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Sony buys its own PS3's at dropped price? :D j/k it's Warhawk servers

ArcSynArcSyn Registered User regular
edited August 2007 in Games and Technology
Dailytech article on Warhawk servers

Sony isn't just using server software to run it's Warhawk servers. It's actually using PS3 hardware (that looks like retail units) in a rack to run the servers for Warhawk around the world. You can also run the server on your own PS3 for private multiplayer games, but if you want to get rankings you have to go on the public servers.

5648_warhawkservercluster.jpg

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ArcSyn on

Posts

  • YardGnomeYardGnome Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    I figure they have to get SOME use out of them.

    YardGnome on
  • ShujaaShujaa Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    That's pretty cool.

    Shujaa on
  • Black IceBlack Ice Charlotte, NCRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    That's awesome

    Black Ice on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Clears out the warehouse at least, but wouldnt actual servers be better or is the cell so powerful it is actually comparable?

    The_Scarab on
  • Black IceBlack Ice Charlotte, NCRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    You know, I was just wondering something - how do those PS3s not overheat stacked together like that? In that position, the air should be flowing horizontally, no vertical air at all, but I'd think with that many of them in close proximity they'd start failing at some point. I don't see any ventilation system for the sides of the PS3 on those racks.. as a matter of fact, I see wires.

    Kind of reminds me of the guy that used electric tape to seal the vent system's holes in his PS3 to "make sure no dust would get in" and the inside melted..

    Black Ice on
  • The Burnin8orThe Burnin8or Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Assuming that's a dedicated server room, the temp in there is probably low enough to keep them from overheating and it wouldn't surprise me if the racks themselves were directly cooled as well.

    The Burnin8or on
    My Games
  • DaybreakDaybreak Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    But can Iraq use them to guide nuclear missiles?

    Daybreak on
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  • LewiePLewieP Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    surely that isn't cost effective?

    LewieP on
    SavyGamer.co.uk / Twitter
  • NickleNickle Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    es oh en wy el oh el.

    At least they're finally moving units from shelves.

    Best part is, I hear Warhawk isn't all that great.
    I will totally be picking up a PS3, one day. Maybe.

    Nickle on
    Xbox/PSN/NNID/Steam: NickleDL | 3DS: 0731-4750-6906
  • IShallRiseAgainIShallRiseAgain Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    I'm thinking this is just to get some good publicity. I mean those things have expensive blu-ray dvd players in them along with other expensive, not necessary for servers, parts.

    IShallRiseAgain on
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  • AbsoluteZeroAbsoluteZero The new film by Quentin Koopantino Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    LewieP wrote: »
    surely that isn't cost effective?

    That's a lot of wasted blu-ray diodes, for sure.

    AbsoluteZero on
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  • YardGnomeYardGnome Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    LewieP wrote: »
    surely that isn't cost effective?
    They have them already sitting there, no ones buying them, and they must be cheaper than real servers.

    YardGnome on
  • The Burnin8orThe Burnin8or Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    LewieP wrote: »
    surely that isn't cost effective?

    The advantage might be seen as time goes on. If they do this kind of setup for other games as well, then this seems like a pretty modular way which would allow them to re-allocate hardware from less popular games to busier ones, allowing them to have less hardware idle at any given point and get more production out of what they have already invested in.

    Honestly though, I don't know why they don't just have everything hosted locally from individual's PS3s like MS has been doing with the Xbox and the 360s, especially since setting up servers like that costs them money and they aren't actually charging anything for their online service.

    The Burnin8or on
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  • Mmmm... Cocks...Mmmm... Cocks... Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    AbsoluteZero wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    surely that isn't cost effective?

    That's a lot of wasted blu-ray diodes, for sure.
    It doesn't say if they're retail ready ones or not. Maybe they don't have the blu-ray drives in them?

    Mmmm... Cocks... on
  • UnicronUnicron Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Black Ice wrote: »
    You know, I was just wondering something - how do those PS3s not overheat stacked together like that? In that position, the air should be flowing horizontally, no vertical air at all, but I'd think with that many of them in close proximity they'd start failing at some point. I don't see any ventilation system for the sides of the PS3 on those racks.. as a matter of fact, I see wires.

    Kind of reminds me of the guy that used electric tape to seal the vent system's holes in his PS3 to "make sure no dust would get in" and the inside melted..

    Is that true? If so that's hilarious and I would like to know more :lol:

    Unicron on
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  • ReznikReznik Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Unicron wrote: »
    Black Ice wrote: »
    You know, I was just wondering something - how do those PS3s not overheat stacked together like that? In that position, the air should be flowing horizontally, no vertical air at all, but I'd think with that many of them in close proximity they'd start failing at some point. I don't see any ventilation system for the sides of the PS3 on those racks.. as a matter of fact, I see wires.

    Kind of reminds me of the guy that used electric tape to seal the vent system's holes in his PS3 to "make sure no dust would get in" and the inside melted..

    Is that true? If so that's hilarious and I would like to know more :lol:

    Here's the original post with the story: http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=11043

    Reznik on
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    Forget it...
  • core tacticcore tactic Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    PS3's are also being used to cure cancer and search for alien life!


    Though, I'm pretty sure people have been using their other consoles for that too.

    core tactic on
    6700ab2ed7bb6f9876150c388a78a011.png
  • UnicronUnicron Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Reznik wrote: »
    Unicron wrote: »
    Black Ice wrote: »
    You know, I was just wondering something - how do those PS3s not overheat stacked together like that? In that position, the air should be flowing horizontally, no vertical air at all, but I'd think with that many of them in close proximity they'd start failing at some point. I don't see any ventilation system for the sides of the PS3 on those racks.. as a matter of fact, I see wires.

    Kind of reminds me of the guy that used electric tape to seal the vent system's holes in his PS3 to "make sure no dust would get in" and the inside melted..

    Is that true? If so that's hilarious and I would like to know more :lol:

    Here's the original post with the story: http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=11043

    Thanks, hadn't seen that before. That is excellent. How could someone not get that the big airhole thingies were actually had to be used though O_o

    Unicron on
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  • ArcSynArcSyn Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    MateriaMaster wrote: »
    AbsoluteZero wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    surely that isn't cost effective?

    That's a lot of wasted blu-ray diodes, for sure.
    It doesn't say if they're retail ready ones or not. Maybe they don't have the blu-ray drives in them?

    5649_warhawkservercluster3.jpg

    They sure look like actual retail consoles. Otherwise why would they bother giving them the same look if they are going to sit in a server room?

    Are they 60s or 80s? :D

    I want to know what the "3 PS3s" guy thinks about this. Obviously a server room full of PS3s beats his 3 any day. Even if he has cake.

    ArcSyn on
    4dm3dwuxq302.png
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    ArcSyn wrote: »
    MateriaMaster wrote: »
    AbsoluteZero wrote: »
    LewieP wrote: »
    surely that isn't cost effective?

    That's a lot of wasted blu-ray diodes, for sure.
    It doesn't say if they're retail ready ones or not. Maybe they don't have the blu-ray drives in them?

    5649_warhawkservercluster3.jpg

    They sure look like actual retail consoles. Otherwise why would they bother giving them the same look if they are going to sit in a server room?

    Are they 60s or 80s? :D

    I want to know what the "3 PS3s" guy thinks about this. Obviously a server room full of PS3s beats his 3 any day. Even if he has cake.

    maybe it's where all the 20s went

    darleysam on
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  • cloudeaglecloudeagle Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Wacky.

    Hell, as long as it works and Sony gets use out of them, why not?

    Though I'm also a little confused as to why one of the players can't host a game a la Live... ah well.

    cloudeagle on
    Switch: 3947-4890-9293
  • ArcSynArcSyn Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    cloudeagle wrote: »
    Wacky.

    Hell, as long as it works and Sony gets use out of them, why not?

    Though I'm also a little confused as to why one of the players can't host a game a la Live... ah well.

    Players can host games, they just don't count toward your stats.

    What are the ports on the front? USB? Find it odd that they had to run two wires to the front.

    ArcSyn on
    4dm3dwuxq302.png
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Whoops.

    Edit: Seems like this is more a marketing thing than actual utility.

    Ps3 being used as a dedicated server is kinda cool. Maybe this is why Sony can afford for PSN to be free, cause they have so many surplus PS3s.

    The_Scarab on
  • DaybreakDaybreak Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    You can actually run all the Warhawk servers off of one PS3. No, it's true! The other 299 PS3's there are in case the entire staff wants to watch Talledega Nights.

    Daybreak on
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  • NickleNickle Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Daybreak wrote: »
    You can actually run all the Warhawk servers off of one PS3. No, it's true! The other 299 PS3's there are in case the entire staff wants to watch Talledega Nights.

    Well, it is the PS3's killer app, so far.
    I keed.

    Nickle on
    Xbox/PSN/NNID/Steam: NickleDL | 3DS: 0731-4750-6906
  • TiemlerTiemler Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    core tactic wrote: »
    PS3's are also being used to cure cancer and search for alien life!

    And Sony is hoping that this many PS3s in close proximity will be able to fold space and time.

    Tiemler on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Tiemler wrote: »
    core tactic wrote: »
    PS3's are also being used to cure cancer and search for alien life!

    And Sony is hoping that this many PS3s in close proximity will be able to fold space and time.

    har har har :|

    The_Scarab on
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