Posted Apr 05, 2007 at 06:28PM by Ceasar S. Listed in: Off Topic, Videos Tags: Linux, dual-boot
Ó

Even with limitations of the CELL and RSX graphics combo, the PlayStation 3's ability to dual-boot Linux and band together for mini-scale supercomputing allows this little PowerPC puppy to simulate amazing ray-tracing power on a pre-rendered 3D model of a car.

Now while it isn't exactly spectacular from a graphics offset (DX10 demos coughed up better rendering on SLI-ed 8800GTX's), it does show just how much cooperation the console could feature in "macro-computing." And after all, the simulation is based on a custom ray-tracing engine, so there's no surprise there.

Dynamics introduced through the gamepad can allow you to see how the ray-trace graphics change when you switch viewing angles, allow you to specify the ambient lighting, and even allow you to see how which parts of the full-screen image are being processed by what PS3 unit.

Here's a great idea to toy with though: taking off from this feat, why not try if a Linux-compatible 3D game could be rendered by three PlayStation 3s? With enough support from open-source devs and Linux distros, games could probably played on more than one unit, each one dedicated to one aspect of the game: master, AI, and graphics! What do you think?




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24 Comments


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   by LOX760 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » cool

thats pretty crazy

   by Ssssuper! (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » Wow!

4X'sssssss Sssssssuper Ssssssssampling.


   Re: Gam3Guy (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » lol

hahah sssssuper ssssssssssampling
   by waffles (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » *****ing..

WHY is that man allowed to say the letter 's'?!!!!!!!


   Re: rd261 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » lol

Lol Im glad I wasnt in front oh him.
   by lala (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » ok nice

lol what does this mean im tooo tired to understand rite now can sm 1 simplify

   by someone (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » .

now if you need to upgrade your PS3... just buy 2 more PS3 consoles and a Gigabit router :D

   by AuDioFreaK39 - 2007-04-05
 » amazing

beats multicore x86 rendering IMO. now if only i could put a cell processor in my computer...

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   by Creighton (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » ...

This article is very embarrasing for PS3 users. Sony should have never limited the linux side of things so drastically. Might as well not even given us linux.


   Re: Shatterdome - 2007-04-06
 » So true...

One PS3 with RSX can do better then this, plus handle AI and physics...probably just the RSX alone can handle it.

It's a nice proof of concept, but seriously now.

I could only see this being sweet if they tailored a 3D rendering program to PS3 and linked them up for that. As Sony would never release something like that officialy. But for 3D games, no, it's dumd to think of buying 3 PS3's
   by PS3 fan (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » Ceasar u r full of shxt

Ceasar S u r the reason why people won't take qj.net seriously. Never flow tech jagons around without really understanding what they mean. "Real-time ray tracing" is the exact opposite of "pre-rending" (I filled the "realtime" in for you as you have totally missed that impoartant description from the video).
This video shows real time rending, not "pre-rendered 3D model car". Try to prespect your own job and be more professiobnal in the future!


   Re: Ceasar S. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-04-05
 » And you aren't?

Real-time ray tracing simulation doesn't mean EVERYTHING is rendered as it is. Real-time ray-tracing rendering means the cast and tracing is rendered. An object can be pre-rendered and ray-casted directly in the frame buffer without need for hogging RSX/CELL bandwidth to keep updating the light velocity, incident and reflected rays AND the surface of the car.

An object is loaded as rendered already, multi-passed at the frame buffer and then simulation of tracing and casting can be performed on that object. You don't honestly think that 756 MB is enough to serve as a frame buffer for a dynamic skybox, dynamic ambient lighting, re-rendering the model car at every vertex and ACTUAL ray-casting simulation? The PS3 is powerful, I'll give you that, but with limits in bandwidth, power means nothing. You could have a huge Abrams tank but get nothing larger than a mole's tunnel to shove that tank through.

You save on having to pass data along by keeping the model pre-rendered and rendering the casting at run-time. I could be mistaken about the car, but since you NEVER see the other side in the video, you can't even tell if the car is fully rendered in real-time.

When you've got something more technical to say to me, come back here. But with that typo-filled crap, you're just a kid who needs a properly-labelled keyboard or a better typing tutor.

   Re: mack (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » lol

ps3 fan got pwnd

   Re: PS3 fan (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » Ur still full of it Ceasar

Oh yeah I m back and more you try to cover-up your bad journalism the more laughable it becomes. First of all you didn't even pay attention to the news you posted. RSX plays no part in the demo. 1 of the 6 SPE is dedicated to the data compression/decompression. Relatively simple sence like this one can get a rather good compression ratio, probably up to 8:1. The bottleneck here is the gigabit connection, not the internal bandwidth as you try to suggest. Yes I honestly believe the sence can be rendered in real time pixel to pixel. Frame rate will not be 60fps obviously but they never claim to be so. As you rightly put (now thats something!) "ray-tracing" is a loose term to generalize the simulation of potorn reflection and defraction on objects. We don't know the exact algorithum they used for the "ray-tracing". It's more than likely it's not the most comprehensive simultaion you'll encounter.
Ceasar I feel sorry for you. Tried to wiggle your way out with your limited knowledge and end up looking more incompetent than ever. Picking on your reader's typo and using verbally abusive phrase is a classic case of bad journalism. You brought shame to this site by quoting "Q.J. NET Staff" behind your name.

   Re: RedThreat 1991 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » Hmm

Intresting to see what Ceasar counters, and dont try to not reply, and forget about it, or we will hunt you down!
   by random one (Unregistered) - 2007-04-05
 » no.

actually,if he is using the YDL 5.0 for ps3, then he doesnt have access o the rsx, wich would have alot to offer. at the time Terrasoft Solutions is working on implementing the RSX through an update in the software

   by BL (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » hh

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRD(robot chicken)

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   by Many151 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » I've seen better

Wow it only takes 3 PS3s to make the Linux useful. How is one PS3 supposed to replace a computer?

   by daisdifi (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » Lame Ass...

That guy is a lame ass. The cars in Burnout look better than that piece of sh** He needs a life other than linux

   by pimp (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » *****

wow that looks like a sega genesis game...how sh*tty. shows how much ps3 is a piece of crap along with linux

   by him (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » how?

how is this sh*t impressing? cuz the graphics look kinda *****ty and the "dynamic lighting" and wut not looks outdated. i guess this was meant to be look at by programers.

   by Mr common sense (Unregistered) - 2007-04-06
 » ????????????

so is this like unlocking the ps3 potential or is this something we are going to see in the next gen consoles? PS: XBOX IS GAY and you xbox fanboys need to stop neign all over BILL GATES NUTS!


   Re: gay imposter (Unregistered) - 2007-04-10
 » .

STFU ass hole
   by code2006 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-20
 » lol

its funny how u 360 fans call the ps3 ***** since the 360 cant even match the ps3's power. i would love 2 see a 360 render an image in real time with out useing the gpu like the ps3 can with out useing the rsx and only useing 1 ps3.



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