Reason I ask is I borged my work computer (with permission). It is a 6 month old basic 1.7GHz P4 from Systemax in a microatx type desktop case with a stand to turn it on edge making it a small tower. I think these have only a 200 watt PS with a wimpy fan.
After the computer was folding, I checked the air from the exhaust fan (80mm blowhole on top), it was very warm. The air from the PS was hot. I checked the log after 2 hours and noticed that it had dropped the first work unit within the first 10 percent. The error was listed as a communication problem between the core and work unit or something like that. Didn't sound stable to me, so I removed the 4 expansion slot covers (low-profile type, no cards are installed) which let air into the case MUCH easier. That cooled the exhaust air enough for my comfort but the PS air was still quite hot. I let it run for 2 days (this weekend). The folding log looks normal and the computer is still running fine. It looks like a 250-300 PPW machine. I hadn't been leaving it on over the weekends, but that will change
I also restarted and checked the temp readings in bios. The CPU temp was at 55C but it took a minute or 2 to get there after folding stopped. I don't know if this is a die temp or CPU socket temp. The bios does have a shutdown temp set to a max of 70C; I moved it down to 65C for my comfort.
It would look bad for me if the PS or CPU died while folding was running, but shouldn't a commercial desktop machine be able to run 24/7 at 100% CPU usage? The other thing I'd like to do is pull the CPU heatsink some night and put artic silver 3 on it, but that would void the warranty (I think) AND really reflect badly upon me if there was a problem.
I'm going to let my computer at work have no problems for a month or so before trying to borg any other machines.
After the computer was folding, I checked the air from the exhaust fan (80mm blowhole on top), it was very warm. The air from the PS was hot. I checked the log after 2 hours and noticed that it had dropped the first work unit within the first 10 percent. The error was listed as a communication problem between the core and work unit or something like that. Didn't sound stable to me, so I removed the 4 expansion slot covers (low-profile type, no cards are installed) which let air into the case MUCH easier. That cooled the exhaust air enough for my comfort but the PS air was still quite hot. I let it run for 2 days (this weekend). The folding log looks normal and the computer is still running fine. It looks like a 250-300 PPW machine. I hadn't been leaving it on over the weekends, but that will change
I also restarted and checked the temp readings in bios. The CPU temp was at 55C but it took a minute or 2 to get there after folding stopped. I don't know if this is a die temp or CPU socket temp. The bios does have a shutdown temp set to a max of 70C; I moved it down to 65C for my comfort.
It would look bad for me if the PS or CPU died while folding was running, but shouldn't a commercial desktop machine be able to run 24/7 at 100% CPU usage? The other thing I'd like to do is pull the CPU heatsink some night and put artic silver 3 on it, but that would void the warranty (I think) AND really reflect badly upon me if there was a problem.
I'm going to let my computer at work have no problems for a month or so before trying to borg any other machines.
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