BaptistBoard Folding@Home Project

This sounds like something good and something I may be interested in. I guess I am confused though as to how it works. What exactly would I be doing to help find a cure and how would I be doing it from my computer? I guess I just don't understand the program very well. If I went to the link, would I understand it better?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Distributed computing is a model of computing which basically takes the philosophy of "there is strength in numbers."

In order to be part of a distributed network, you need to be on the network. In this case, online. You are then added to their list of what computers they have.

Distributed computing is helpful in dealing with complex calculations which require A LOT of processing. Your computer might only be calculating a little tiny bit (say 1% on your PC) but if you start adding up all the PCs that are doing that, then you can do a complex calculation faster.

It's kind of like delegating for computers. While the single CPU of a PC is around the 3-4gigahertz range right now, you could simulate a 5-10ghz by compiling computers who each share their resources when they're not in use.

 

I think this makes sense to me. Let me get this straight: I would not be doing any computations, but my computer would be doing it in the background and sending it to the research team at Stanford as long as I am online and a member of the team. Does that sound close to being correct?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Wow.
Thanks Webmaster.
Both my daughter and myself think it's a VERY worthwhile cause, and God bless you for your efforts. That goes for everyone who contributes! Neurological issues are among the scariest to deal with...there's so much that is unknown, and when it's your own child you watch going downhill...well it's nice to know that there's people out here who do take that extra step to help find answers.

Joseph, I think what they're looking for is speed. Here is a very simple explanation. (about as good as you're gonna get outta this small brain!)
Neurons work in very very fast time frames. The scientists working to find out more about diseases try to simulate the normal and abnormal actions of neurons. They do this with computer programs, but computers are slow and it would take a very long time for a computer to simulate the work of neurotransmitters and blah blah blah.
BUT! When they get the speed of a ton of computers together, the computer programs work faster. Think of it as one big computer sitting in the middle. When your computer hooks to it, the program playing on the computer in the center goes a microscopic bit faster. When mine hooks up, it goes a bit faster. As more hook up, the program is able to go faster and faster and is better able to simulate the processes of all those electrons and neurons or whatever is being replicated in the program.
That's how I think of it. Am I wrong? Mebbe, but it sounds so right!

 

Work Units? Is that also something the computer does for you?

Joseph Botwinick

 

I'm asking my son if it's OK for me to do. I'll know later today.

 

I was in team 32 (overclockers) until they decided to delete my signature on their forums (had a verse in it). I had a dual 1.6GHz server, a 1.7GHz rig, a 800MHz (hp), and a 450MHz (old compaq) folding 24x7 for a while. I'll try to get a few up either today or tomorrow.

GO 47603!

 

Webmaster, I just downloaded the program, but I do not know if I entered the information correct? It was asking for my name and I typed BB Team, and then gave the #47603 on top of the page.... It seemed to run the program but no icon on my Desktop.

P.S. I see it now. It is on the tool bars on the bottom. Question still stands, did I do it right?

 

For those of you that are interested in "one-click installers", I have a few here:

http://www.minihost.org/bb/

These are only for more advanced users that want to put F@H on multiple computers. They run, hidden, in the background as a service and are a snap to install. If you are unsure, just download the first one. It will work on all Windows 2000/XP systems.

Just make sure you change the username in the cleint.cfg file.

God Bless, and happy folding.

 

Hum, I don't know about this. Sounds great though. But when I downloaded, as per Webmaster's instructions, the F@H took over my computer and I could hardly do anything. I clicked on WebPages and it took 10 times as slow in opening as before, and my curser was vibrating profusely.... to the point that I was not able to aim it on practically anything. I had to delete the program and now I am ok. Is there any advise what went wrong? BTW I did disabled the screen saver as advised by Webmaster. The idea sounds great, but I need some pointers as to what went wrong and how do I eliminate this "intrusion." For I thought that this program should only work when the computer is "idle" and not when I am using it. Any advise will be appreciated.

 

F@H isn't supposed to slow down your computer at all, since it's only programmed to use the power of your processor that you aren't using.

Example: Lets say you are surfing the web. Your CPU is only running at 10%. F@H will take that unused 90% and put it toward folding.

I would give it one more try. Maybe it goofed up or something. I'm running BB-FAH502 (one-click) on two computers (on a slow computer and on a fast computer), and I can't even tell it's running on either.

 

I've got 2 rigs folding (one of them 24x7). It completed a work unit and sent it, but we didn't get anything for it. I've also got an X2 that will be folding under my name, and its running 24x7, so hopefully we will get some active folding rigs going here in a bit.

 

My friend (Ross) and I just turned in our WU's. Better watch out webmaster, we're catching up to ya!