• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Again: The sense in doing distributed projects...

F

flot

Diamond Member
I just read the thread by Pyro and it got me thinking... He did bring up some very good points but not necessarily in the best way. ;-)

To be honest, I have to agree with him in large part. The RC5 project is great, and it has definitely generated interest and helped the distributed computing model gain popularity and acceptance. I'd like to see it finished just for the sake of finishing it. BUT at that point, and even now, it would be nice to see pepole giving their CPU time to projects with more tangible goals. Is there any sense in doing a brute force crack on a larger key? Not necessarily - why not put these resources elsewhere instead?

So this is an honest question - what distributed projects exist that will potentially "make a difference in the world?" Right now I have some computers doing SETI stuff, because it's fun and interesting. But if somebody had a project where they were researching something (and could document a positive, real outcome for the data crunching) practical and beneficial, I think we'd see a lot more people working on it. Don't ask me what - I have no idea what kinds of projects could use all this CPU time, but I imagine we'll see more and more over the next few years.

If the distributed effort keeps going, it'll be interesting to see what happens in 5-10 years - wouldn't it be cool to be part of a generic "research pool" and have data/clients for different projects sent to your PCs on an ongoing basis? I believe there are at least a couple groups starting up now that will do this, and pay you for your CPU time. Certainly this sounds like an excellent use of technology to me... I guess the question is, how much number crunching do you need, and what can be done with it??

Just thinking out loud...

Adam
 
man, why crack a sudo code? to do it! if you think its useless there are a heck of a lot of other Distrubuted computing projects out there that do have what you may consider tangible goals. I do Dnet because the client is easy to understand and it works the best, as well they have cool stats 😀 do what one apeases you.

you ask what Distributed project is out there that has "Real" goals, well they have Aids@home to search for the cure to aids, aswell there is one to find a cure for the flu. Prime 95 to find messian prime numbers. Seti has more then just the goal to find them green men. it is compiling a lot of astronomical data. 😀
 
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I continue to participate in RC5 so that the infernal project ends, and we can dedicate our hardware to more socially worthwhile projects.

Distributed computing is the way of the future. Simple as that. There will be for-pay projects at every turn.
 
I'm cracking RC5 right now. I guess I'm doing it cause of the cool stats ( I don't know why that appeals to me,it just does. 🙂 ), and that I get to be part of a large team that recently became the best in the world. And just because I'm actually using my CPU to its fullest potential. Will RC5 change the world in a profound way? Probably not. But it's a fun project none the less.

I used to do SETI but I had to stop cause when I upgraded it started screwing up my sound when playing games and music (don't ask me how I have no f*cking clue). So I switched to RC5. I think that SETI is the most interesting project though. And if I ever get a second machine I'll start doing it again.









And like narzy said, don't waste clock cylces!!! 🙂
 
That doesn't happen to my music, mp3 or on games, and I leave seti running while doing both.

I did rc5 for a bit but all the bickering that was going on drove me away.

Seti all the way now 😀
 
Muerto and jinsonxu, what program are you using to play MP3's and other audio that is being 'corrupted' when you have SETI running? I have used WinAmp, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, and a few 'proprietary' systems like Creative's PlayCenter, and have never had a single instance of skipping or distortion in any of these programs, except for once when I tried it on a system that only has 24MB of RAM, in which case the audio program was swapping to the disk due to lack of memory, and that wasn't SETI's fault either, at least not directly, although SETI was using up some of the memory... 🙂
 
Guys with the SETI and music problems: You should try running the screensaver version of SETI. That way it'll only work when the screensaver is actually on.
 
Just as a point of info... RC5 is primarily integer-based and SETI is floating point, so they stress different parts of the CPU and thus might affect programs differently.

And at least based on posts that I've seen on various gaming boards, alot of the stuttering issues reported regarding sound and video while SETI is running are often either driver problems (eg., there seems to be some probs with the new DirectX 8), or possibly things like interrupt sharing problems (ie., SB Live!'s SB 16 DOS emulation itself takes an interrupt separate from the card itself). The sound cards are VERY sensitive to sharing interrupts with other devices...
 
Uhm anyone have the homepage for Aids@home? I think I would like to do some effort there instead of seti and rc5!
 


<< Uhm anyone have the homepage for Aids@home? I think I would like to do some effort there instead of seti and rc5! >>



Fighting AIDS@Home

There is a thread over on Ars discussing this. Thing is, this particular project is sponsored by a for-profit entity that would rotate the AIDS project with other commercial projects, which is what is causing some consternation for some folks...
 
Like Sukhoi said, you folks having trouble with SETI while doing other tasks like gaming can use SETI in the screen saver mode. Just set it to use a blank screen for best efficiency, as the rendering of the screen output uses a lot of energy.

To further increase efficiency, you can run RC5/OGR while you are using the machine. The low priority and memory use of the Dnet client make it very compatable with most programs. When the machine is idle and the screen saver triggers the SETI client, RC5/OGR production slows to a crawl giving way to the SETI process.🙂

In this manner, you can still participate in SETI without interferring with your normal computer use, AND help out with the Dnet projects as well!

[edit] Hmmmm, this got me to thinking about a trouble that I had when running SETI. When the client could not connect with the SETI server, the machine would sit around doing nothing until I intervened. Installing a SETIQ server would be an answer, but the above system would at least have the cycles working on Dnet projects until the SETI client could connect. [/edit]

Question for the SETI regulars- Does the 3.x client have the &quot;Pause if running&quot; a certain program like the Dnet client does? In other words, can you shut down the client if you have Real Player running for instance, and have it start again when the music stops?

viz
 
Assmiliator1 - I just started running SETI but am doing it at work, therefore contributing to my company's team. (their computers, after all)

I just looked at the aids project.. interesting.. but it is a little shady in that they send 'commercial projects' to your machine as well. I understand the need for funding, etc, but not sure I like that part. Still, looks like they have the right idea.
 
Oh, incidentally - could someone explain to me what the hell the point of the OGR project is? I went to the webpage and read the &quot;blah blah blah distances numbers blah blah&quot; but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the practical application of this information was... ?
 
OGR is useful in the design of X-Ray Diffraction Spectography equipment. Medical research, chip manufacturing.
It is also useful in the design of antenna arrays(SETI!).
 
I do not know of any way to have the SETI clients automatically stop running when certain other programs are running. You could lower the priority though.
 
Muerto and jinsonxu

I have also heard of some people having sound problems with certain combinations of hardware &amp; SETI (with V3 I think).I believe our very own MisterM did ,he managed to cure it.I'll see if I can get him to post here .🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top