamotto

It would take 140+ units to equal a IBM Blue Gene/L supercomputer. They would have to do something like Folding@home, as wiring that many PS3's together is not feasible.

I don't see why it wouldnt be. Hardware could be modified and alternative cooling methods could be applied. Folding@Home works pretty much works the same way...