This series at IBM developer works looks at using the Playstation 3 to develop high-performance applications.

The Sony PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) is the easiest and cheapest way for programmers to get their hands on the new Cell Broadband Engine (Cell BE) processor and take it for a drive. Discover what the fuss is all about, how to install Linux on the PS3, and how to get started developing for the Cell BE processor on the PS3.

Take even greater advantage of the synergistic processing elements (SPEs) of the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) in this installment of "Programming high-performance applications on the Cell BE processor." Part 1 showed how to install Linux on the PS3 and explored a short example program. Part 2 looks in depth at the Cell Broadband Engine processor's SPEs and how they work at the lowest level.

Continue looking in depth at the Cell Broadband Engine (Cell BE) processor's synergistic processor elements (SPEs) and how they work at the lowest level. This installment explores storage alignment issues and the communication facilities of the SPEs.

Write optimal code for the Cell Broadband Engine? (Cell BE) processor's synergistic processing unit (SPU) and have your programs running lightning fast. This installment of Programming high-performance applications on the Cell BE processor covers SIMD vector programming, branch elimination, loop unrolling, instruction scheduling, and branch hinting techniques. Previous installments have covered the basics of the Sony? PLAYSTATION? 3, the Cell BE architecture, and SPU programming.

In Part 5 of the Programming high-performance applications on the Cell BE processor series, apply your knowledge of the synergistic processing unit (SPU) to programming the Cell Broadband Engine? (Cell BE) processor in C/C++. Learn how to use the vector extensions, direct the compiler to do branch prediction, and perform DMA transfers in C/C++.