@MikeB

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On Windows for example a game running on a dual processor, one core was often dedicated to Windows and another core concentrated on running the game. It's still a dual core system in this example, nomatter that 1 core was dedicated to running the OS.

A single core is never ever ever dedicated to anything on Windows, sorry. Any Windows process that has no affinity set will run on any available CPU. That includes OS processes and games, whether single or multithreaded, assuming a Uniform Memory Architecture. If NUMA is used, as on older Opteron boards, the scheduler will try to keep a process close to its data. I do not know if anything like this is taken into account when context switching on a quad core processor with cache shared per 2 CPUs. Judging by the fact that processes on my machine typically use 25% of each CPU unless I set the affinity and that my CPU has L2 shared per 2 CPUs, I'd assume that there isn't such handling. Hammer can tell us more I'm sure.

Last edited by Zardoz on 23-Sep-2009 at 08:53 PM.
Last edited by Zardoz on 23-Sep-2009 at 08:26 PM.

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@MikeB

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MikeB wrote: @BrianK Quote: The Cell does physically have 8 processors. The PS3 only allows access to 7 of them. Of that 1 more is absorbed by the OS making it 6, and in some instances 5. This means one is using 2/5 of available power to compenstation for the RSX and that's expensive. How many times have I said this? Sigh... The Cell has 8 processors (9 if you count the disabled SPE). 1 active PPE and 7 active SPEs. Like with any system the OS takes up CPU time to run, for this one SPE is dedicated to running the operating system. This is really nice as the OS running in the background won't have to fight for CPU time on any of the other SPEs.

Don't forget that the PPE is used to delegate to the SPEs taking away processing power from the PPE. As for the OS, don't confuse yourself with the gui...and with that, that's your opinion. Every new enhancement is followed by news of bricking or freezing and lost data and then days later a patch is released. Microsoft's updates have gone infinitely smoother, as have Nintendo's. I would say, the PS3 OS has the same quality of the RRoD-prone 360 hardware.

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On Windows for example a game running on a dual processor, one core was often dedicated to Windows and another core concentrated on running the game. It's still a dual core system in this example, nomatter that 1 core was dedicated to running the OS.

No one really complains about the NT kernal of Windows. The main culprits in slowing down Windows are virtual RAM useage and dummy/useless services. The 360 has none of these. Remind me: how many years of experience Sony has in writing operating systems.

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Quote: Sorry this is a guess. Certainly PS3 only games, Uncharted and Rachet, had glitches. Both games ran solid for me, Ratchet had a severe install bug for a very small minority of people which required a patch (but could be easily bypassed yourself with instructions). Uncharted didn't get a patch, until the trophy update I believe.

Every PS3 game seems to auto-magically run glitch free for you.

@MikeB

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The Cell has 8 processors (9 if you count the disabled SPE). 1 active PPE and 7 active SPEs

Thanks that's a bit clearer. However, the topic was allocation of the processor for graphics. Isn't that mainly an SPE item? One wouldn't allocate the PPE to do this. Thus, that's why I talked about 8 processors as the SPEs.

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Both games ran solid for me, Ratchet had a severe install bug for a very small minority of people which required a patch

This is an example of why people see you as a PS3 zealot. You acknowledge the glitches exist due to a patch being made. You then try to excuse this as if it's not really a glitch. Simply acknowledge PS3 games do have glitches, it's not unheard of.

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The PS3 glitches would have been easily found by playtesting.

Really? Cuz the Ratchet and Unreal bugs were found this way? Certainly they were by the end user.

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Higher pixel count or framerate does not per se generate a game with better graphics.

Certainly the game construct plays a factor. But, so does the videocard. There's more to graphics cards than higher pixel count and framerate. Such as how it handles textures and shading. The RSX is fairly easy to beat at a reasonable price point. ATI HD 3870 for $73 or X1900 XT for $70 or 8800GT for $100. A bit close how about the X1800GTO for $45? The days of the high priced PC to beat a PS3 are over. PCs move along, the consoles stagnate.

Microsoft is releasing their N adapters. N is faster bandwidth and less latency. Both good things for gaming. Play networked games beyond