DIY Supercomputer - Requested info

[PistolGrip]

Hi, I'm looking for some information on combining multiple playstation 3's into a super computer. I don't even know where to begin looking but I'm told this is a very cost effective way to make a very powerful computer.

I'll be using it to render enormously large video animation files for a friend of mine -

SO How does one go about linking these together? Would it require expert knowledge?

See link below
http://phys.org/news/2010-12-air-playstation-3s-supercomputer.html

 

[Cas]

Seeing as you only linked an article about the US Airforce, I'm going to say there is no way you're getting anywhere close to combining a few ps3's together.

What size of files can you possibly be needing to render for you to find this kind of articles?
If it's in the petabytes I can see where you're going, but otherwise any computer with some good cooling and a few graphics cards will do.

 

[Naxious]

you'll be lucky but I doubt a couple of Ps3's will be able to power up that much. I think a 64 bit desktop will be better than combing couple of ps3's unless you got 100s of them

 

[Nick 91]

That's crazy, and I agree @Naxiuos, a computer might be a better route. Can I ask what you are trying to achieve?

 

[PistolGrip]

Use the graphics processing capability of the ps3 for rendering very large scale 3D environments and animation (3D) for a game developer friend if mine, the secondary function would be to mine cryptocurrency.

& cost/processing power ratio the ps3 is a very cheap option.

I'd more than gladly seek an alternative if someone can link me to material regarding large builds with the usual components.
Basicaly trying to do it with a low budget. Maybe 10-15 cores ?

 

[Cas]

Use the graphics processing capability of the ps3 for rendering very large scale 3D environments and animation (3D) for a game developer friend if mine, the secondary function would be to mine cryptocurrency.

& cost/processing power ratio the ps3 is a very cheap option.

I'd more than gladly seek an alternative if someone can link me to material regarding large builds with the usual components.
Basicaly trying to do it with a low budget. Maybe 10-15 cores ?

Again, what filesize are we talking?
Ask this friend of yours what program he needs running and what the filesizes are approx. Not much we can do to help if you don't supply specs.

secundary function to mine cryptocurrency:
Uhh allright. So AMD graphics cards it is.
Just keep in mind for in order to get a mining rig to actually turn a profit, you need it running, not on windows, but on a much resource intensive OS. Plus pretty extensive cooling.

Also, what's the budget?

 

[PistolGrip]

Again, what filesize are we talking?
Ask this friend of yours what program he needs running and what the filesizes are approx. Not much we can do to help if you don't supply specs.

secundary function to mine cryptocurrency:
Uhh allright. So AMD graphics cards it is.
Just keep in mind for in order to get a mining rig to actually turn a profit, you need it running, not on windows, but on a much resource intensive OS. Plus pretty extensive cooling.

Also, what's the budget?

Probably upwards of 10 terabytes. So this is a fair bit, budget is around $5,000 if I can get it done in a reasonable time. This is a huge job to be even considered for a single machine unless its essentially a processing farm.

There are services I can hire for this, but since it's an ongoing thing and part of a future business model we aim to be able to do it ourselves.
e.g.
http://gizmodo.com/5813587/12500-cpu-cores-were-required-to-render-cars-2/all

--- Cryptocurrency will just be while the machines aren't being used for rendering.