Anyone here with experience on installing linux on a ps3?

[yoda313]

Ok I've started to think it through and I think having linux on my ps3 might be my best option for doing retro gaming via emulation. I will leave my other thread open though if anyone knows of a good device for playing your nintendo ds on a tv.

My main question is can you easily dual boot linux and the original ps3 os? I have done a quick internet search and it seems to be possible. I have the 40gb ps3. I have no desire to upgrade the harddrive at this time. My main goal is to play emulators on linux on the ps3. There are nintendo emulators for linux correct? If there aren't this would be a huge waste of time.

So basically I know that there is a system installation option in the ps3 menu. I do have my manual so I may have to break that out on this. I believe YELLOW DOG linux is supposed to be ideal for the ps3. Is that still the best one for it?

Also what about controller support? If you do the linux installation on the ps3 can you still use the ps3 controllers? I do have a logitech pc controller I can use.

Any other thoughts and suggestions would be welcome. I think this would be better and cheaper than buying and modding a used xbox 1. Also I don't really have the shelf or plug space for another console. I already have three hooked up.

[rallynavvie]

I think Ubuntu works as well. I'm waiting to see if MythTV will work with the TV tuner that Sony introduced for the PS3 to turn it into a standalone DVR. Just search for PS3 Linux builds, there are some tailored ones out there that I've heard work very well. They all should work with the PS3 controllers and any other peripherals that have Linux drivers.

You need to step up and upgrade the drive though. Swapping HDDs on the PS3 is the easiest thing ever and with the price of 2.5" 7200rpm drives dropping there's no reason not to. I saw a 320GB drive going for $50 on NewEgg the other day. I upgraded my drive to a 200GB when I first bought it and have never had issues with it. It's best to swap drives when you have no game data or DLC as you do need to back that stuff up. The PS3 software is on a ROM chip and reloads very easily.

You should probably start getting used to how Linux works now because it will take some getting used to and you don't want it to ruin your emulated gaming fun having to learn it later. One easy way would be to download VMware Player and a Linux appliance for it to start learning on your desktop.

[yoda313]

Actually I'm already reconsidering this operation. It seems like that not many emulators that would normally work on linux are fully ps3 compatible.

I'm currently bidding on a gp2x gaming console that is linux based and runs emulators. It also has tv out capability.

I"m not going over 60 or 65 for it so I'm still looking for alternatives. I think I might find something.

Thanks though.

[Supreme2k]

Actually, I'm good with my old 2GHz PC with TV out. It plays just about every game system, except the very latest.

I'm using GameX, but I'm going to try out a few others, like MameWah.

[yoda313]

@supreme2k - yeah I know thats an option as well. I just don't have a third pc to spare for it. I have two dedicated pcs in other rooms. My vista dual core for heavy video projects and an older single core for basic functions like digital photo printing and generic surfing. It's impractical right now for me to dedicated the emachine single core for just gaming.

However its garage sale season pretty soon. If I get lucky I might be able to pick up a decent p3 laptop or desktop that would handle at least win 98. THough I'd prefer 2000 capability to be a little more functional.

On the other side of it though I might be able to get the gp2x linux handheld system. I'm bidding for one on ebay. It plays most of the emulators. It also has tv out. That is pretty promising and has a sd card slot to boot.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

The PS3 TV tuner has been out for quite some time - $ony has no plans to release it in North America.

[yoda313]

If anyone is interested I finally decided on buying a used xbox 1. I bought it today for 50.00 at gamestop. Unfortunately they didn't have an action replay with the usb adapter so I can't do a memory card soft mod at the moment. I bought one on ebay and should have it by midweek.

I thought about buying a full blown actual modchip but decided I didn't want to tackle with it. Besides I had actually gotten the soft mod installed back when I first had an original xbox - I had since traded it in a few years ago - hence the reason I bought a used one. I know strange to rebuy it even when I own an xbox 360. But this is my "throw away" console now.

Actually the nice thing about the soft mod is its completely removable leaving no traces. I'm gonna like this getting the roms working on a full screen tv again. I'm also gonna look into getting the component cables for the xbox 1.

[oldfart13]

I actually bought one off a kid selling his at a yard sale for $19. It came with all the cables and 3 controllers but no memory card. I bought a 16 Meg one for $10 from a pawn shop and the game needed for the soft mod for $10 at the same time. Since I have 30 days to return everything, I can get the multimedia software setup and backup the software to the memory card, then return the disc and get my money back. The old Xbox is sweet for multimedia playback I'm told though most forums get too technical. Youtube has some great videos on doing what you ned to do though, so that's cool. I'm only going to use the Xbox for multimedia playback anyway as I don't play console games at all...