Optimize the WUs

[AntiHeiss]

Well, I have been folding on my machines and I was wondering if any of you folding vets know how much of a difference it makes if I turn all my background programs off. Will I get a better frame time if I turn off my temp. monitors? Will it make a large time difference in frames if I don't use foldmonitor? And if I just generally don't do anything while the computer is crunching? If so, how much of a difference does this make? I'm just wondering, cause this would seem to be the case but I don't see my frame times suffering too greatly....
Thanks in advance.

[lennytiger]

The best way to run it is in windows 2000 or xp, and make sure that the core_65 is getting at least 90% of the cpu power, u can do this by preesing CRTL + ALT + DEL in win2k/xp, this will show the task manager, and you can work it from there!! ;)

[Dunga Bee]

Generally speaking background programs will not slow your folding at all since they are not doing anything until you activate them. Programs than come to mind are tray items like ATI display control, antivirus, etc. Those programs do not really use the CPU until you activate them.

The same would apply for background services in WinNT, 2K, etc.

That said, some of those programs 'might' steal a CPU cycle every so often even while they are not being used. But, I would not bother ending them just to speed your folding by a second. Then have to reboot when you want to use the computer for other things where those programs / services are needed.

Now if it was a dedicated folding machine, you may want to disable all services and background programs since you will not being using the computer anyway.

That's my take.

Fold On !

:)

DB

[JetMech]

One thing I have noticed is that if you leave an animated screen on for an extended period you will see it in your Fold Mon time average. Games of course can sometime stop you completely depending on the frame rates you play at. It's all good though. Can't keep it down all the time. Fold On.:beer:

[AntiHeiss]

Thanks ya'll. Thats exactly what I needed to know. :D