Project - PS3 to PC

[hanorotu]

Ok so, I acquired a PS3 that was de-assembled and I had the wild idea of turning it into a PC which isn't going to be that hard considering most of the hookups including the HDD is laptop design.

Here is what I have so far:



BIG: http://i50.tinypic.com/28rld2w.jpg


On the other side is 2x USB Ports

BIG: http://i46.tinypic.com/208y5ba.jpg

This is the specifications for a PS3 which look very similar to PC specs,

 

Code: [Select]

CPU: Cell Processor

    PowerPC-base Core @3.2GHz
    1 VMX vector unit per core
    512KB L2 cache
    7 x SPE @3.2GHz
    7 x 128b 128 SIMD GPRs
    7 x 256KB SRAM for SPE
    * 1 of 8 SPEs reserved for redundancy total floating point performance: 218 GFLOPS

GPU: RSX @550MHz

    1.8 TFLOPS floating point performance
    Full HD (up to 1080p) x 2 channels
    Multi-way programmable parallel floating point shader pipelines

Sound: Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell-base processing)

Memory:

    256MB XDR Main RAM @3.2GHz
    256MB GDDR3 VRAM @700MHz

System Bandwidth:

    Main RAM: 25.6GB/s
    VRAM: 22.4GB/s
    RSX: 20GB/s (write) + 15GB/s (read)
    SB: 2.5GB/s (write) + 2.5GB/s (read)

System Floating Point Performance: 2 TFLOPS

Storage:

    HDD
    Detachable 2.5” HDD slot x 1

I/O:

    USB: Front x 4, Rear x 2 (USB2.0)
    Memory Stick: standard/Duo, PRO x 1
    SD: standard/mini x 1
    CompactFlash: (Type I, II) x 1

Communication: Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) x3 (input x 1 + output x 2)

Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g

Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)

Controller:

    Bluetooth (up to 7)
    USB2.0 (wired)
    Wi-Fi (PSP®)
    Network (over IP)

AV Output:

    Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
    HDMI: HDMI out x 2
    Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
    Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1

CD Disc media (read only):

    PlayStation CD-ROM
    PlayStation 2 CD-ROM
    CD-DA (ROM), CD-R, CD-RW
    SACD Hybrid (CD layer), SACD HD
    DualDisc (audio side), DualDisc (DVD side)

DVD Disc media (read only):

    PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM
    PLAYSTATION 3 DVD-ROM
    DVD-Video: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW

Blu-ray Disc media (read only):

    PLAYSTATION 3 BD-ROM
    BD-Video: BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE
TO DO:
Get a case
Check hookups for compatibillity
Install the motherboard
Buy adapters etc
Buy thermal compound
Install HDD
Install CDRW/DVDRW drive
Install processor fan
[more as I think of it]

[Kulverstukas]

You forgot about the most important thing - the Operating System. Normal desktop OS's might not work :/

[iTpHo3NiX]

Yeah, but Kulver, think OtherOS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OtherOS

In theory, you can do it while still being able to utilize it as a regular PC running linux, as well as still be able to use the gaming functions. However you would either need to make sure its old and hasen't been upgraded, it will be easy to add OtherOS, you would just have to leave it offline when you game. Or you will have to find a way to downgrade it, which I believe is possible with a dongle of sorts.

[jonneburger]

if you succeed. make tutorial. id +1

[hanorotu]

I was thinking about the OS, and I was reading that it shouldn't be a problem to install some distro of linux. Yellow dog linux and some distros of ubuntu should work. There is a driver pack for the PS3 stuff I just have to find it again.

EDIT: Added pictures and whatnot.

[Zesh]

Well, if you can get your hands on a few more then you could do what the US Military did and that was too bundle the PS3s together to form a cheap super-computer

[iTpHo3NiX]

I was thinking about the OS, and I was reading that it shouldn't be a problem to install some distro of linux. Yellow dog linux and some distros of ubuntu should work. There is a driver pack for the PS3 stuff I just have to find it again.

EDIT: Added pictures and whatnot.

Trust me, OS isn't the problem, it should run linux no problem


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OtherOS#Distributions

Debian, Fedora 8, Gentoo, OpenSUSE (10.3 to 11.1), and Ubuntu run on the PlayStation 3. Yellow Dog Linux for the PlayStation 3 was first released in late 2006.

And it gives you details on the different distributions for out of the box


A quick guide:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/build-pc/4263321

[techb]

The new patch really fucked things. I got a newer PS3 and never seen the epicness of OtherOS. I REALLY don't wanna have to downgrade just to run nix. Fuck you Sony Entertainment.

[iTpHo3NiX]

The new patch really fucked things. I got a newer PS3 and never seen the epicness of OtherOS. I REALLY don't wanna have to downgrade just to run nix. Fuck you Sony Entertainment.

http://marcansoft.com/blog/2010/10/asbestos-running-linux-as-gameos/

[callahan]

Regarding the OS, old PS3 versions allowed to install some linux distros.

[hanorotu]

This project is on hold while I'm dealing with some personal issues.

[techb]

Regarding the OS, old PS3 versions allowed to install some linux distros.

You have to downgrade now-a-days. Process is not that difficult but a headache none-the-less. Updates where pushed and anymore a downgrade is required. Fuck Sony Entertainment with the patches to rid OtherOS, they had something golden.

[gh0st]

it would be neat to run ubuntu on it but I dont want to be water party but doesnt it have a browser on it ?

[hanorotu]

it would be neat to run ubuntu on it but I dont want to be water party but doesnt it have a browser on it ?

I was thinking of turning it into a bitcoin miner

[Zesh]

I was thinking of turning it into a bitcoin miner

I had this idea recently but I can't be arsed to downgrade my PS3 to an earlier version which supports OtherOS