There has been almost nothing but bad news for the PlayStation 3. While I don't own a PS3, I don't like seeing video game consoles fail. While it's too early to call the PS3 a failure, it is most certainly off to a rough start. That's why I was happy to read some good news for Sony's system. The Folding@Home (Distributed Computing) software is now available for the PS3. Thousands of PlayStation 3 consoles are creating some impressive numbers on Stamford University's statistics tables. Check it out...

Client Statistics by OS

For those of you new to Distributed Computing, it basically the power of networked machines. Imagine if you were trying to push a big rock up a hill. It might take you a really long time. Now imagine if 10 of your friends helped. It would be a lot easier. You're combining strength to accomplish a difficult task. Stamford University has taken on a difficult computing task - protein folding. Inside your body are biological nanomachines. They are doing work to keep you alive. When proteins misfold, it causes problems and it leads to disease. It's not completely understood how protein folding works. (Heh, I'm not even sure if I'm explaining it right.) By using the idle time of computers from around the world, it is hoped that new information can be discovered - information that could cure disease.


Photics means the Science of Light. I wrote a Sci-Fi book (Photics: Revisions) about humanity and nanotechnology. Here's an opportunity to make fantasy a reality... and I don't have to do the hard work, so I'm all for it. HA!

Basically, I started a Photics.com Folding@home team. If you are interested in donating your computer's idle time, quite possibility for the greater good of humanity, just download the software from the Stamford website...

http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html

...you don't need a PS3. You can use a Mac or a PC. Once you have the software installed, you will be given the option to join a team. If you want to join the Photics.com team, just put the number 60254 in the Team number field. Your stats will appear on the Team Page.

GO PHOTICS TEAM!

__________________
Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

ah, I remember being in a group for SETI@home back in Highschool.. helping scan radio logs for possible extraterrestrial life!

If I had a PS3 I'd join your group for sure .. I imagine all those processors running could put out some pretty impressive numbers

You don't need a PS3 to participate. I certainly don't have one.

It does seem like the PS3 is really powerful though, with all those TFLOPS. I'm not sure why the PlayStation 3 has a higher "Current TFLOPS" rating, even though the active CPUs number is much MUCH lower than the Windows number. The PS3 FAQ says you're not supposed to divide those numbers... but still... wow!

PS3 Folding@Home FAQ...
http://folding.stanford.edu/FAQ-PS3.html

I use a PC, which is heavily used. If I'm not converting video files, I'm probably playing Guild Wars. I only paid $400 for my computer... plus some more RAM & a good video board. I'm surprised that it has lasted over two years. Although, I did learn to keep my machine running cool... and to clean it out every now and then.

__________________
Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

I had it running all day while I was at work, and it did 700/5000 frames.

I'm sure my new computer will do even better with the Core2Duo in it. (once I get the replacement motherboard)

Welcome to the team!

You're already doing better than me. I'm at 550/5000

I'm starting to think a PS3 is worth it, just for folding. Heh... nah... $600 is way too much, but the PS3 version of the folding@home software looks really good.

__________________
Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

Just signed up, lets see how she does!

The Wii sits idle all day, it should be folding too.

How does the team page work? Do you have to complete a WU before you are added? If so, I am about 1/2 way there, 2400/5000.

I don't think the Wii wouldn't be as powerful as a PS3. Then again, I don't think the Wii would use as much electricity either.

Yah, that's my guess too. I'm thinking you need to finish a Work Unit before you appear on the stats page. I'm at 1000/5000 so you'll probably find out before I do.

__________________
Michael Garofalo
Webmaster - http://photics.com

If you have a recent ATi card (1600XT or newer) then you can have your GPU run Folding@Home as well after downloading the new catalyst drivers. As you might know - a GPU is much more suited to some of the Folding@Home work units than a CPU, much like how the PS3 excels at the units it's given, but can't do all the work units that PC users receive due to the architecture.

Anyway, I'd join if I wasn't already a BOINC user (that's what Folding@Home is a derivative from) and running world community grid work units. Besides, my ATi card is too old to run the GPU software. Regardless, good luck with the team!

Yeah, I hit 1 unit sometime today while I was at work, and I'm on the team page now.