Check out the run I have going in my sig, looking to pull 12-14 oz dry with one light in a 3x3 footprint, just hit the 4 week mark, I'd say that competes with 600 hps... at 1/2 the draw.
Running those specific (super-efficient, long-life) Philips 315W Elite Agro bulbs, no. Right now, they're basically only supported by Philips ballasts and Ceramatek ballasts. That doesn't mean they won't run on other ballasts but the life, efficiency will suffer or potentially even burn out altogether if it's a low-end ballast off e-bay or the like. To get the benefits, low power, low heat, long life and incredible spectrum they provide you're better to stick to the Philips or Ceramatek ballasts. They're not cheap, but consider the draw (including ballast) of approx. 335w @220v, or 380w @120v with a step-down transformer, giving you the yield of a 600 hps, they pay back pretty quick in power usage, and/or yield. There are some folks using the alternative 330w Philips all start bulbs that are supported on more ballasts, but they're not the same, close but not the same.
