The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has connected 1,760 PlayStation 3 systems together to create what the organization is calling the fastest interactive computer in the entire Defense Department.
The Condor Cluster, as the group of systems is known, also includes 168 separate graphical processing units and 84 coordinating servers in an parallel array capable of performing 500 trillion floating point operations per second (500 TFLOPS), according to AFRL Director of High Power Computing Mark Barnell.
Using PS3s for the supercomputer's core allowed AFRL to construct the system for a total cost of $2 million, which Barnell estimates is five to 10 percent of an equivalent system built entirely with off-the-shelf computer parts. It will also consume one-tenth the power of other comparably powered supercomputers, officials said.
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, the cluster, which is housed in Rome, New York, will be used for research by Air Force service branches and centers across the country.
The computer will reportedly be used for quick processing of ultra-high-resolution satellite imagery, as well as research into artificial intelligence, radar enhancement and pattern recognition.
In 2000, it was widely reported that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was planning to string then-cutting-edge PlayStation 2 systems into a defense supercomputer, though UK intelligence sources dismissed the claims as "nonsense."
Thats a good idea.. A self contained computing unit with HD and linux based OS, but you'll need to use the old Fat PS3 (like above) or unlock the new slims to run the other OS. The cells processors are still more flexible than the current GPUs, so even though you probably can get the same FLOPs are a lower cost using pure GPU solution, the cloud might not be compatible with what your trying to run.
Interesting. However, I know of two companies right now that can build you a more-capable cluster (including redundancy) for half that price using much less hardware. I imagine the difference is more efficient control software.
edit : Come to think of it one of those solutions might not work because it's optimized for databases, but the other could be an option. I don't know their tech especially well, though.
EDIT: oh it is mention in the story lol
http://www.insertcredit.com/news/022004/hotrod.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_CD_copy_protection_scandal
edit : Come to think of it one of those solutions might not work because it's optimized for databases, but the other could be an option. I don't know their tech especially well, though.