F@H: ebbs & flows

[Insidious]

Over the past few weeks, it has seemed like Folding @ Home has taken on a bit of a new persona.

I particularly like the new larger work units and even more so, the choice we are given as to crunching smaller ones or larger ones.

I know we have some folders that lurk around a bit in the other forums and am curious if this is a change pointing to a different emphasis of their research? Is it evolving or changing direction?

Anyway, along with a new variety of work units to crunch, there seems to be an influx of folders and that is making this more fun as well. I'm curious what is generating the (what seems to be) new interest?

Enough of my rambling.... it is great to see F@H sticking it's head back into the radar and while I had originally set 100K as a personal goal, it just got upped... I'm not done with this yet.



-Sid

 

[BlackMountainCow]

Now this might be a stupid question, but how can I actually chose what size of WUs I want to crunch. Since I started doing F@H again after LM ended, I only got the 600 point WUs, 6 times so far. I use the following flags: "-forceasm -advmethods -verbosity 9" Anything I missed??

:beer:

 

[Insidious]

When you install (or re-configure) F@H, one of the questions asked is if you want to allow large (>5MB) packets. If you answer NO you won't get the 600 point WUs anymore.

There is also another question asking (I don't remember the verbage) if you want to fold units with no deadline. People who aren't always connected to the internet like this one sometimes.

Finally, if you do or don't use the -advmethods switch it will affect which type of work units you get.

If you have >512MB of RAM you probably will want to continue to receive the 600 point WUs since they seem to have a very generous point award assigned to them.

Hope this helps

-Sid

 

[BlackMountainCow]

Oh yeah, that helps. I had F@H sleeping on my HD for quite a while. So I just fired it up again after deleting the old WU folder, so I never went through these questions again. I just saw, that I still use 5.02. Is there an urgent need to update to 5.03?

 

[Insidious]

I think 5.03 is the graphical client and I really don't know any details of it.

I run the 5.02 "no-nonsense" command line version.... I think it's a little faster, plus I like it invisible (installed as a service)

-Sid

edit: If you want to "watch" the service install, there is a utility called FAH LogStats that works well.....

-Sid

 

[BlackMountainCow]

Yeah, CLI is the one and only real thing Thx for the fast help!

:beer::beer:

 

[GLeeM]

The fun is just beginning!

Stanford is finding ways of speeding up the folding process on their end.

They are coming up with a way to reward quicker return of WUs.

At Anandtech we have a very vital, growing FAH community. Many of our folders visit the forums.

Soon it will get even bigger.

@Sid
What is your new goal?

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: GLeeM
The fun is just beginning!

Stanford is finding ways of speeding up the folding process on their end.

They are coming up with a way to reward quicker return of WUs.

At Anandtech we have a very vital, growing FAH community. Many of our folders visit the forums.

Soon it will get even bigger.

@Sid
What is your new goal?

:beer: :beer:

hmmmmm, whaja think? maybe 250K? I think I can find the werewithall (<- how the heck do you spell that?)

Now, If I could just find a couple more computers.... MuHuHahahaha :roll:

-Sid

edit: rewards for quick returns.... I like the sound of that. I only have a couple PCs, but they do fold their little hearts out!

 

[TackleDummy]

Originally posted by: Insidious
I know we have some folders that lurk around a bit

I prefer to think of it more as "stealth folding"

 

[Markfw]

Well, with the "no-nonsense" client I am running, how to I specify the big WU's ? I should break 200k this week, but more efficient is allways better. I made it up to #3 producer, but I want #2. I only have 17 PC's running, but they are all 3 ghz or better.

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Well, with the "no-nonsense" client I am running, how to I specify the big WU's ? I should break 200k this week, but more efficient is allways better. I made it up to #3 producer, but I want #2. I only have 17 PC's running, but they are all 3 ghz or better.

Start the client with the -configonly flag to change the setting to accept large WUs. Also, add to the startup shortcut, the -advmethods flag.

The client must report back that the computer has 240MB or more ram.

The BigWUs will double your points per day!

If you do 1500 points per day now, you should be doing 3000 per day after a short while.

EDIT: I was getting half of your points per day with TWO computers running BigWUs!!!

 

[Markfw]

I just re-configured 9 computers ( the slowest was an Athlon XP 3000+) using those directions. 5 were Athlon643200+ or better. We will see this time tomorrow. Thanks again !

 

[Pokey]

This brings me to a question.

My GUI is set to accept the big work units and I am getting them. (five going as we speak) :Q but my startup shortcuts have no flags set. I did at one time, but I guess when I upgraded to newer versions they got dropped. Can I actually speed things up by going back and setting the flags? My log file already displays: "Extra SSE boost OK."

Pokey (don't know if I can stand to be more productive)

 

[ICXRa]

Originally posted by: TackleDummy

Originally posted by: Insidious
I know we have some folders that lurk around a bit

I prefer to think of it more as "stealth folding"

hahha that's great!

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Pokey
This brings me to a question.

My GUI is set to accept the big work units and I am getting them. (five going as we speak) :Q but my startup shortcuts have no flags set. I did at one time, but I guess when I upgraded to newer versions they got dropped. Can I actually speed things up by going back and setting the flags? My log file already displays: "Extra SSE boost OK."

Pokey (don't know if I can stand to be more productive)

If you're getting the big WUs already, then I don't know if you really need -advmethods, but it's worth a try if you feel like experimenting.

 

[MechEng]

Originally posted by: TackleDummy
I prefer to think of it more as "stealth folding"

LOL

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: Pokey
This brings me to a question.

My GUI is set to accept the big work units and I am getting them. (five going as we speak) :Q but my startup shortcuts have no flags set. I did at one time, but I guess when I upgraded to newer versions they got dropped. Can I actually speed things up by going back and setting the flags? My log file already displays: "Extra SSE boost OK."

Pokey (don't know if I can stand to be more productive)

You can't speed things up.

But you can make sure they always run their fastest. The -forceasm flag will make sure that the client always uses optimized code if your computer should crash or you lose power or whatever.

The -advmethods flag used to be needed to get BigWUs, but I see it is not needed any more.

We should get a race going to 250K. GLeeM, Pokey TA, and Insidious. Anyone else want to join?
EDIT: How about Thump553, Rebel Alliance, Electrode, BCinSC, bruce.cowan or MichaelD-Duper?

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: GLeeM

Originally posted by: Pokey
This brings me to a question.

My GUI is set to accept the big work units and I am getting them. (five going as we speak) :Q but my startup shortcuts have no flags set. I did at one time, but I guess when I upgraded to newer versions they got dropped. Can I actually speed things up by going back and setting the flags? My log file already displays: "Extra SSE boost OK."

Pokey (don't know if I can stand to be more productive)

You can't speed things up.

But you can make sure they always run their fastest. The -forceasm flag will make sure that the client always uses optimized code if your computer should crash or you lose power or whatever.

The -advmethods flag used to be needed to get BigWUs, but I see it is not needed any more.

We should get a race going to 250K. GLeeM, Pokey TA, and Insidious. Anyone else want to join?

I'm game. Adding an Athlon 64 3000+ (hopefully at 2.4-2.6GHz) tomorrow or Thursday. I'll lag behind severely but I'll bite.

 

[GLeeM]

What do you mean? Lag behind! And you're adding another computer! No fair. You are out of our league. And too far ahead besides

Didn't want to edit Rebel Alliance in there really, cause if Freewolf got involved we'd have no chance!

I think Electrode would win, unless MichaelDDD got going with BigWUs.

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: GLeeM
What do you mean? Lag behind! And you're adding another computer! No fair. You are out of our league. And too far ahead besides

Didn't want to edit Rebel Alliance in there really, cause if Freewolf got involved we'd have no chance!

I think Electrode would win, unless MichaelDDD got going with BigWUs.

Sure stampede over the slow guy (sidster). Well, I'm in..... yer just gonna have to be nice to the tortise! (<= How the heck do you spell this?)

I will be expecting lots of babes and :beer: when I finally get there... I estimate sometime in 2006

-Sid

 

[MDE]

It's tortoise Sid

:beer:

How far ahead am I? I'm only at about 155,000 last I checked.

EDIT: Holy crap, unless the Rebel Alliance joins I'll crush you guys. Oh well, eat my dust suckers!

 

[GLeeM]

@MDE
Yeah, you've really picked up the pace, your ppd are way up compared to six months ago. And adding another rig!

Rebel Alliance is on an up swing too

@Insidious
At the rate you're going now, might be as early as August. Speaking of rate, how did you get up to 642 ppd? The slow guy huh? Everybody wants sympathy, and to look like the underdog before the bets are placed.

 

[Pokey]

Originally posted by: GLeeM

Originally posted by: Pokey
This brings me to a question.

My GUI is set to accept the big work units and I am getting them. (five going as we speak) :Q but my startup shortcuts have no flags set. I did at one time, but I guess when I upgraded to newer versions they got dropped. Can I actually speed things up by going back and setting the flags? My log file already displays: "Extra SSE boost OK."

Pokey (don't know if I can stand to be more productive)

You can't speed things up.

But you can make sure they always run their fastest. The -forceasm flag will make sure that the client always uses optimized code if your computer should crash or you lose power or whatever.

The -advmethods flag used to be needed to get BigWUs, but I see it is not needed any more.

We should get a race going to 250K. GLeeM, Pokey TA, and Insidious. Anyone else want to join?
EDIT: How about Thump553, Rebel Alliance, Electrode, BCinSC, bruce.cowan or MichaelD-Duper?

Ok, I will give the -forceasm flag a try. Thanks.

Count me in for the race............old and slow as I am...........

Edit 1: Notice I said old AND slow..................................

Edit 2: And here I am about ready to lay a big ol' goose egg. Just wait till tomorrow though.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: GLeeM

Originally posted by: Pokey
This brings me to a question.

My GUI is set to accept the big work units and I am getting them. (five going as we speak) :Q but my startup shortcuts have no flags set. I did at one time, but I guess when I upgraded to newer versions they got dropped. Can I actually speed things up by going back and setting the flags? My log file already displays: "Extra SSE boost OK."

Pokey (don't know if I can stand to be more productive)

You can't speed things up.

But you can make sure they always run their fastest. The -forceasm flag will make sure that the client always uses optimized code if your computer should crash or you lose power or whatever.

The -advmethods flag used to be needed to get BigWUs, but I see it is not needed any more.

We should get a race going to 250K. GLeeM, Pokey TA, and Insidious. Anyone else want to join?
EDIT: How about Thump553, Rebel Alliance, Electrode, BCinSC, bruce.cowan or MichaelD-Duper?

I'm there on the race to 250k.....

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: GLeeM
@MDE
Yeah, you've really picked up the pace, your ppd are way up compared to six months ago. And adding another rig!

To be fair I sold my old XP 2500+ @ 3200+ so I'm just upgrading one rig. My PCs seem to feast on the big WUs with glee. Whenever the big units are available my systems start kicking serious protein ass.