PS3 vs. Bare C2Q 6600 Power Consumption

Jon855

[H]ard DCOTM January 2008
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
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Quite simply, I was wondering what are the power consumption for PS3 and when compared to some C2Q 6600 running bare with at least good PSU... I'm sure someone around here with knowledge of powers and so on probably could chime in.

Thanks, in case you were wondering why I asked, well... My future farm depends on the informed decision :D I've 3.5k in the bank, all saved for the purpose of the farm... I'm gonna wait for some good deals and so on. Probably will not be spending it until somewhat Fall 08 or so. Life calls but Fold ON!
 
what graphics card?

I would say in all ways the Core 2 PC would have the highest power consumption, maybe if you use a couple of low RPM fans, and speed step it may be closer at idle.
 
what graphics card?

I would say in all ways the Core 2 PC would have the highest power consumption, maybe if you use a couple of low RPM fans, and speed step it may be closer at idle.

Alright, I'm not too sure if you get the gist of my purpose of this thread, I meant at LOAD, running F@H. And as for the graphic card, either built into or well headless. I meant for the C2Q system to be basically bare as it can get while running F@H.

I guess I should rephrase the whole thing to which would net you more PPD per Watt? PS3 or C2D / C2Q rigs?
 
I don't have any hard numbers as I don't own a PS3, a C2Q or even a Killawatt, but the C2Q is going to be the best overall. The PS3 does about 900 PPD I believe and a C2Q can do about 4x that. The C2Q is not going to be using 4x the power that the PS3 does. Also, as long as the C2Q is basically a barebones system, it would be more cost effective for the initial purchase.

The massive numbers of PS3s can put out a lot of points but it still doesn't hold a candle to multicore CPUs. Also, by the time you end up purchasing anything there will be more energy efficient and more powerful CPUs out. The PS3 will still have the same processing power no matter what. Also, the C2Q systems will have more possible uses if you decide you need to use one of those systems for something else.

 
Leme hook up my Kill-a-watt to the PS3 20GB real quick for some older numbers. brb.
 
201W with full fold and screen saver active. I believe that a C2D mobile would be the best bet.
 
The 40GB is in the 140W range, but still terrible points/watt. The PS3 should be getting a lot more points since it is basically running the project right now. They just won't admit it yet because it will piss off a lot of people. The PS3 was born to fold. They could turn off the Windows/Linux/GPU standard clients, leave the SMP client, and probably not even feel it IMO. They would just adapt.


 
Alright so how does this compares to a C2D rigs or so in the terms of power consumption? Thanks :) I know, I wish PS3 does get more points, but hey 880 or so is better than 0...

 
Alright so how does this compares to a C2D rigs or so in the terms of power consumption? Thanks :) I know, I wish PS3 does get more points, but hey 880 or so is better than 0...


C2D what? The amount of power the system pulls depends on its speed, voltage, overclock, components, etc and then how good your PSU is and how much power it pulls from the wall.

My Q6600 file server at 3 GHz pulls 150W from the wall and is currently geting 3666 PPD with one 2605 unit and one 2653 unit. A C2D system will draw less power, but not that much less.

Compare that the PS3's output of 900 PPD at 140 - 200W. But don't focus on the points. The PS3 is incredibly valuable. Just ignore the points and run it. Things will work out with the points eventually:

http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=701

First, the points are supposed to represent scientific value. There are some known inaccuracies in the current system and Vijay Pande has mentioned that there will be a new system one of these days -- presumably one which will reduce the inaccuracies -- but we still need to deal with the problem of defining what "better for the cause" means. If we assume that the Pande Group is entirely responsible for the points system, and whatever gets more points is truly worth more to them, then your question no longer has an answer.



 
C2D what? The amount of power the system pulls depends on its speed, voltage, overclock, components, etc and then how good your PSU is and how much power it pulls from the wall.

My Q6600 file server at 3 GHz pulls 150W from the wall and is currently geting 3666 PPD with one 2605 unit and one 2653 unit. A C2D system will draw less power, but not that much less.

Compare that the PS3's output of 900 PPD at 140 - 200W. But don't focus on the points. The PS3 is incredibly valuable. Just ignore the points and run it. Things will work out with the points eventually:

http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=701

First, the points are supposed to represent scientific value. There are some known inaccuracies in the current system and Vijay Pande has mentioned that there will be a new system one of these days -- presumably one which will reduce the inaccuracies -- but we still need to deal with the problem of defining what "better for the cause" means. If we assume that the Pande Group is entirely responsible for the points system, and whatever gets more points is truly worth more to them, then your question no longer has an answer.




Thanks, I guess you nailed that one pretty well. I guess I'll build me a farm of PS3 sometimes later... It'll be awesome and different from the typical farms though. Highly likely in the Fall Season is when I'll start farming PS3
 
Thanks, I guess you nailed that one pretty well. I guess I'll build me a farm of PS3 sometimes later... It'll be awesome and different from the typical farms though. Highly likely in the Fall Season is when I'll start farming PS3

The way I think about PS3 folding is the same way I think about console gaming: It's a stable platform that they'll be able to target for many years predictably and consistently. Every time they update the program the total FLOPs of the PS3 goes up. They're going to squeeze performance out of it for years. Imagine what it will be like when there are millions more PS3s sold and they have 100K or 200K PS3s folding. It's really exciting.






 
The way I think about PS3 folding is the same way I think about console gaming: It's a stable platform that they'll be able to target for many years predictably and consistently. Every time they update the program the total FLOPs of the PS3 goes up. They're going to squeeze performance out of it for years. Imagine what it will be like when there are millions more PS3s sold and they have 100K or 200K PS3s folding. It's really exciting.



I agree, it'll be very exciting to see that day come.

 
As a rough rule of thumb, I recon that a bare bones system will pull around max cpu power + 50%.
Then I aim on getting a PSU around double that figure.

At the moment either a dual core mobile or a quad core system is the best bet.
A mobile CPU has the best Points per Watt figure but a quad core can do double the points without double the hardware.

But Stanford has said its may redo all the points per protien to give more points to the protiens that give the better scientific results.
How this will alter the PS3/GPU vs SMP points we'll have to wait and see.

Luck .............. :D
 
Makes me wish the Quad core mobile was easily available for purchase.
 
I have a PS3, folding almost 24/7, when I'm not playing around with games or viewing digital photos on the HDTV. It's a supplement to my farm of borgs, and it plays music as it folds flawlessly and quietly. Cost wise, it may not be the way to go if one is looking for max points or pts/kwh, but if you like watching Bluerays, or DVD's upscaled to 1080p, seeing your pictures as they were meant to be viewed, playing games, or listening to music AS YOU FOLD, then the PS3 is a good addition. An entertainment centre that does science!

By the way, I installed Linux (YellowDog) on the PS3. Now if I could figure out how to get 1080 screen resolution in Linux, I'd be in heaven. Any ideas? I've got a Sony Bravia HDTV connected with HDMI.

It it can fold, it is good.

 
I agree. I have some videos on my main system that is streamed to the PS3 as well as my music. I needed a new dvd player anyways. This helped save me money I believe in the long run.
 
I would totally fold with my PS3 except it overheats terribly in the place where I keep it :(


(a cubby hole in our custom built entertainment center)
 
I would totally fold with my PS3 except it overheats terribly in the place where I keep it :(


(a cubby hole in our custom built entertainment center)

time to further customize the entertainment center to include ps3 cooling :D

 
I would totally fold with my PS3 except it overheats terribly in the place where I keep it :(


(a cubby hole in our custom built entertainment center)

Consider putting a laptop cooling pad under the PS3.
 
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