A few noob questions

[Dragonbate]

Ok so I've been running the seti screensaver for awhile. After joining team Anandtech I decided to add a client to my linux box. Although its a slower machine (piii 1000) with less memory (264 mb) it seemed to be producing faster than my piv 1.9ghz win2k3 system (512mb ram). So here are my questions: Just how much faster is the cli client than the screensaver edition? The linux box also serves as my file/print/web server; will it be negatively impacted by the seti client? (Its just me saving/printing with a low traffic website). Next if anyone is a linux guru- I struggled getting the client going till I just tried "setiathome" from the command line. It works but it saves all of the progams files in my home directory- how do I fix this? Doesn't really bother me just seems kinda messy. I'm currently run the latest Xandros (3.0?) distro with the debian seti client. Finally what impact does having a screensaver have on the cli client? I set up my windows system according to the walkthrough and it said do leave the screensaver as blank. Is there a reason for this? Oh, one more- What's the difference in the Seti client priority settings? IE will setting it to low improve performance over idle? Thanks much for reading this long winded noob post.
D🙂

 

[Wolfsraider]

Originally posted by: Dragonbate
Ok so I've been running the seti screensaver for awhile. After joining team Anandtech I decided to add a client to my linux box. Although its a slower machine (piii 1000) with less memory (264 mb) it seemed to be producing faster than my piv 1.9ghz win2k3 system (512mb ram). So here are my questions: Just how much faster is the cli client than the screensaver edition? The linux box also serves as my file/print/web server; will it be negatively impacted by the seti client? (Its just me saving/printing with a low traffic website). Next if anyone is a linux guru- I struggled getting the client going till I just tried "setiathome" from the command line. It works but it saves all of the progams files in my home directory- how do I fix this? Doesn't really bother me just seems kinda messy. I'm currently run the latest Xandros (3.0?) distro with the debian seti client. Finally what impact does having a screensaver have on the cli client? I set up my windows system according to the walkthrough and it said do leave the screensaver as blank. Is there a reason for this? Oh, one more- What's the difference in the Seti client priority settings? IE will setting it to low improve performance over idle? Thanks much for reading this long winded noob post.
D🙂

Welcome aboard,
Good Questions

The cli is much faster (3x iirc)
Blank screensaver assures all resources are available for use rather than a loss of 10% to 15% due to graphics etc again iirrc

I wouldn't change the priority as it won't make much of a diiference on seti but it will make an impact on your server

I'll leave the rest to someone who knows more (not hard) than me 😛

Mike

 

[GLeeM]

Todays monitors don't need a screen saver to prevent damage to the tube. They are just something pretty to see and use up tons of CPU cycles! If you set the monitor to turn off after a set amount of time you will save electricity.

It is usually best to run DC projects at "idle" priority or the lowest possible. The computer will respond to the user better. At idle the DC client will still use all of the CPU that is not being used by you.

One reason to change the priority would be if running two different projects on the same dual or HT computer. You can run both at the same priority!

For instance:
Sometimes I run Seti and Folding@Home on my HT rig, which is a no-net computer. I have both set to low priority so they both get half the CPU. I run UD at idle so it will take over when one of the main clients runs out of work and I am not there to move new WUs with a thumb drive 🙂 This way the computer never sits doing nothing!

 

[Dragonbate]

Thanks much for the replies guys.