Playstation 3: the Linux edge

Games Depot opened up a new section inside their games design site that delves into the innards of the Playstation 3. Of several items mentioned, there are tips about the Linux capabilities, multiple operating systems, customizing HD resolutions, and options to plug in your own hard drive.

But first let’s get to hardware. The PS3 is one heck of a PC. Even PC enthusiasts noted that with the current RSX and CELL architecture (despite their obvious bottlenecks) could do wonders on the PC platform. Well, maybe not the enthusiasts, but the geeks are wishful.

Having said that, the PS3 also has other features included, given that you are a hardware geek and have no care whatsoever about warranties and all that jazz. If you open the case, you’ll find that your own PS3’s nifty hard drive is a pretty 2.5-inch SATA hard drive. Hard drives of these sizes are available for laptops.

So does it mean you can slap in your own bigger, faster version? It’s a possibility, but it isn’t without some consequences. Given that the file system for the PS3 section of the hard drive is encrypted, what would you do with the data inside the original hard drive? Hard drive imaging is a good suggestion. But who’d dare to try?

Still, the idea is plausible. If you’ve been one to tinker around the XMB settings, you’d find that the PS3 will allow you to format your hard drive, including installing a second OS and selecting which OS to boot by default. Given that the CELL is of PowerPC technology, your best bet for a PS3 OS is a mighty fine flavor of Linux. Games Depot suggests Yellow Dog Linux, since it has the most experience with the PowerPC family.

Now with a new OS around, the PS3 can be tinkered with a lot. As long as you know shell scripting and don’t mind a console environment, you can do wonders on the PS3. Games Depot suggests that you push out the full potential of your PS3. What’s that, you ask? Full HD. You can set this manually, despite what non-techies believe.

The command that shows your PS3’s fullscreen (and not the black-bordered one), progressive 1080 high-definition glory is set by the ps3videomode. This one uses as much screen display area as possible, but depending on your HD monitor, results could vary. The command is entered on command console, but when executed, it could cause your XWindows module to mess up your Linux’s GUI (whatever suits your taste).

Click on the “Read” link below to read the current details. Be sure to read the guide very carefully before attempting to reconfigure settings. Messing up your display will hamper your efforts to sort things out.

Games Depot opened up a new section inside their games design site that delves into the innards of the Playstation 3. Of several items mentioned, there are tips about the Linux capabilities, multiple operating systems, customizing HD resolutions, and options to plug in your own hard drive.

But first let’s get to hardware. The PS3 is one heck of a PC. Even PC enthusiasts noted that with the current RSX and CELL architecture (despite their obvious bottlenecks) could do wonders on the PC platform. Well, maybe not the enthusiasts, but the geeks are wishful.

Having said that, the PS3 also has other features included, given that you are a hardware geek and have no care whatsoever about warranties and all that jazz. If you open the case, you’ll find that your own PS3’s nifty hard drive is a pretty 2.5-inch SATA hard drive. Hard drives of these sizes are available for laptops.

So does it mean you can slap in your own bigger, faster version? It’s a possibility, but it isn’t without some consequences. Given that the file system for the PS3 section of the hard drive is encrypted, what would you do with the data inside the original hard drive? Hard drive imaging is a good suggestion. But who’d dare to try?

Still, the idea is plausible. If you’ve been one to tinker around the XMB settings, you’d find that the PS3 will allow you to format your hard drive, including installing a second OS and selecting which OS to boot by default. Given that the CELL is of PowerPC technology, your best bet for a PS3 OS is a mighty fine flavor of Linux. Games Depot suggests Yellow Dog Linux, since it has the most experience with the PowerPC family.

Now with a new OS around, the PS3 can be tinkered with a lot. As long as you know shell scripting and don’t mind a console environment, you can do wonders on the PS3. Games Depot suggests that you push out the full potential of your PS3. What’s that, you ask? Full HD. You can set this manually, despite what non-techies believe.

The command that shows your PS3’s fullscreen (and not the black-bordered one), progressive 1080 high-definition glory is set by the ps3videomode. This one uses as much screen display area as possible, but depending on your HD monitor, results could vary. The command is entered on command console, but when executed, it could cause your XWindows module to mess up your Linux’s GUI (whatever suits your taste).

Click on the “Read” link below to read the current details. Be sure to read the guide very carefully before attempting to reconfigure settings. Messing up your display will hamper your efforts to sort things out.