Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] PS3/Cell BE platform

[Jason]

Robert McGwier wrote:
> Jason wrote:
[snip]
> > has anyone been looking at the Cell BE processor as a gnuradio backend 
> > platform?
> >
> > For US$600 you get a Playstation 3 that boots linux, and has 7 128bit 
> > RISC processors, each with 256k local memory, all moving at ~3.4GHz. 
> > Each RISC processor is optimized for vector math / stream 
> > processing... :)
> >
> > There is already an SDK (modified GNU toolchain) from IBM.  It seems 
> > to use a standard toolchain and apps that run on a 64bit ppc, but the 
> > toolchain is modified to compile special threads (different exec type) 
> > for the RISC processors (called SPEs).  threads are written in C 
> > against a provided library.
> >
> > My thought for GnuRadio was to make near realtime mod/demod of ATSC a 
> > possibility.  As well as speeding up most other stream processing.
>>
[snip]
> Yes.  For a work project my group is purchasing two Mercury 1U Cell
> servers.  This will make ATSC and HDTV a real possibility.  These
> Mercury servers have a high bandwidth PCI express connection for getting
> data in and out of the world.    Another fellow and I will be porting
> GnuRadio to the Cell BE ont he Mercury.   It is not for consumers in
> this form.  These things are over $10,000 a piece with PPC Linux
> installed.  I cannot wait until we get the PS3's hacked to be Linux
> desktops.

Already been done. [1], [2]  Hell, it's not even a hack.  The PS3 
supports installing Yellow Dog out of the box.  So your CellBE mods to 
GnuRadio will be of interest as soon as the Christmas rush is over. :)

Jason.

[1] http://www.powerdeveloper.org/playstation.php
[2] http://ps3.ign.com/articles/739/739688p1.html