Optimized apps for OSX?

[muddocktor]

Does anyone know of some optimized apps for OSX? I just put a Mac Mini in service and have it up and crunching, but it's not optimized yet. I looked around the KSWN site but didn't see any optimized apps that are for OSX. :(

Any help would be much appreciated. :)

[benbaked]

Here's the goods. (http://tbp.berkeley.edu/~alexkan/seti/) :beer:

[Blackstar]

Does anyone know of some optimized apps for OSX? I just put a Mac Mini in service and have it up and crunching, but it's not optimized yet. I looked around the KSWN site but didn't see any optimized apps that are for OSX. :(

Any help would be much appreciated. :)

Assuming it's an Intel Mini, here's one I'd use (if you're not already) too keep it cooler: http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049/smcfancontrol

- Blackstar

[muddocktor]

Blackstar, thanks for the link to the fan control program. It helps quite a bit on cooling this hot little bugger down. :thup:

benbaked, I downloaded the correct app, but I'm friggin lost where to put the files. I can't find the folder (or wherever the hell OSX puts them) that all the BOINC files are at. You are talking about a person who has less than a day of experience total with OSX. I went to a friend's shop this morning who does use Macs and we were able to upgrade the ram to 2 gigs on my machine (which was a trip in itself cracking open that little hot plate) and I downloaded and got BOINC running, but this is foreign to what I am used to.:screwy:

[benbaked]

benbaked, I downloaded the correct app, but I'm friggin lost where to put the files. I can't find the folder (or wherever the hell OSX puts them) that all the BOINC files are at. You are talking about a person who has less than a day of experience total with OSX. I went to a friend's shop this morning who does use Macs and we were able to upgrade the ram to 2 gigs on my machine (which was a trip in itself cracking open that little hot plate) and I downloaded and got BOINC running, but this is foreign to what I am used to.:screwy:

The optimized app files go into the following folder (starting at the root of the hard drive)

/Library/Application Support/BOINC Data/projects/setiathome.berkeley.edu

(Note: Not the "Library" folder in your user folder, but the main one accessible from double-clicking your hard drive icon on the desktop)

:thup:

[muddocktor]

Hey, thanks ben! :attn: I think I have it now. I copied the app info.xml file and the seti enhanced core 2 file into there and restarted BOINC.

EDIT: And that fan control program that Blackstar linked to is great too. My temps dropped from the 80-85 C range down to the 55 C range. :thup:

[svirfnebli]

are you telling me the mac doesn't contol its own cpu fan speed?? YIKES

[muddocktor]

Yes, they do, but it looks like their fan profile favors silence more than keeping things cool. :rolleyes:

And seeing this kind of stuff makes me wonder why they chose such a small form factor in the first place, if they value silence first and foremost. Instead of a blower fan they could have used an axial flow fan for cooling if they would have made the machine just a little bigger.

[Blackstar]

Yes, they do, but it looks like their fan profile favors silence more than keeping things cool. :rolleyes:

And seeing this kind of stuff makes me wonder why they chose such a small form factor in the first place, if they value silence first and foremost. Instead of a blower fan they could have used an axial flow fan for cooling if they would have made the machine just a little bigger.

Yeah, tests I have done on my own show that the 100C profile Intel gives the chip is right about where Apple's engineers decided to put the default fan speed increase. Mine did not go on by itself until it reached 93C. :/ Until then it stayed at Apple's default of 1500 rpm.

smcFan control works awesome for Minis and Apple's laptops, glad you like it. :D For heavy CPU use, anything from 3800 to 4200 is pretty good without being too loud. Fan maxes out at 5500 rpm and can sound like a little hair dryer. :) But since the CPU is rated for 100C, 50C-60C is more than fine under load.

- Blackstar

[QuietIce]

Here's the goods. (http://tbp.berkeley.edu/~alexkan/seti/) :beer: Not to hijack (much ;)) but do you happen to have a link to the new Linux apps (assuming there is one)? I still haven't been able to get into Lunatics and Crunch3r hasn't posted them yet ... :-/

[Blackstar]

Yes, they do, but it looks like their fan profile favors silence more than keeping things cool. :rolleyes:

And seeing this kind of stuff makes me wonder why they chose such a small form factor in the first place, if they value silence first and foremost. Instead of a blower fan they could have used an axial flow fan for cooling if they would have made the machine just a little bigger.

Oh, another one to keep an eye on your Mini's stats is this one:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/25230/istat-menus

CPU - Monitor cpu usage. 7 display modes, multiple core support.
Memory - Monitor memory usage. 4 display modes, page ins/outs and swap usage display.
Disks - Monitor disk usage and activity. 6 display modes, ability to hide disks you dont want to see.
Network - Monitor current and total bandwidth, peak bandwidth, ip addresses . Ability to hide disks you dont want to see.
Temps - Monitor the temperature of your mac. 2 display modes, ability to hide sensors you dont want to see.
Fans - Monitor the fan speeds in your mac. 2 display modes, ability to hide sensors you dont want to see.
Bluetooth - Control bluetooth status plus monitor the battery level of your Apple wireless keyboard or mouse.
Date & Time - Date + time in your menubar. World clock display lets you see the time in multiple locations around the world.


Oh, did I mention it's free? ;)

There is also the separate window application if you prefer it to the Menu Bar version: http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/20786/istat


Enjoy.

- Blackstar

[muddocktor]

Thanks for the link, Blackstar. :thup:

Q_I, I looked around and don't see any v8 apps for Linux yet on the Lunatics site. :( The only ones they show are version 2.4 apps. Have you checked on it in the Seti forums?

BTW, I haven't had any problems getting on the Lunatics site or downloading from their links.

[QuietIce]

Q_I, I looked around and don't see any v8 apps for Linux yet on the Lunatics site. :( The only ones they show are version 2.4 apps. Have you checked on it in the Seti forums?

BTW, I haven't had any problems getting on the Lunatics site or downloading from their links. After reading the SETI forums there aren't any Linux apps for this and no mention that I saw. :(


IDK what the deal is with Lunatics then, I haven't been able to get them all week and still can't ... :shrug:

[muddocktor]

How about the OSX v8 apps? Would they work? After all, OSX is based off a BSD, isn't it?