Getting started???

[teknoid]

OK... Here's the stupid question of the day?

I?ve got 3 computers at home and by virtue of a StarBand connection that is soon to be out of its ?pilot program? status, they can be connected to the net 24X7. I?m thinking about jumping into this distributed computing thing but not sure exactly where to start.

I?m fishing for ideas or suggestions on: 1. Which one? I.E. RC5, SETI, etc. 2. Where to get started. 3. Any ill effects on equipment? 4. So forth and so on.

The machines are: #1 T-Bird 1000 w/256MB, #2 P-III 850 w/128 MB (gateway box) #4 P-II 333 w/128 MB.

 

[mechBgon]

Cool! 🙂 All three of those rigs are pretty versatile and give good output in SETI, RC5, OGR and GammaFlux. They have pretty balanced performance so I would say to read up on what the various projects are all about, and pick the ones you like. You can get a rundown on the various projects in the Team AnandTech article on anandtech.com, several of the team members gave excellent descriptions of what the projects are all about.

Once you've decided what to try, you can find info on setting up at the teamanandtech.com FAQ page. Post with any questions or difficulties, or drop by the #teamanandtech channel on irc.teamanandtech.com, our IRC server. There is also a Java chat client that works directly from your browser, if you'd like to join the chat channel without having to download anything. It's located at http://irc.teamanandtech.com:8000, just enter a nickname and away you go. 🙂 The chat channel is fun, hope to see you there. BTW, if you are a gamer, we have a game server connected to a very-high-bandwidth connection at an ISP in Utah, and it runs Unreal Tournament servers of various types, and will be running Q3A and Counterstrike servers in the near future. The IRC channel is a good place to round up some friends to play with.

 

[SirAllen]

1) SETI but I'm biased 😉
2) http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
http://hobbitt.worldkey.net/~seti/
3) None really, unless you're running real hot. You may reduce you processor's lifespan a few years but it'll still probably out last you.
4) Would love to have you join Team AnandTech! 😀


Edited to properly linkify (hey, I'm new here).

 

[Polo]

SETI is my favorite choice for machines I can easily monitor.
The DNETC client (RC5-64 and OGR) is my favourite "set it up and forget" choice.
Here is a place to learn more about the different projects.

Your machines are fast in all the projects. You can go here to see the efficiency of each. (No SETI speed... 🙁)

No question is stupid. 😉 Don't be afraid to ask because there is always someone to reply. 🙂

Make your choice. It sure will be a good choice because you're to become a new member of THE TeAm ! 🙂

In advance :

Welcome to the TeAm teknoid ! 😎 😀

 

[JimMc]

1. RC5, but I'm biased. 😉 We're currently in a dog foght to reclaim our rightful spot as number 1 overall and we need all the help we can muster.


2. Here are some links Dnet RC5 and TA RC5 FAQ and TA Weekly RC5 Stats and TA Cube Setup Disks.

(Please note that RC5 people can properly linkify unlike thier Seti counterparts 🙂)

3. No harm will come to your system. Unclear whether keeping the CPU running at a constant "warmed up" temperature will even reduce it's life.

4. If you are really torn between SETI and RC5, may I suggest you consider crackin' RC5 as part of Team Seti--that's a mini team of SETI guys that are helping out the RC5 effort. Once RC5 is over they, and many RC5 folks, will start running SETI.

WHichever you choose, it will be a good choice as long as you're part of Team AnandTech. 😀😀