• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Beginners Question on Folding

S

Subliminal

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
158
Hey guys,

You know, I've been thinking about folding for quite a while, and now I really don't see any reason not to.

But, I have a question:

I have 2 computers that I could possibly use for this:

1. Garage computer. It's an old Dell Dimension 1.6Ghz p4 (400 FSB, probably) with 256 megs memory. Other than when i'm in the garage, it's idle or off. It probably gets used 3 or 4 hours a week.

2. Main computer. It's a SFF 478 box with an 2.4C northy running @ 2.94 Ghz and a gig of ram. This computer is already on 24/7, but gets substantially more use than the garage confuser. It probably gets 3-4 hours a day of usage,

Which one would be better for folding, assuming I'm only going to fold on one. I read a little of the OC guide, and i have no idea if mine is 'stable' in prime or memtest. It's been overclocked for over a year, and it's pretty durn stable for all intents and purposes, but who knows under dual prime95 or mem test. Actually, if i think about it, the memory is cheap pc3200, and isn't overclocked. I have it running @ 66% of the cpu, i believe.

Anyway, that's my question.

Thanks!

damon
 
Actually, both would work great for folding purposes.... The way F@H works, you could put it on both and not even know it's there... the SFF one might get a little warm, but you can also throttle F@H back to 50% or 75% to keep the heat issue down....

My choice, would be both.... if you don't want to run both, then I'd pick the garage PC since it gets less use (but leave it on 24/7)....

Welcome to the [H]orde!


Keep on Folding!! For the [H]orde!!

 
Fold both...they both sound like they should be perfect to fold with...no point in doing one and not the other :)
 
Ok, maybe I will do both. ;)

Is there anything I REALLY need to do, other than install the software and let it rip. I've been reading someof the FAQ on folding, and i've seen a few mentions of running folding as a process or somesuch. I'm just not sure. Actually, the information I've found on starting up is sketchy at best. But i'm not on a computer where i can d/l the software and try it out right now, so maybe i'm making a big issue over nothing.
 
Just start out with the console client.... you can set that up to run as a service.... it'll run when the PC starts and you won't even know it's there.... you could also pick up EMIII to monitor your clients.... It'll tell you if there's a problem (if the PC locks up/etc)...

Feel free to ask any questions you have.... we're all here to help!


Keep on Folding!! For the [H]orde!!

 
http://www.hardfolding.com/index.php?go=4 <--- That guide will get you started with the console client. It's far more stable than the graphical client as it doesn't have anything it interferes with like OpenGL. Also, you can run it as an always on Windows service. :D
 
I'd suggest trying to use u_m's Setup fold. It'll download and install the client and it'll set it up as a service and everything. Has a nice user interface. http://userpages.umbc.edu/~willm1/setup-fold/

I'd suggest also that you test the stability of your oc with prime95 and memtest. Folding stresses the cpu and memory a lot and if your processor is doing calculations wrong you'll start spitting out bad work units. The work units will terminate early, since there are builtin checks.

Once you test your oc, definately fold on both :D .

 
why would you fold on one or the other? thats a travesty:D i fold on 9 personal computers and about 40-50 in different places i work. so use the installer that MN scout showed ya it's really good i use it for everything when i install stuff.
 
As has been stated, stay away from the graphical client, and its "set it and forget it"

You wont even notice its there.

Good stuff


Welcome to the horde and stuff, just dont pet the mooses.


 
Here's a question, assuming that the OC is stable on the HT machine, would I run 2 instances, or just 1.

Is that being too cockstrong out of the gates?
 
Subliminal said:
Here's a question, assuming that the OC is stable on the HT machine, would I run 2 instances, or just 1.

Is that being too cockstrong out of the gates?
Click to expand...
i have questions about that too, but i dont have any direct access to any HT machines so i dont know.

and being too cockstrong out of the gates is a good thing here. the more you can do is ALWAYS better.
 
There are two different schools of thought here....

One says, run one instance and get work done faster.
The other says, run two instances and get more points.

Neither is wrong, IMHO. :)
 
But wouldn't the machine, theoretically, gets twice as much done with the hyperthreading, or is that purely marketting? I know that, with hyperthreading on you need to run 2 instances of Prime to take full advantage of the processor, or it'll just run @ 50%.

Which actually brings up another question: Would running 1 instance not throttled down work on my overclock regardless of <100% stability, since it'd only run up to 50% of the processors power?
 
running it on a HT machine makes it look like it is only using 50% however it really is using 100% physical processor just the way that windows shows it is 50% on "both" processors. no you wont get double the pts or wu but you will get 10-15% more which is pretty much an accepted avg
 
its not the same as having two core...ht simulates having two cores but doesnt really...and i remember reading the the 2nd instance is only like a 15-25% boost....Where is ICE...he is mister intel over here :)
 
85% markeneering :D thats good

intel 85% markeneering 15 % real cpu

AMD 100 % cpu :D

j/k the funny part is i am an amd fan boy but most of my borgs like 90% are intel borgs oops who knew;)
 
It's a lot like Ford and Chevy. They each have products that make you say, "Wow! That's impressive," and ones that make you say, "WTF?!1one".

I'll let you guys know how it goes. And thanks for all the help.

damon
 
Subliminal said:
It's a lot like Ford and Chevy. They each have products that make you say, "Wow! That's impressive," and ones that make you say, "WTF?!1one".

I'll let you guys know how it goes. And thanks for all the help.

damon
Click to expand...
no prob...thats what we are here for...feel free to ask question and post comments about what anyone else say...oh yea....wheres duster....duster we got a noob here :)
 
RE: HyperThreading

Stanford prefers that you only run one instance on a HT CPU. They'd rather have slightly fewer points turned in a lot faster than slightly more points turned in a lot slower.
 
Well, I've got to say, I'm actually a little surprised by the way this works. I didn't know that the folding would be going one while the computer was in use, i thought it would pretty much only be when I was away from the computer...but it's much more efficient than that.

Honestly, for 99% of the things I do, a 3 Ghz processor is pretty overkill...so this is a good thing.

Also of note...I decided to do this today after reading an article on overclockers.com's frontpage. I feel a little bad about that...grin

damon
 
welcome to the addiction :) glad to have you aboard folding for us :)
 
Subliminal said:
Well, I've got to say, I'm actually a little surprised by the way this works. I didn't know that the folding would be going one while the computer was in use, i thought it would pretty much only be when I was away from the computer...but it's much more efficient than that.

Honestly, for 99% of the things I do, a 3 Ghz processor is pretty overkill...so this is a good thing.

Also of note...I decided to do this today after reading an article on overclockers.com's frontpage. I feel a little bad about that...grin

damon
Click to expand...

We don't care where you found out from, as long as you're typing in 33... :)

Welcome to the Horde!
 
Subliminal said:
Well, I've got to say, I'm actually a little surprised by the way this works. I didn't know that the folding would be going one while the computer was in use, i thought it would pretty much only be when I was away from the computer...but it's much more efficient than that.
Click to expand...

You'll find that F@H is one of the least intrusive and most stable DC programs out there. With it setup as a console service, you'll probably never know its ever there other than the fact that system idle doesn't get any CPU time. :D

Welcome to the team!

Did Duster ever do the n00b welcome post?!?

 
Actually, I can kind of notice its there because I'm running SFF, and the fan speed is a little higher than usual. ;)
 
Hey guys...I'm a big boy now! Turned in my first work unit. 404 points. Weee!

Is there a way to insert the stats into the signature, or do you guys put it in every post..?

Thanks!

d
 
You can semi-automate it. I have a button that basically replaces the Submit Reply button when posting, so no extra work. Linkage to follow:


paste the java code located at the bottom of this url into a bookmark and use the bookmark instead of clicking submit reply: http://www.hardfolding.com/index.php?go=38&tm=33&id=183399

edit: Assumed the above folding name was yours. You'll have to find your's on hardfolding.com if it isn't.
 
Subliminal said:
Hey guys...I'm a big boy now! Turned in my first work unit. 404 points. Weee!

Is there a way to insert the stats into the signature, or do you guys put it in every post..?

Thanks!

d
Click to expand...
Check the FAQ. It's in there.
:)
 
Well, this is kind of a test, but i pasted the code into the bookmark...

Wish me luck.

Fingers crossed.

damon



 
Definitely fold on both. Just make sure the northy is 100% stable with about 24 hours worth of prime first.
Oh, and install folding on all your friend's and family member's computers ;)
 
EXCELLENT...you got you badge and some point...you are on your way :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top