Newbie Question

[Spooks]

Shouldn't there be a sticky on this page somewherethat describes what folding is and where to get the client? Or am I overlooking it?

[BuiesCreek847]

Hmmmm . . . . Well, . . . .. You bring up a good point.

Start by checking out the Folding For Our Future Video (Link).

Then check out the Folding Frogs Homepage (Link).

Ask any questions you may have.

It seems we may have some house cleaning to do.

[Spooks]

Thanks so much. I stumbled onto the FAQ somewhere. I do have a couple of questions that weren't in the FAQ that I was hoping you guys could help me out with:

I just joined the folding team and started on my first project yesterday (probably still going on).

Do all WUs take about the same length of time to complete roughly (think mine has taken around 15 hours so far).

Is there any possibility of damaging my computer by leaving it running at 100% for 15-20 hours? I plan on starting a WU around 12 AM and letting my computer work until I get home from work at 6:00 PM the next day. Is there the possibility of overheating my computer or anything?

Does using my computer this way draw more energy than say playing a video game? I don't have a problem with leaving my computer on 24 hours a day as long as it doesn't use up a lot more energy than it does when idle.

While I'm working on this WU, am I transmitting a lot of information? Or does it wait until the WU is complete to transmit? I was thinking I could do this at work also but we have a real tight connection. I couldn't do it if it uses up a lot of bandwidth.

And finally, let me see if I have this straight. Our team is working on a single protein that we've been assigned. This folding process takes many different WUs to complete, and each time I download a WU, it goes toward a single protein that's being worked on by our team? How many WUs roughly does it take to complete a protein (or a project)?

I hope that's not too many questions, and thanks again for any help!

[JeffR]

The list of threads to watch should be updated a little bit.

[BuiesCreek847]

Ok, I'll do my best based on what I know. Other will hopefully chime in to fill in the blanks Hehe.

Not all WUs take the same amount of time. As I understand things, each WU actually represents a very small section of the proteins development. (in nanoseconds I think). All the results from each users work is reassembled at Stanford (I guess).

The way the client is designed to function, is to utilize your "spare" CPU cycles. Meaning, if you're into a CPU intensive game for example, the client can and will if need be, reduce its CPU loading up to and including, stopping its work altogether, so as not to interfear with what you are doing in the foreground. Otherwise, it will have your CPU run at full throttle. The CPU manufacturer has selected the Heatsink/fan combo to cover this as well to include a margin of error for say, lint buildup on the fins. That way, the less informed PC user is covered, knowing they might not clean things as you or I would. So yes. Folding will have the CPU, run at full throttle, heating things up. But not past what the builder planned on.

Will it use more power? Yes, possibly up to a couple of dollars more than what you might expect otherwise.

Are you transmitting info constantly? No. The only time info is being transmitted, is when a WU is completed. then of course, the results are uploaded to Stanford as well as a new WU is downloaded.

And finally, no, our team is not working on a specific protein. Stanford has figured out a way of "Benchmarking" any given system so as to better understand what it is capable of so it can be assigned a better suited WU. Each WU has a specific time limit as to when it is due. So typically, meeting such is not a problem, especially if you are able to run 24/7.

How many WUs does it take to complete a protein? Danged if I know! LOL!! But if each WU accounts for a couple of nanoseconds of the proteins development, you can figure ....Alot. Hehe

Info for each WU can be found here.....Current Projects (Link).

Keep asking, we're glad to help.

And, WELCOME to the Team!!

[BuiesCreek847]

Originally posted by JeffR
The list of threads to watch should be updated a little bit.

Yup, I'm ratteling cages trying to get fellow mods to work with me.

But if you or others would care to contribute, We'd be glad to include your work.

We do need some big time spring cleaning. We have lots of very good info, but it seems to be spread around IMO. I think we need to glean the best of it all and condense.

[Spooks]

Ah, so I can actually put the client in my startup folder and set it to run 24/7? What I was doing last night was pausing it everytime I wanted to play a game or do something, but if it will adjust it's CPU usage, maybe I can try running it while playing a video game at the same time.

As for the power output, I just didn't want to get some huge electricity bill next month. As I said, I'm fairly clueless about my computer.

Stanford must use the term WU for two different things. I assume by your post that the WU I downloaded last night is what you meant when you said it refers to a couple of nanoseconds of a protein's development. However I noticed on the EMIII page it would occasionally say things like "Stanford has released 10 new Work Units." That doesn't refere to the same thing right? Since I'm guessing there are thousands of individual work units being done at any given time by the people involved with the project? I am assuming that when they say Stanford has released 10 new WUs they're referring to an individual project?

I'd really like to get started on a distributed computing project so my computer isn't going to waste, and this one looks like the most fun. The SETI one looked interesting but it doesn't seem very practical. I'd rather do something that had results.

Lastly, does anyone know how much information is roughly transmitted after a WU is completed? I was thinking about putting the program on the computers here at work (we have around 30) to increase my output. they're all slow as hell and roughly 200mhz a piece, but I figured as long as it didn't transmit too much info it wouldn't matter (anything over a few hundred kb and the Internet connection at work slows to a crawl).

Thanks again!

[Spooks]

Sorry, I forgot one more question. If I'm constantly stressing my processor by running this program 24 hours a day, it's not going to cause wear on my processor or break it or anything right?

[BuiesCreek847]

OK, I need some info from you first.

Did you download the "Graphical client" or the "No frills text only" client?

The graphical version has been known to present problems in some games.

[BuiesCreek847]

Originally posted by Spooks
Sorry, I forgot one more question. If I'm constantly stressing my processor by running this program 24 hours a day, it's not going to cause wear on my processor or break it or anything right?

Hah. Like anything else electronic, if it made it passed the first minute or so of it's life, it's OK.

[Spooks]

I downloaded the pretty one that shows the protein gene on it. I was thinking about downloading one of those skins that doubles as a web client though, since I'd like to be able to view it while I'm at work.

[BuiesCreek847]

As I said before, the graphical one is known to present with some games minimizing ubruptly. Till you get tired of the pictures, you might consider just shutting down the folding client while playing games.

The mention of Stanford releasing 10 new WUs refers to the same thing I was talking about. They're just different slices if you will of different projects.

How much data is being transmitted? That question was asked recently, and I really don't know the exact amoount. I would imagine its related to how complicated the WU is to start with.

Currently, there's two different means of crunching these things. One uses the "Tinker" core, and the newer, FASTER, method uses the "GROMACS" core. The Gromacs can be as large as 1 to 1.5MB of data (I believe). The Tinker is smaller.

In the setup of the client, one can manually limit the total CPU attention payed to the WU so as not to foul-up a server that's Folding for example. One can also set the priority as well. I know that for a fact in the Text only (or Console version). Frankly, it's been over a year since I messed with the Graphical version, so I'm vague at best with it. Others will know better as to how to do it there.

[Spooks]

When my next WU completes I'll download the graphical version and install that. I hope that it doesn't have a lot -switches and such that will fonsue me though. Thanks again!

[BuiesCreek847]

Originally posted by Spooks
When my next WU completes I'll download the graphical version and install that. I hope that it doesn't have a lot -switches and such that will fonsue me though. Thanks again!

PerhapsI misunderstood you. I thought you said you are currently running the one with pretty pictures. That's the graphical version.

The simple console version will present with a DOS box when on-screen. It's the prefered method by most.

[Spooks]

Sorry I mispoke, I am currently runing graphical. I meant I would download the console version when I get home.