Comments on: PS3 ECC algorithm reversed

By: eyeonus

eyeonus — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:09:17 +0000

Reasons I want the PS3 hacked:

1) Full access to all of the PS3 systems from a Linux install. (“Other OS” has no GPU access for 3D rendering, for example.)

2) Ability to install Linux on PS3 Slim.

3) PS2 compatibility. (Limited on PS3, unavailable on late model PS3 and PS3 Slim.)

4) Custom content. As in: Homebrew games and apps (mostly apps), such as an actual file browser, visualizations for the music player that don’t suck, XMB redesigns (not just “custom themes” which are merely skins), etc.

By: Ghost

Ghost — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:27:29 +0000

I dont own a ps3, nor do I really want to. I do however have a psp and i love what the custom firmware has been able todo to it. i just hope that one day ps3 owners will get to see the same advances as with the psp, even if it takes a few hackers todo it.

By: jj jerksalot

jj jerksalot — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:31:53 +0000

@fool2cool thank you :D and to dbgtwill1… you sir are a moron and maybe you should read the comments before you post you dumbass

By: JimXugle

JimXugle — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:30:10 +0000

@ Wwhat

You’re forgetting the restrictions on Linux installations… you get no access to the GPU, at least one of the Cell cores is disabled, the Optical drive doesn’t work, no sound acceleration…

By: YoYo-Pete

YoYo-Pete — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:28:05 +0000

Nice hack, but I feel this could be the lead that destroys the PS3 online community. Since custom firmware came out of the PSP, the online gaming was destroyed by people using cheat codes. I hope the same fate doesnt fall the PS3.

The thing the PS3 has going is the fact they can ban a device from the network, where the PSP does not.

Just be known, if you play with YoYo-Pete and cheat, SCEA will have a report filed against you.

Kudos to the engineering. I could care less about piracy. I gladly purchase my games, knowing the work that goes into them.

I only hope this knowledge is not used to disrupt online gaming.

By: Fool2cool

Fool2cool — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:57:48 +0000

@dbgtwill1

He was correcting his previous post where he made a mistake. Stop looking for a fight.

By: Wwhat

Wwhat — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:40:02 +0000

@ajax
As I recall they released the PS3 with a promise of the capability to run OS’s, and they had not soon after a linux running on it.
I guess the firmware hack is handy for REALLY independent developing though, and for piracy (and cheats I guess :/)

By: dbgtwill1

dbgtwill1 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:30:53 +0000

jj jerksalot are yo implying i meant the psp cuz
i ushure you i meant the PS3.if i misunderstand
srry but it seams to me your impling i dont
know what im talking about

By: kundanghanekar

kundanghanekar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:17:55 +0000

Cool hack.Although i play PS3 but not a needy one

By: cde

cde — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:26:43 +0000

Goes to show that anything can be hacked, given enough time, effort, and a good deal number of people who own one. Which is why things like digital photo frames are not hacked yet :(

By: pip

pip — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:34:45 +0000

“(This is a site for *hackers*).”
SERIOUSLY!

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:25:22 +0000

Does anyone actually know anything more about it? I can’t access the forum where it is originally posted, since the admins have some draconian policy. I’m curious if any one has any actual technical documentation. (This is a site for *hackers*).

By: error404

error404 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:57:01 +0000

It may not be ‘hardware’, but it’s got to be deeper than the firmware level, since it’s what verifies that the firmware is valid. Most likely it’s in the bootloader which might be in flash or ROM, but either way they’re unlikely to want to modify it. Breaking the bootloader will brick the unit with no possibility for recovery other than sending it in. With required updates pushed to all users I really doubt they’re going to want to do it, even if it is possible.

Also the ECC is probably checked on the downloaded firmware before it’s written too, so it’d have to be a funky two-step process, and may not be possible at all for that reason.

By: ajax

ajax — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:39:49 +0000

ecc doesnt necessarily have to be “hardware,” it would be possible to change this in programmable logic, something similar to a CPLD… hope it is hardware though. maybe write in a hypervisor re-entry return… or find a way to bootload a linux distro… no idea where an accelerated vido driver for the gpu would come from :)

By: alex

alex — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:54:41 +0000

isn’t ECC a hardware function? that would mean an update couldn’t fix this.