Noob question about BOINC

[Smartazz]

I just restarted some distributed computing projects for my computer. I've never used BOINC before, so I'm sorry if this question sounds stupid. Can I use BOINC for multiple projects or do I have to also download an account manager? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[IGemini]

You can use BOINC for multiple projects, you just need to remember more logins. Project managers combine those to one login. And you don't download a PM, you register to one.

 

[Fardringle]

You can definitely use BOINC for as many different BOINC projects as you like. I've had my home computer attach to every BOINC project ever made available to the public (I missed a few closed Alpha projects) and it is still attached to almost all of them although it only actually does work on a few at a time..

The BOINC manager makes it a LOT easier to manage computers and projects, and it's a simple process to share time between multiple projects or stop working on a project and start a new one any time that you want to.


note: Some distributed computing projects aren't available through the BOINC client so you can't run those with BOINC if that makes a difference.


p.s. An account manager like bam.boincstats.com is just a centralized place to manage multiple computers at the same time. If you sign up for an account manager and attach your computers to that manager, you can go to the manager web site and with one click switch all of your computers between projects without having to go to each individual machine and manually attach/detach projects.

 

[Smartazz]

Got both my projects up on my Q6600. My CPU temp is under 60C under full load, which should be fine for long term right?

 

[sangyup81]

It's fine but if you are concerned, you can lower the % of CPU power used under

Tools -> Computing Preferences -> processor usage (1st tab) -> Use at most ____ % CPU time (at the bottom)

 

[somethingsketchy]

Got both my projects up on my Q6600. My CPU temp is under 60C under full load, which should be fine for long term right?

If this is of concern to you (long term), I'd highly recommend only dedicating some of the cores for DC. Right now I've only dedicated 3 of the 8 threads on my i7-860 for crunching purposes. It allows me to do other things, while keeping the temperature down.

 

[bryanW1995]

60c is nothing, I've been over 90c on my i7 920 for 24 hours + with zero ill effects, and ~ 85c for weeks at a time. Also, my Q6600 is typically around 70-75, with peaks closer to 80 during the summer, and has been for 3 + years now.

 

[Smartazz]

Thanks Bryan, that makes me feel much better about that.

 

[Smartazz]

I set it to run on 3/4 cores and the temps are now in the mid 50's and the fan noise is very low. However, there's annoying activity on my hard drives when I run BOINC. Is it a good idea to let it use my SSD?

 

[petrusbroder]

No problem if you are running Windows 7.
If you run Win XP or Vista then the SSD would get problems sooner or later unless you get a third-party "Trim-program" (which is built in in Win 7)

 

[Smartazz]

Is there a way to split resource share different from the standard 50%/50% it's set to with two projects?

 

[Ken g6]

Yep. In your project preferences, online, change the resource share from the default 100 to something else.

 

[Smartazz]

K. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Smartazz]

60c is nothing, I've been over 90c on my i7 920 for 24 hours + with zero ill effects, and ~ 85c for weeks at a time. Also, my Q6600 is typically around 70-75, with peaks closer to 80 during the summer, and has been for 3 + years now.

Jeez, how long have you had the 920? I've heard the Q6600 is a tank so I have no worries about it lasting until I replace it with Ivy Bridge, but the heatsink on the motherboard itself(MCP I think) is extremely hot to the touch. Is that fine for 24/7 operation for another year or so?

 

[petrusbroder]

Probably yes. As long as you have good airflow in the computer housing.
An extra fan placed well may help tp bring down the temps though ...

 

[Smartazz]

I don't know why it didn't occur to me that my heatsink might be covered in dust. I'm gonna buy a can of compressed air to blow out the dust that's caked on.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I needed to upgrade my case cooling, in order to keep temps manageable in my case. My Q9300 used to run up to 86C, which also using the GTX460 1GB OC card 100%. The GPU would get up to 73C.

Now the CPU temp gets up to 75C, and the GPU gets up to 67C, although right now they are at 72C and 61C.

 

[Smartazz]

I needed to upgrade my case cooling, in order to keep temps manageable in my case. My Q9300 used to run up to 86C, which also using the GTX460 1GB OC card 100%. The GPU would get up to 73C.

Now the CPU temp gets up to 75C, and the GPU gets up to 67C, although right now they are at 72C and 61C.

I put two intake fans near the CPU cooler and I'm astonished by how much my temps have dropped. Dropped roughly 10C on both the CPU and GPU from such a simple addition.