• BOINC Crunching on the PlayStation 3 (PS3)

    The following is a list of frequently asked questions about crunching on the PS3. If you have additional questions, please leave them in the comment section.

    Can I use my PS3 for distributed computing (crunching)?
    Yes! Absolutely, and please do. Help make the world a better place by donating your unused PS3 time to various distributed computing projects.

    Does my PS3 need to be connected to the internet in order to crunch?
    Yes. It doesn’t necessarily require that you are connected to the internet 24/7, but you will need regular internet access on the PS3 to download work units and upload the results.

    What is the easiest way to start crunching on my PS3?
    The easiest is probably to start with Folding@Home. It comes pre-installed on all PS3s. You can the application under the “Network” column on the PS3 main screen, and can configure it to start crunching whenever your PS3 sits idle.

    Does SETI.USA have a team on Folding@Home?
    Yes! And please join. Our team number is 51524.

    Is Folding@Home included in BOINC?
    Unfortunately not, although there are some other projects with similar interests.

    Can I use my PS3 to crunch BOINC projects?
    Yes you can. You will have to install another operating system from which you’ll run the BOINC program.

    How do I install another operating system on my PS3?
    There are several excellent guides online for how to accomplish this. One of the better ones is located in the PS3Grid/GPUGrid forums here: http://www.ps3grid.net/forum_thread.php?id=233

    Now that I have installed another operating system, how do I get BOINC installed?
    The easiest way to do this is to download the BOINC software from the PS3Grid/GPUGrid website (i.e., the “standard BOINC client”). They have a link to a BOINC program designed specifically to work on a PS3 with its unique processor architecture. A link to this program can be found here: http://www.ps3grid.net/PS3GRID/join.php?sys=ps3

    Alternatively, the project primaboinca has released a new client for the PS3. Instructions on how to install it can be found here: http://www.primaboinca.com/howto.php

    Which BOINC projects can I run on my PS3?
    Currently, there are two projects you can run on your PS3: Yoyo@Home and primaboinca. Each of these can run on the BOINC client hosted by GPUGrid, but they will each need some special settings in order to get them to work and run optimally. Primaboinca can be better utilized by running the BOINC client linked to on its site.

    How can I get Yoyo@Home to work best?
    First things first, you must make sure that you have selected the “Cruncher OGR” application to run from your account at the Yoyo@Home website; this is their only application that works on the PS3. You can then use the standard PS3 BOINC client to run Yoyo@Home. Time to complete work units will vary quite widely, but will complete within several hours. You are likely to see ~1500 credits/day with 24/7 crunching.

    How can I get Primaboinca to work best?
    Your best option will be to use the BOINC client hosted on the primaboinca website (links above). You will be able to complete the maximum number of work units with the PS3's ability using that client. However, as of this writing, the credit return for crunching this project on the PS3 is not good. For updates on the credit situation, please follow this thread: http://www.primaboinca.com/forum_thread.php?id=28

    Can I have multiple BOINC clients installed on my PS3?
    Though it is certainly possible to have multiple versions of the BOINC client on your PS3, you are only able to run one instance of the BOINC client at a time.

    I just bought a new slim PS3. Can I crunch for SETI.USA?
    Yes you can, but only on Folding@Home. The new PS3s do not have the option to install another operating system, so BOINC crunching, at least currently, is not possible on the new PS3s.

    I have an old PS3. Can I still switch to the other OS if I update to firmware version 3.0?
    Yes you can. This firmware update does not affect older PS3s; however, new slim versions do not have the ability to install another OS.

    I have an old PS3. Can I still switch to the other OS if I update to firmware version 3.21 or later?
    Unfortunately not. This firmware update disable the "otheros" option, no longer allowing PS3 crunchers to switch to the other operation system, even if it is already installed.

    What happened to PS3Grid?
    Unfortunately, it has gone away. Because new PS3s no longer have the ability to crunch BOINC projects, PS3Grid has decided to stop issuing work units for the PS3. In order to crunch for this project, you must have a GPU installed in your computer. For more details about this decision, please see this link: http://www.gpugrid.net/forum_thread.php?id=1370#12840

    What happened to PrimeGrid?
    The AP26 subproject was completed; therefore, no more work will be issued for it. No other PrimeGrid subprojects support PS3 at this time.
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