Anything that even remotely requires a GPU it fails on. Watching video sucks with linux on PS3. The CPU just can't do it. There's plenty of things it can't do. However, when code is optimised for running on a Cell (take for instance, Folding @ Home running on Linux on PS3, aka just optimised for x86 and F@H running directly from the PS3's XMB aka optimised specifically for Cell. The performance is at least 10x better.marurun wrote:I seriously doubt the Airforce ordered a bunch of PS3s. You can get cell-based systems without buying a PS3. They are usually custom built.
Also keep in mind that the cell processor is designed for certain kinds of processing and would probably suck at general computing tasks compared to other processors.
24-Bit Console
Marurun wrote:Don’t mind-shart your pants, guys
Scientific computation is very heavy in particular mathematical functions. The cell is effectively a massive vector unit, which makes it great for games. It provides powerful backup support for the GPU it's paired with in the PS3. And yeah, stuff like F@H is where it excels. Though frankly, if the code was recompiled and optimized it should rock at video decoding.