IBM Adds Videogame Console Chips to Mainframes

GoIBMPS3 writes "Soon the powerful 'Cell' microprocessor that fuels Sony's PlayStation 3 console will be available in IBM mainframe computers. The intent is to allow high-performance machines to run complex online games and virtual worlds. 'The integration initially will be accomplished by networking the mainframe with IBM's Cell blades, but eventually the Cells will be plugged more directly into the mainframes via PCI adapter cards, IBM said. It's the latest twist in IBM's years-long effort to keep mainframes not only relevant but also cutting-edge. IBM is touting the partnership as an example of hybrid computing--a trend sweeping the high-performance computing industry as companies augment general-purpose servers with special-purpose chips that to accelerate particular tasks.'"

Also in the works:

[TinBromide]

IBM scrapped a wii-mote enabled server consoles for the management of online worlds.

However the prototype was destroyed in a freak bowling/mountain dew/pizza accident.

Flying Cars!

[psydeshow]

Someday, in the future, a computer the size of a small room will be possible!
And it will be as powerful as today's most advanced videogames...

For sale on Ebay

[MillionthMonkey]

I have a JCL script for a character I've been working on for months. He has five hundred hit points, six spells, a sword, a long sword, a battle axe, a print spool, and a suite of DB2 utilities.

Pay for shipping and I'll send you the punch cards.

Networks Ground to a Halt!

[willie_nelsons_pigta]

IT productivity took a plunge today on this announcement as millions of IT professionals stopped work dead in their tracks and began day-dreaming of the "after-hours" activities that they could get involved in.

More news at 11.

Cool...

[R2.0]

I always wanted to use a pickup truck to bring my rig to a LAN party.

(Actually, that's all bullshit. Don't play games, never been to a LAN party, don't know where to find one. But that's never stopped posting here before.)

Finally!

[backbyter]

A machine that *might* be able to handle Aero.

Re:Networks Ground to a Halt!

[CthulhuDreamer]

Only one Slashdot would people naturally assume that the term "new rack in my bedroom" involved computer equipment...

PCI?-(Pretty Clear and Insightful)

[Anonymous Coward]

"If we look at some other Stephen Shankland articles on C|Net we find that they tend to be very simple and formulaic, without any technical detail whatsoever. "

Ummm. We're talking about a Cnet audience there. If we wanted nonformulific, and complex stories filled with technical details, we'd read slashdot.

Where is?

[SnarfQuest]

Where is the "imagine a beowulf cluster os these" comment?

Oh, here it is.

Re:Makes quite a bit of sense to me

[Tim Browse]

Just what I remember though, I didn't devote much memory to it.

That's ok - the PS3 designers didn't devote much memory to the Cell processors either.

That's what the world needs, a $1,000,00 console

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought the PS3 was over priced at $600.

At last!

[OldManAndTheC++]

I can write an RPG [wikipedia.org] in RPG [wikipedia.org]!