Thinking of joining.

[Kingslayer]

Ok. I'm thinking of joining the fold. It looks bad, me as a senior member with 3 computers sitting around and not doing anything. I have shrugged away from this program in the past for reasons, and I have a few questions. I notice the new 2.11 program version is out. Here it goes.

1. Will this program properly support dual cpus? I'm not talking about hacking the program like the prior version. Will this thing support dual cpu's from the start. I have two dualies and would like to use them to their full potential.

2. If I sign up, and use 3 computers will it track all three simultaneously. Can I look at each computers stats individually? I would like to get this data for personal records.

3. Is the program able to back up your stats and points. This is the whole point of this program, it is no longer the search for a cancer cure its turned into what website can get the most points. This is a totally wrong attitude, but I'm here to support this site. If I wanted to cure cancer I would go to school and become a doctor. Finding a cure is but a benefit to this program. Please dont mistake this attitude for calousness. It the reality coming out.

4. Will this program run properly on 98, 2000, and XP pro?

5. Can I turn this program off at will. I dont want it to run when I dont want it to run. Not just sit in the taskbar and run whenever CPU load drops. I want total control over what runs on my computer and when.

6. What is the average raise in CPU temp. I have an AMD Slot-A T-bird that will join the fray. That computer has seven hard drives in it. It gets warm. It's also on an older motherboard that can't be managed with software and if it gets to hot it will cook, not shutdown. This CPU is riding the fine line near load. "Get a better heatsink" is not an option. Not running this program is.

[lennytiger]

Kingslayer I am happy answer your questions

Dual Support I think is built get confirmation from another member though.


If you want to see indevidual stats you must give each box a different username for example Kingslayer1, 2 3, etc


The program will run on 98 ME 95 XP it is a little unstable on 2000 I would stick on 98 ME or XP.

You may see a 6 - 10 degree rises from your idle temp, if your idle temp is low thirties your fine ;)

The program uses idle cpu cycles so when you are doing nothing or very little it runs..

The console/text version is better for keeping memory free and the graphical client goes to the taskbar

[cowanrg]

i agree with lennytiger all the way.

you run it when you feel like it. if you want to do 1 frame, you can do 1 frame... you dont lose any work, or have to start over if you open and close it. you are in control...

from what i understand, it uses dual processors fine now. also, it runs under 98 (which i ran forever), and i now switched to XP (without problems), and i run it on NT4.0 at work. i have not personally tried it on win2K, but i have heard it runs fine.

as for backing up stats and such... just use 3 differnt names for each computer... (kingslayer 1, 2, 3, as lennytiger mentioned). it does back up stats. i have reformatted like 3 times since i have started folding, and my stats are all fine.

as for CPU temp, mine raises like 4 degrees or so. basically, let your computer idle, then run a game or something full speed... the temp difference is how much it will go up. if your computer can handle full load for an extended period of time, you have no problems.

hope you join.

[Dunga Bee]

Originally posted by Kingslayer
1. Will this program properly support dual cpus? I'm not talking about hacking the program like the prior version. Will this thing support dual cpu's from the start. I have two dualies and would like to use them to their full potential.


The text console supports dual CPUs by putting the exe files in separate directories and then running them with command line options. I'm not sure this is "hacking", but it's not perfect either. Supposedly the next iteration of the client will have built in 'nice' support for MP machines. But, we do have several people doing it successfully now.

Originally posted by Kingslayer

2. If I sign up, and use 3 computers will it track all three simultaneously. Can I look at each computers stats individually? I would like to get this data for personal records.


Already been addressed by others. There may be '3rd party' tools available to track machines across a network and such, but the easiest way would be to put different IDs on the machines.

Originally posted by Kingslayer

3. Is the program able to back up your stats and points. This is the whole point of this program, it is no longer the search for a cancer cure its turned into what website can get the most points. This is a totally wrong attitude, but I'm here to support this site. If I wanted to cure cancer I would go to school and become a doctor. Finding a cure is but a benefit to this program. Please dont mistake this attitude for calousness. It the reality coming out.


Not sure I agree with you here, but I really don't care why people fold. Competition is good and may motivate some and others are motivated by the cause. To each his or her own.

Originally posted by Kingslayer

4. Will this program run properly on 98, 2000, and XP pro?


I personally have it running on 98, Win2K pro and Win2K Server without problems. Others have reported success with Winxp, so I'd say it will work on all MS platforms (and Linux too). This is not to say you will not have issues, but it does work for most and most problems can be worked out in short order.

Originally posted by Kingslayer

5. Can I turn this program off at will. I dont want it to run when I dont want it to run. Not just sit in the taskbar and run whenever CPU load drops. I want total control over what runs on my computer and when.


Run the graphical client. It puts it in the system tray. Don't want it to run, right click and choose "QUIT". That said, I know people that run F@H without problems and leave it up while playing games, etc. and experience no issues. The only reason I would shut it down would be to benchmark and that would only be to ensure pure results.

Originally posted by Kingslayer

6. What is the average raise in CPU temp. I have an AMD Slot-A T-bird that will join the fray. That computer has seven hard drives in it. It gets warm. It's also on an older motherboard that can't be managed with software and if it gets to hot it will cook, not shutdown. This CPU is riding the fine line near load. "Get a better heatsink" is not an option. Not running this program is.


I don't think anyone can accurately say what the rise in temp would be. Depends on your CPU / HSF / etc. This program will fully load your CPU so whatever temps you saw when doing load testing is what they will be when running F@H.

I hope you see your way to joining the team, but if not, no problem. We are all friends here.

Fold On.

[sfa ok]

Although I'd really like you folding, I can tell that you won't be completely happy working on the project until the "stable" version comes out, as all of the 2.0 clients right now are basically of beta quality. Then it should properly support dual cpus, and there should be some mature stats programs. But if you want to try out the client right now, feel free. :D

[Kingslayer]

Originally posted by sfa ok
Although I'd really like you folding, I can tell that you won't be completely happy working on the project until the "stable" version comes out, as all of the 2.0 clients right now are basically of beta quality. Then it should properly support dual cpus, and there should be some mature stats programs. But if you want to try out the client right now, feel free. :D

You're probably right. I am very picky when it comes to my computer. If I'm working on a website table that I have been slaving over for hours crashes because of something in the background I tend to get angry.

I get some conflicting reports of whether it works on dual CPU's. Some say it runs fine, one says that I have to move files and run them consecutively (if I understand correctly). Can someone clarify this. I want this to support dualies "out of the box" so to speak.

I want to join. Plain and simple, but it depends on the software. I'm sure that I can crank out some good numbers with my machines and seeing they are all on and doing nothing while I'm at work I might as well use them right?

I'm not trying to sound uppity, I just like my control.

[Kendan]

I believe to run it on a dual. You install it. Then you install it again into another directory. you can then run both instances to get each cpu to work on its own workunit. My advice would be to try it on one of your machines and see how it goes. That way you can work from your own experience with it. Some have had no problems. And some have had quite a few problems. For me I have just had a couple of dropped workunits on restart of the program. I would like to say welcome to the fold.

[cowanrg]

kingslayer, i have been running folding on a NT 4.0 machine for 29 days straight... almost a month of pure folding, no crashes. granted, its just sitting there folding...

BUT, i have also had this folding on my MAIN machine for 8 days (had to reboot to do something). now, this was a win98se machine! it was running for 8 days, with normal CPU usage (normal to me is pretty hardcore for others). so, it has always been rock stable for me. i have never had it crash anything.

i dont know what other people's problems are, but it might not be folding. i never even know it is running.

[Digital-Monk]

Originally posted by Kingslayer


You're probably right. I am very picky when it comes to my computer. If I'm working on a website table that I have been slaving over for hours crashes because of something in the background I tend to get angry.

I get some conflicting reports of whether it works on dual CPU's. Some say it runs fine, one says that I have to move files and run them consecutively (if I understand correctly). Can someone clarify this. I want this to support dualies "out of the box" so to speak.

I want to join. Plain and simple, but it depends on the software. I'm sure that I can crank out some good numbers with my machines and seeing they are all on and doing nothing while I'm at work I might as well use them right?

I'm not trying to sound uppity, I just like my control.

Kingslayer,

Hey, The client is stable, I have never heard of it crashing a computer. I ran V1 console on my dual P2-333 (NT4) for over 6 weeks without a single restart. V2 has proved just as good.

Dual CPU, you do have to run two instances of the program to get dual support. In other words you can't have two processors working on a single work unit at one time.

Give it a try see how you like it.

Digital-Monk (OCAU)

[Ploaf]

Dual CPU support still requires a bit of work on your part for right now. It's not an out of the box option at the moment. It will be built into the client in the near future, but it's not there just yet or it hasn't been announced on the fah site yet. They are working on getting everything else just right. My understanding of it is that the compiler will automatically take care of that but there are a few other issues with the code that will be modified for smp support that need to be fixed before they will make the change.
Stabilitywise it seems ok. I have no problems if I just leave it alone to do its thing and it hasn't caused any problems with any other software.

As for tracking. It's not 100% perfect, but it will tell you how many proteins each client has folded if you use the GUI version and the proteins seem to be distributed evenly enough. The stats for each client is stored locally and not on their server. The server only gives cumulative stats for a single username and not for the individual machines.

Heat... It runs your CPU at full load. Whatever your temps are at full load then that's what they'd be running this client.
I hate to say this but given your requirements for the software you may consider waiting until it's a bit more refined.

[NedClocker]

3. Is the program able to back up your stats and points. This is the whole point of this program, it is no longer the search for a cancer cure its turned into what website can get the most points. This is a totally wrong attitude, but I'm here to support this site. If I wanted to cure cancer I would go to school and become a doctor. Finding a cure is but a benefit to this program. Please dont mistake this attitude for calousness. It the reality coming out.

With all respect, I also don't entirely agree with this. My wife is paralized from the ribs down from breast cancer. Terminal diagnosis. Told she had 3 to 4 months to live - 15 months ago! The new cancer drugs are amazing.

Most of us are competative type people. Yes, I love seeing my position rising in the stats. But I would probably still do it even if there were no stats. My wife's cancer is gone, at least for now. I would love to see her walk again.

I know from reading the forum that it sounds like it's all for stats. And that's ok. I'm kinda proud of my stats too. I only joined the overclockers.com team because this is the first place I read about folding, but I'd still like to see us be number one. But it's not just for stats for all of us. We just don't talk about it as much as everyone talks about stats.

Join the team. You could make a significant contribution to the stats, even if you don't have a personal reason for joining.

[Ploaf]

Originally posted by NedClocker
Most of us are competative type people. Yes, I love seeing my position rising in the stats. But I would probably still do it even if there were no stats. My wife's cancer is gone, at least for now. I would love to see her walk again.

I know from reading the forum that it sounds like it's all for stats. And that's ok. I'm kinda proud of my stats too. I only joined the overclockers.com team because this is the first place I read about folding, but I'd still like to see us be number one. But it's not just for stats for all of us. We just don't talk about it as much as everyone talks about stats.

Bad and good. Sorry about your wife's cancer but I'm glad that the treatments are helping.
About the stats thing. I love'em. No secret there. ;)
But I chose this project based on it's merit before I even realized that there were any teams and folded for a while on one machine just to contribute to the project even though I had no chance of ever seriously moving up in the stats. I didn't even know that this team existed until I read about it on the front page. Think I was looking for an article on a heatsink or something and then moved my efforts under the team banner because of the help and info I received here. The stats thing came later and so did the extra Tbirds. :D

[NedClocker]

Exactly what I'm saying. Almost all you read about is the stats. The other reasons just don't come up as often. And my second t-bird came after joining, too. (Wanted to up my stats!!!:) )

[Kingslayer]

Originally posted by NedClocker
3. Is the program able to back up your stats and points. This is the whole point of this program, it is no longer the search for a cancer cure its turned into what website can get the most points. This is a totally wrong attitude, but I'm here to support this site. If I wanted to cure cancer I would go to school and become a doctor. Finding a cure is but a benefit to this program. Please dont mistake this attitude for calousness. It the reality coming out.

With all respect, I also don't entirely agree with this. My wife is paralized from the ribs down from breast cancer. Terminal diagnosis. Told she had 3 to 4 months to live - 15 months ago! The new cancer drugs are amazing.

Most of us are competative type people. Yes, I love seeing my position rising in the stats. But I would probably still do it even if there were no stats. My wife's cancer is gone, at least for now. I would love to see her walk again.

I know from reading the forum that it sounds like it's all for stats. And that's ok. I'm kinda proud of my stats too. I only joined the overclockers.com team because this is the first place I read about folding, but I'd still like to see us be number one. But it's not just for stats for all of us. We just don't talk about it as much as everyone talks about stats.

Join the team. You could make a significant contribution to the stats, even if you don't have a personal reason for joining.

My point wasn't that this is a waste. My point was that most people could care less about the cancer and disease cures this program could generate. It's all abou t the numbers and who's in first. I also said that I don't agree with this attitude. This program has lost it's true meaning. That was the message I was trying to convey. I noticed a post in this section that said to Fold Faster because the Aussie team was catching up. This solidifies my statement. If the team in last place finds the cure to cancer, who wins?

I have lost every older female on my mothers side to cancer of some sort. I have lost every male on my fathers side younger than 60 and older than 50 to terminal heart failure. My father is 50.... My uncle is 56 and has a defibilator built into his rib cage. This programs true meaning still means something to me. I feel your pain.

I personally could care less who is in first. But if it is important to this website, which it obviously is, then I want to contribute. As long as the others remember the true goal.

[]-[itman]

Originally posted by Kingslayer


My point wasn't that this is a waste. My point was that most people could care less about the cancer and disease cures this program could generate. It's all abou t the numbers and who's in first. I also said that I don't agree with this attitude. This program has lost it's true meaning. That was the message I was trying to convey. I noticed a post in this section that said to Fold Faster because the Aussie team was catching up. This solidifies my statement. If the team in last place finds the cure to cancer, who wins?

I have lost every older female on my mothers side to cancer of some sort. I have lost every male on my fathers side younger than 60 and older than 50 to terminal heart failure. My father is 50.... My uncle is 56 and has a defibilator built into his rib cage. This programs true meaning still means something to me. I feel your pain.

I personally could care less who is in first. But if it is important to this website, which it obviously is, then I want to contribute. As long as the others remember the true goal.

I too feel the same way as you but I look at it this way:

Even if people only do it for the stats then they are still helping find a cure. So if stats are the only way to get ppl to fold then so be it since it is helping where before they probably wouldn't have.

I personally do it first for the cause and second for the team. For me it's not just for the cause and helping the team is an after effect of that cause, but rather they both are important to me it's just that helping the cause is more important than helping the team.

[Kingslayer]

Well I tried. It wouldn't run on my XP machine. That was going to be the test machine. Core_65.exe error if that helps any.

Sorry guys. But I'll have to wait until the new version comes out.

[Kendan]

Every team and member for that matter has chosen this project for their own reasons whether that be the pure science of finding out how proteins fold, a desire to help find a cure for a multitude of diseases, wanting to be part of something, and so on. The more people folding is good for the project. Whether they are folding for stats or out of a personal desire to help find a cure for some diseases, they are still folding and helping scientists do their jobs. It is a good cause which is one of the reasons I fold. I also like the stats because with competition comes more work units for the scientists to study. So whatever their reasons for participating in this project. I welcome them with open arms.
Fold on!

[]-[itman]

King try to re-download. Some ppl got that same error and re-downloaded and everything was fine. Some had to do it like 3 or 4 times but that was the cure. Stick with it.

[Ploaf]

Plumber's Rules
1. Always use the right size pipe.
2. Poop don't flow uphill.
3. Never chew your fingernails.


LOL.
And make sure you flush before cutting the drain pipe. ;)

[Kingslayer]

Ok I'll give it another shot.

[Mr B]

Thanks for trying again!

:) :) :)

[Kingslayer]

Ok.

8 different downloads.

8 winfah.exe and Core.exe blow outs.

Are you guys sure this program likes XP?

[]-[itman]

hmm past me I guess you'll have to wait for the final version. Thanks for the effort and hopefully see you when the final version comes out. If anyone else has some suggestions that would sure be helpful. You might want to start a new thread on this to get better response.

EDIT:Oh there was a suggestion to delete the work folder to fix the problem. Would that apply here?

[Ploaf]

Originally posted by ]-[itman

EDIT:Oh there was a suggestion to delete the work folder to fix the problem. Would that apply here?

I don't think so in this case. I think they changed something in the core65.exe over the last several days. When I installed this and grabbed the core on most of my boxes it went fine but that was a while ago. I did a fresh install on another winME sys over the weekend and had exactly the same problem. The cores kept failing and it had to dl a new one. It finally worked but it dl'd several core65's before it worked.

[sfa ok]

I just freshly installed XP, and had one core blowout. It downloaded a new core and everything works fine now.

[-=HN=- Wild9]

kingslayer which version did you download??
i had trouble running the no nonesense text only version , but when i went with the graphical version it ran fine

[Lews]

Originally posted by Kingslayer
Ok.

8 different downloads.

8 winfah.exe and Core.exe blow outs.

Are you guys sure this program likes XP?

The graphical program probably doens't like your vid card, version of direct x or a combination. You might want to try the plain ole text version that looks simalar to the 1.34 client.

I am hoping that they get it fixed.

I fold for a combination of reasons both for medical and for stats. Competition is good and gets alot more people involved. I do it for other as well. My wife's side of the family has Alzheimers that run in it and we both don't want to see either of her parents go through that. (there is no symptoms of it happening now) This is one way I can feel like I am helping and sometimes how I might justify adding more machines.

[Kingslayer]

I got the version from the thread in here about joining. I think it was the graphical version.

I'll see if I can get the text only version.

It is probably a video card problem. It's just an old Permedia 8 meg.

And nice to see another Johnny Benson fan...

[lennytiger]

Nice to know you want to fold for us, let them run, if they don't do anything all day let them help our team!!

[T. J.]

Originally posted by kendan
Every team and member for that matter has chosen this project for their own reasons whether that be the pure science of finding out how proteins fold, a desire to help find a cure for a multitude of diseases, wanting to be part of something, and so on. The more people folding is good for the project. Whether they are folding for stats or out of a personal desire to help find a cure for some diseases, they are still folding and helping scientists do their jobs. It is a good cause which is one of the reasons I fold. I also like the stats because with competition comes more work units for the scientists to study. So whatever their reasons for participating in this project. I welcome them with open arms.
Fold on!

Well put. My sentiments exactly. I never thought the stats would matter to me, but they do. So I guess if we can do well in the stats while doing good for humanity, all the better!:)

[-=HN=- Wild9]

i just want to be able to say

hey buddy, the folding team im on is number 1 in the world.

then they well look at me like wth are you talking about kid.