Whats the draw to distributed computing?

[coolred]

What is there to it really. I don't know much about it, but it wa smy understanding you just installed a program on your rig and it used any spare CPU cycles, to do all sorts of things, find ET, fold. Just wondering if theres more to it. I am sure it is a bit of a thrill seeing who can post the highest scores or whatever you call it. But how can you call it a hobby. I am currently building a dual Xeon rig, and that will make for 2 rigs in my house. I know even with my current system I have spare CPU cycles. But anyways, I may start doing some of this distributed computing, just trying to get a grasp of what its all about.

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: coolred
What is there to it really. I don't know much about it, but it wa smy understanding you just installed a program on your rig and it used any spare CPU cycles, to do all sorts of things, find ET, fold. Just wondering if theres more to it. I am sure it is a bit of a thrill seeing who can post the highest scores or whatever you call it. But how can you call it a hobby. I am currently building a dual Xeon rig, and that will make for 2 rigs in my house. I know even with my current system I have spare CPU cycles. But anyways, I may start doing some of this distributed computing, just trying to get a grasp of what its all about.

you pretty much hit the points of it.

A hobby? we like building, tweaking and "messing" with PCs and enjoy the communication with our peers doing the same. Just senseless huh?

One of my hobbies... yes.

One of yours.... well, you have to decide about that.

cheers!

-Sid

PS:
I like Harleys also.... but all they do is drive around and make noise... another of my hobbies... go figure.
And what about golf? All I do is hit a ball around and cuss that it didn't land in the right place.... but yet, I call that a hobby too? There's no sense to it.....

 

[coolred]

Well golf is a hobby, at least your doing something, even tweaking and building computers can be a hobby, I knwo I like it. But watching a program run on your computer I don't think its a hobby. I'm not saying I won't do it. Just don't see how distributed computing itself could be a hobby, since your not really doing anything.

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: coolred
Well golf is a hobby, at least your doing something, even tweaking and building computers can be a hobby, I knwo I like it. But watching a program run on your computer I don't think its a hobby. I'm not saying I won't do it. Just don't see how distributed computing itself could be a hobby, since your not really doing anything.

I agree that anyone sitting around watching their computer fold would be a hopeless dork! I can only speak for myself, but I don't even use the versions you can 'watch'.

This may just be one of those situations where if you have to ask..... you wouldn't understand

-Sid

edit: Ok, that was a little harsh.... srry bout that. but seriously, look at my first post..... it really does tell you what I am "doing"

 

[Wiz]

Get several machines running, networked, watch the performance of each, tweak until they are running at top efficiency, build up stats, move ahead of others on the TeAm, move up the world ranking score, get more machines running (at work or school or wherever - with written permission of course), help propel your TeAm up through the ranks, commisserate with your mates on the forum, participate in races, do some trash talkin', have fun!

It's not all about the "program running on the computer", if it were then believe me most of the people involved here would spend their time doing something else.

Most of the hard core DC'ers don't watch anything at all run on their machines - graphics chews up too many cycles that should be going to getting that WU done faster.

We watch our stats, if a machine stops producing we know right away and get it fixed. There's usually someone here with a spare part that might get a mates cruncher back in action, these can usually be had for free or just the cost of shipping, and sometimes when necessary bought at a very good price.
It's a community thing, people with like interests doing something together.

I dare say I am sure we have flaming liberals and far right wingers and everything in between here working together like probably no where else on the planet.

Why?

For the TeAm of course!

 

[Unforgiven]

ill admit openly, im in it for the :babes; and :beer:

 

[coolred]

Okay that explains it, Insidious, what you said makes sense now, but I understood it better the way wiz said it. But thats basically what i though it was anyways. I just didn't really think that the building and tweaking was really considered part of it, but now I know and that makes sense, thanks

 

[Insidious]

yeah, I liked the way Wiz said it too.

/me wonders if he has a sister... MUHUHAhahahah

:music: :wine: :music:

-Sid

Originally posted by: Unforgiven
ill admit openly, im in it for the :babes; and :beer:

 

[Wiz]

heheheheh,

I have a sister - but believe me you don't want to be involved... Unless you like that Glenn Close / Michael Douglass kind of relationship :evil:

 

[Insidious]

You ever get that HD image thing worked out?

 

[amdxborg]

Hey coolred!

If you're looking for a project to start, plz go here:
http://www.teamanandtech.net/
and here:
http://www.teamanandtech.net/projects/

You'll find info on all the projects TA does! If you got any question, plz ask and I'm addicted to DC!

 

[Wiz]

You ever get that HD image thing worked out?

yeah, got a little floppy here that does the trick now!

btw, a WD 80 gig 7200rpm drive with 8megs buffer boots windows twice as fast as a Seagate 60 gig drive 7200rpm with 2 megs buffer
The difference is just plain amazing to me.

 

[Insidious]

:thumbsup:

(that IS a big difference. I didn't really see much difference from WD800JB to WD800BB (8M 2M), I've probably got something(s) loading at windows startup that masked the difference)

-Sid

 

[Wolfsraider]

Originally posted by: Insidious
I agree that anyone sitting around watching their computer fold would be a hopeless dork! I can only speak for myself, but I don't even use the versions you can 'watch'.
-Sid

Dang it Sid, why you calling me names

I joined not for the projects but what they are about as well as make friends with a great group of people.
I wanted to pay back anandtech for all the help they have given me in learning to use this thing called a "PC" and knowing I could join their team really makes me feel good about helping.

Mike

 

[Wiz]

I also just did a dvd rip so I can put I-Robot on my PDA and it also took less time with the higher buffer drive.
I know I'll get used to it soon but it's nice for now.

BTW, did I see right that some of the scsi U320 drives are coming out with 32megs cache?
That must be blazing.

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: Wolfsraider
Dang it Sid, why you calling me names

:beer:

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: Wolfsraider

Originally posted by: Insidious
I agree that anyone sitting around watching their computer fold would be a hopeless dork! I can only speak for myself, but I don't even use the versions you can 'watch'.
-Sid

Dang it Sid, why you calling me names

I joined not for the projects but what they are about as well as make friends with a great group of people.
I wanted to pay back anandtech for all the help they have given me in learning to use this thing called a "PC" and knowing I could join their team really makes me feel good about helping.

Mike

The reason I do DC is so I can hang around this forum just waiting to read posts from Wolfsraider

 

[networkman]

You wouldn't think so on first glance, but after a while the "hobby" becomes an "addiction" to the stats.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking.. but it's not like that statistics class you had to take in high school or college. The other thing is the camaraderie of your fellow teammates. I could go on for pages about the wonderful people I've met by getting involved with Distributed Computing projects while with Team Anandtech - overall a great bunch of people.

 

[wischeez]

**shrugs shoulders** Me, I'm just a stats whore


That and lots of good friends to chat with.....:thumbsup:

 

[Wolfsraider]

Originally posted by: GLeeM

Originally posted by: Wolfsraider

Originally posted by: Insidious
I agree that anyone sitting around watching their computer fold would be a hopeless dork! I can only speak for myself, but I don't even use the versions you can 'watch'.
-Sid

Dang it Sid, why you calling me names

I joined not for the projects but what they are about as well as make friends with a great group of people.
I wanted to pay back anandtech for all the help they have given me in learning to use this thing called a "PC" and knowing I could join their team really makes me feel good about helping.

Mike

The reason I do DC is so I can hang around this forum just waiting to read posts from Wolfsraider

:shocked: :beer:

 

[Spacehead]

HA! A new custom title for Wolfsraider: hopeless dork!


DC brought me to these forums but it's my TeAmmates that keep me coming back.

Oh... and the stats too

 

[coolred]

How do you go about choosing which project to do?

 

[Wolfsraider]

Depends on your intrests and hardware requirements mostly

Project requirements can be found here
More info can be found
Here
&
Here middle of the page (click on the project you want to read about at the top)

and ask questions etc...

I hope you find these useful

Mike

 

[Insidious]

I lurked around reading the stats updates and tried to get a feel for who was there and what they were like.

Then I just stated trying them. I would pick a project that seemed interesting to me, install it and see what I thought. (was it stable, did it affect me to do other things on the computer, could I make it invisible, did I like what it displayed if not, and most of all, did it require babysitting or not. (actually there are times that "babysitting" was a nice diversion)

If one doesn't work out for you for any reason, there are always more to try.

Another idea might be to hook up with the TA Rally team, they switch projects every month.... great exposure to all that is here and lots of very qualified help if you need/want it.

A link I found in someone's signature

If you're interested in them, just start a thread... I'm sure they'd love to hear from you

-Sid

 

[coolred]

So these things use unused CPU cycles, but they always consume memory while in use? My current system is the system I use daily, its an AXP 2100+ with 512MB ram. I just wanted to check this out, so are these programs gonna hinder the performance of other apps I may be trying to run?

If I end up liking this, my next rig is gonna be some dual Xeons, so that would be a little more powerful.