Posted by Tony DiCola on March 07, 2002 at 14:18:05:
In Reply to: Re: PS2 Linux Kit posted by Lilwolf on March 07, 2002 at 10:41:55:
You're abslutely correct, for the money ($300 PS2 + $200 linux kit) one could easily assemble a much faster computer system. However, the PS2 has trouble free TV out (component video output even), a large collection of next generation console software and older classic PSX games, and a much smaller profile than typical computers. For users who already own a PS2, the Linux kit could provide some solid advantages to a PC based system.
Like you said, software could be an issue, but Sony provides technical documentation with the kit. No doubt, ambitious coders will tweak, create, and port emulators for the PS2 Linux enviornment.
As far as processing power goes, take everything with a grain of salt. Again, I don't want to start a flame war, but Mhz is not always an accurate measure of a computer's performance. Look at Macs, they have sub-ghz processors yet still compete with faster clocked PC's. Or take a look at AMD's XP processors- although they are clocked slower than Pentium 4's they still outperform the P4 in most computer tasks. Things like memory bandwidth and architecture play just as an important role in the overall speed of a computer.
That being said, take a look at this page, http://www.otakunozoku.com/ps2/ (site seems down, google cache is here, http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:FmqOMG343pMC:www.otakunozoku.com/ps2/+ps2+mame&hl=en) This individual was able to get MAME running on the PS2 at excellent speeds without even optimizing the graphics. He predicts N64 emulation at 150%-200% of the actual console speed. I think its pretty clear that with some optimization the PS2 could be a very competent emulation machine.
-Tony DiCola
: Other troubles.
: software will be an issue. Some linux apps will only run on a 386 (not many, but some).
: The PS2 is an amazing 3d video card on an ok processor. This is bad for emulation (if thats all you do on a computer :). But I think it's around 400mhz. Not horrible for a computer, but not great. 3d games should be fine though.
: If you already have a PS2 and want to cruise the web, its perfect. If you want to code, it will be great! If you want to play games....well... if its there IS FREE... but if not...well...sucks. WINE and other windows emulators don't emulator the 386 processor, but just the windows API's (I'm pretty sure, one might emulator the core). But this will make it so you are stuck with what you got.
: REmember, you can get a 1.7ghz athlon, motherboard and memory for about 200 bucks. So for 300 bucks you could get an old ATI with TV out and a 20gig harddrive. So your not that far off from a computer anyway.