Posts by MikeD

1) Message boards : Number crunching : BOINC and electricity (Message 43167) Posted 4 Jul 2007 by MikeD Post: A previous post mentioned use of a slower machine wasn't germane as the point of it all is to finish the work units. If this can be done, then why not... At the same time it's worth mentioning that when Distributed Processing was originally envisioned, it was to make use of unused cpu cycles while doing regular work on our PC's. It wasn't to "Crunch" as an end in itself. To do so is a waste of electricity and a harm to the environment.
2) Message boards : Number crunching : Temperature/energy management (Message 30513) Posted 2 Nov 2006 by MikeD Post: If concerned about CPU temperature or reducing electricity use, it's a simple thing to "Under-Clock" your machine... When the machine boots, you can typically enter the bios at that time and change the clocking. It's pretty easy. If interested in changing the CPU clock speed, GOOGLE a search for your Motherboard. Example: " asus motherboard change clock speed ". By under-clocking my machine, I reduced its temperature by 11 degrees and see no difference in performance. If ever you find a need for speed, just change it back. As for the project, I haven't observed much difference in the stats (Not that it matters much to me).
3) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Dr. Baker's plea... (Message 20479) Posted 18 Jul 2006 by MikeD Post: What does the winner get? Are there $$$ in it?
4) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Dr. Baker's plea... (Message 20424) Posted 18 Jul 2006 by MikeD Post: Dr. Baker wrote: We desperately need as much CPU power as possible for the next two weeks--there are more than 25 CASP targets due, including some that are our best shots at really high resolution models. Frustratingly, we won't be able to do anywhere near as much sampling as we had planned for these proteins as there are so many coming due near the same time, and thus can't really expect the accuracy we had hoped for. So if it is at all possible for you to increase your rosetta@home cpu time for the next two weeks please do--it will make a huge difference for our collective efforts! ------------------------------------------------------ What's the big hurry Dave? Wouldn't it make sense to simply extend the processing time for them? If it takes more time, then it takes more time.
5) Message boards : Number crunching : BOINC temporary work file (Message 19180) Posted 23 Jun 2006 by MikeD Post: I see a temporary BOINC work file in Directory C:Program FilesBOINC... Do all project running the BOINC Application use the same work file? Also, I'm installing an IRAM solid state hard drive on the machine and would like to move the Temp file there. Can this be done? Thanks
6) Message boards : Rosetta@home Science : Genetic algorithms are cool (Message 15611) Posted 6 May 2006 by MikeD Post: Genetic algorithms hold great potential for discovery and are fascinating. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/0e13af26862ba010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
7) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : An Open letter to the Project (Message 15015) Posted 29 Apr 2006 by MikeD Post: This will no doubt elicit a mixed response, but feel compelled to bring an important issue to the attention of Dr. Baker and the Project as a whole. With Global Warming/Dimming and the problems involving excessive Carbon Dioxide emmisions, we must out of concience consider how our Computers are being used. This is not a comment about the Projects worth or suggest Project termination, but simply to state our machines should not be running for the Projects sake. The temptation to leave machines running in order to achieve a higher statistical average is real given our competitive nature. Let's consider how expensive leaving Computers on is and what the "Real" costs are. Thanks
8) Message boards : Number crunching : Switching between applications (Message 1990) Posted 31 Oct 2005 by MikeD Post: Thanks to all for the good explanations in his thread. I have a little bit different question about switching between applications... The "Preferances" section has a switching interval recommendation of 60 minutes. Why 60 minutes and not less often? I have my switching interval set 120 minutes currently and am considering changing it to 480 minutes. This thread explains why it may not be a good idea to switch more frequently. Is there a down side to switching less often ? Also, there's a write to disk parm that can be adjusted as well. It currently is set to write no more often than once a minute. Can I change this to perhaps once every 30 minutes to reduce hard drive wear? I have 1024 megs of RAM. Thanks !
9) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Am getting warning messages... What to do ? (Message 481) Posted 25 Sep 2005 by MikeD Post: Yikes, it's happening again ! It does it with different work units too. I did all the things suggested and it reoccurs. Wondering if I'll have to uninstall/reinstall the silly thing ? What do the Berkeley guys say about this sort of thing?
10) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Am getting warning messages... What to do ? (Message 474) Posted 25 Sep 2005 by MikeD Post: I reset the project at the "Projects" tab in the Manager and it downloaded a bunch of files. Looks like it's running ok now. Wonder what happened to cause this? Do files get corrupted? There should be a feature installed that counts the warning messages and downloads automatically when a threshold is reached. Has anyone else seen these recursive messages ? Is so, what had to be done ? Thanks 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|rosetta@home\|Result 1btn__abrelax_02357_0 exited with zero status but no 'finished' file 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|rosetta@home\|If this happens repeatedly you may need to reset the project. 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|\|request_reschedule_cpus: process exited 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|rosetta@home\|Restarting result 1btn__abrelax_02357_0 using rosetta version 4.77
11) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Am getting warning messages... What to do ? (Message 463) Posted 25 Sep 2005 by MikeD Post: Has anyone else seen these recursive messages ? Is so, what had to be done ? Thanks 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|rosetta@home\|Result 1btn__abrelax_02357_0 exited with zero status but no 'finished' file 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|rosetta@home\|If this happens repeatedly you may need to reset the project. 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|\|request_reschedule_cpus: process exited 9/25/2005 6:42:03 AM\|rosetta@home\|Restarting result 1btn__abrelax_02357_0 using rosetta version 4.77
12) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Problem getting work ? (Message 79) Posted 17 Sep 2005 by MikeD Post: I installed BOINC an hour ago and the Manager/Messages says "Insufficient work;requesting more". Is this normal ? I use the Zone Alarm firewall and am wondering if the Manager or Client definitions should be allowed Server rights ? I typically don't allow that.. Anyone have thoughts about what's happening ? 9/17/2005 5:53:10 AM\|\|Starting BOINC client version 4.45 for windows_intelx86 9/17/2005 5:53:10 AM\|\|Data directory: C:Program FilesBOINC 9/17/2005 5:53:10 AM\|\|No general preferences found - using BOINC defaults 9/17/2005 5:53:10 AM\|\|Remote control not allowed; using loopback address 9/17/2005 5:53:10 AM\|\|Insufficient work; requesting more The task manager indicates no CPU used, so it's not doing anything.
13) Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : Problem getting work ? (Message 76) Posted 17 Sep 2005 by MikeD Post: Thanks very much, that solved the problem. Guess it would have been good to read the instructions ! ;-)