Performance (and performance impact) on older machines

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:27 pm

I have an 800mhz server that is only a file server. It does very little except throw mp3's around, and my source code.

How much useful work could it contribute to Folding, and what impact on the machine would there be? Can you specify amount of CPU utilization, or anything?

Vindicator · Post by **Vindicator** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:41 pm

I have a trio of 700mhz machines (two celerons, one duron) and combined they made up probably a third of all the work units I turned in prior to joining the DBB team. So yes, they are capable of useful work towards Folding.

There would be very little impact on the performance, based on my experiences with running Folding on my main gaming rig. Folding runs at 100% utilization when the PC is idle, but whenever another program wants the CPU its pretty good about sharing. I dont notice any difference in games between leaving Folding running and turning it off.

Defender · Post by **Defender** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:46 pm

My 700mhz laptop still haven't finished a WU... heh.

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:00 pm

But when they do, mucho points ...

Defender · Post by **Defender** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:08 pm

Well, I hope it's just a massive WU and not that it's a slow a$$ pos

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:19 pm

Go to the links thread and download FaHMon. You can use it to see just how many points credit you will get when it completes.

Viralphrame · Post by **Viralphrame** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:00 pm

Iceman wrote:But when they do, mucho points ...

I find that pretty interesting.

My AMD Athlon folding @ 650 MHZ (Tabris; often taking weeks, even a month to finish work units!) has turned out two WUs, and still has more points than my 2.3ghz main box (Viralphrame), which has turned out three WUs.

s. · Post by s. » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:11 pm

I have 2 a 2.4 amd and my slow pos 766 p3 the p3 seems to do alright I just got it set up but well see

scrode

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:35 pm

I think I'd like to set my 450 to perform timeless work units. Can I do that while its working on a work unit? And I use that -local -config thing, right?

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:42 pm

Sure you can but use the -configonly switch. That way, the only operation performed is to update the client.cfg file. The one already running only needed the client.cfg file when it started up.

If you use the -config switch, it will start the app running and could potentially mess up your current work unit.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:48 pm

Ok. Lemme do this quick....

done. That was easy. I also saw an option I hadnt seen before that would allow sending and recieving work in batches to minimize networking. Is that option only availible if you request timeless work units? I'm gonna try to set it on the other three, as that would really help for when the campus network goes wonky. I think a couple of my machines sat idle for at least half a day when that happened two weeks ago.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:53 pm

Hm, didnt give me the batch option to minimize networking when I said no or no-pref to timeless work units. Oh well.

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:54 pm

I am not familiar with that option. Perhaps you mean the 'bigpackets' option? That option just allows you to receive work assignments larger than 5MB in size. Either way I doubt they are related.