NationStates Jolt Archive

I've posted this before a while ago... can't remember when. But it's a great thing to do with your computer's down time.

http://www.grid.org/download/gold/download.htm

Cure cancer during those brief windows in time when you're not posting on NS.

And just so you know:

"Will my privacy be compromised?

No. No personally identifiable information is required to run the UD Agent. You do not need to provide us with any personal information after downloading to run the UD Agent. However, some location information is required to have your points and cpu time included on some stats pages. Members are told every instance where their e-mail addresses might be used and are given the option to allow or disallow specific e-mail uses. You decide what news and information you wish to receive from us, and you have the ability to view and change these preferences at any time.

The UD Agent itself does not read information beyond its specific directory, except for occasional use of the Windows temporary directory during the processing of Work Units. Beyond this, the only information taken from the computer by the UD Agent is the system information required to determine the individual computer's contribution (see "How does the UD Agent determine the information that it gathers from my machine" for more information.)

Furthermore, all transactions involving the exchange of this information, whether through the member section of our website or during registration of the UD Agent, go through secure servers to protect the data. To find out more about Member privacy, review our Member Privacy Policy."

I'd like to, but I'm on the university machines. So I'll have to steal someone elses password to make sure no trace of blame lies with me. Muhahahahahahaha!

I'd like to, but I'm on the university machines. So I'll have to steal someone elses password to make sure no trace of blame lies with me. Muhahahahahahaha!
You could just ask if it's alright. It doesn't affect the computer in any negative ways.

You could just ask if it's alright. It doesn't affect the computer in any negative ways.

Where's the fun in that?

Where's the fun in that?
Hmmm...

Point taken.

Here (http://folding.stanford.edu/)'s the link to the folding programme that Stanford runs, which is another good programme.

Here (http://folding.stanford.edu/)'s the link to the folding programme that Stanford runs, which is another good programme.
cool.

Proud UD cruncher since four years, with over two years of CPU time, and founder of a 100+ strong team.

Best opportunity we'll have of giving future generations a chance.

Proud UD cruncher since four years, with over two years of CPU time, and founder of a 100+ strong team.

Best opportunity we'll have of giving future generations a chance.
It really makes no sense to not contribute to something like this. Unless you're really super attached to your personal screen saver.

It really makes no sense to not contribute to something like this. Unless you're really super attached to your personal screen saver.
Folding actually runs quite well for me even when my computer is active. Currently it's folding like 1000 sequences daily, though it's more of a recent phenomenon than anything (usually only folds a few hundred)

It really makes no sense to not contribute to something like this. Unless you're really super attached to your personal screen saver.

Precisely.
And I don't use the screen saver. My UD client runs constantly. CPU load is constantly 100%, and the program runs at a lower priority than other processes so it doesn't interfere with other CPU-hungry applications and games.

Why would you rather run SETI or Distributed.net?

Interesting...they use your computer to conduct medical research.

Huh. No mac version. Disappointing.

Huh. No mac version. Disappointing.
Next best thing:
http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html

Precisely.
And I don't use the screen saver. My UD client runs constantly. CPU load is constantly 100%, and the program runs at a lower priority than other processes so it doesn't interfere with other CPU-hungry applications and games.

Why would you rather run SETI or Distributed.net?
I have a laptop and I know nothing about computers. That's as far as I know how to answer your question.
Forgive the computer illiterate.

Hm, hadn't heard of that before (only of SETI). Sounds like a good thing.

Now I only have to convince myself that I can live without my Daily Show screensaver. It has a pic of Jon Stewart, so this isn't going to be easy... *whines*

Hm, hadn't heard of that before (only of SETI). Sounds like a good thing.

Now I only have to convince myself that I can live without my Daily Show screensaver. It has a pic of Jon Stewart, so this isn't going to be easy... *whines*
Print it out and frame it. Keep it on your desk. Feel his gaze as you surf the web.

I have a laptop and I know nothing about computers. That's as far as I know how to answer your question.
Forgive the computer illiterate.

You have a laptop, and you don't know much about computers.


So that is why you'd rather run Distributed.net.



Can't say I understand your logic, but your reply was well amusing. Cheers! :)

Print it out and frame it. Keep it on your desk. Feel his gaze as you surf the web.
Ooooh, I'm feeling his gaze right now... :p

To clarify a few things, you do not have to use the program as a screensaver.
Just install the client, and leave it be. It sits in the tray and doesn't interfere with your PC in any other way, other than using a bit of your internet connexion now and then.

To clarify a few things, you do not have to use the program as a screensaver.
Just install the client, and leave it be. It sits in the tray and doesn't interfere with your PC in any other way, other than using a bit of your internet connexion now and then.
Oh, really? But that site said something about it replacing your screensaver, too. But of course I can't find the exact quote again, and you should know, after all, seeing how you've been doing this for years.

So, thanks for the info!

Now I can ogle Jon Stewart while helping to cure cancer! How's that for kicks? :p

Oh, really? But that site said something about it replacing your screensaver, too.

It can, but it doesn't have to. There's two ways to run it.

1. With the "run only as screen saver" option in the preferences screen selected. In this case the only time the program is running is when your computer is idle long enough for your screensaver to kick in, and in this case you have to use it AS your screensaver or it will never get any work done.

2. With the "run only as screen saver" option in the preferences screen not selected. In this case the program runs constantly in the background.

Unless you run a lot of programs which are serious CPU hogs you're not going to notice any real performance impact from running it constantly in the background. You might want to switch to screen saver only if you're going to do some serious 3d intensive gaming or something and then switch it back on when you're done...

(Crunching UD data for 1yr, 47days, 4hrs, 58mins, 47secs of CPU time and counting...)

Unless you run a lot of programs which are serious CPU hogs you're not going to notice any real performance impact from running it constantly in the background. You might want to switch to screen saver only if you're going to do some serious 3d intensive gaming or something and then switch it back on when you're done...

Even then UD won't affect your performance. The client runs at the lowest possible process priority, meaning the majority of processes have higher priority. You'll only run into trouble if you have other programs running at the lowest possible priority setting.

Note to self: Reinstall that thing that SETI's using lately. Ta for the reminder :)

I'm curious how it'll interact with Cool 'n' Quiet on my new CPU... Will it do what Prime95 does, hit 100% CPU-use at reduced speed, or nudge it up to full power? I'd probably prefer the former, but they'd prefer the latter, I think... Anyone know the answer? I think it depends on what CPU priority it uses. The lowest (in Win2k) doesn't cause the CPU speed to increase.

Oh, and why SETI? Aliens are cool, and I'm more likely to die from a heart attack than cancer.
Anyway, the new thing they use can run several projects, so if SETI's not given you anything, it does something else instead.

Actually, I should install it on this PC too.

The CPU will run hot (or warm if you have sufficient cooling :p). I believe the FPU of the CPU is mainly used, so running programs that send HLT command to the CPU (such as Rain, or Waterfall, and I even think W2k does this by default) will not interfere with operation, but limit the heat production slightly.

AFAIK, processes using HLT-commands to 'actively' cool the CPU alsu run at very low priorities. Not sure if this would lead to UD underperforming, or if UD's operations would take presedence over HLT-commands.

Looking for aliens is lovely. I think the question is if you wouldn't prefer doing something good for humanity? I'll disregard that egoistic quote about you dying from a heart attack - which is mostly a curable and preventable condition.


Everyone should install UD. It's in our best interest.

I'm waiting until some third world country distributes a program under the pretext of curing AIDS, when it actually designs nuclear weapons. That'd be awesome.

I'm waiting until some third world country distributes a program under the pretext of curing AIDS, when it actually designs nuclear weapons. That'd be awesome.
i'm already working on it, along with trying to get the source code for the universe, or at least earth

I'm waiting until some third world country distributes a program under the pretext of curing AIDS, when it actually designs nuclear weapons. That'd be awesome.

They already have that.

It's an american project called, well..

http://fightaidsathome.scripps.edu/

The CPU will run hot (or warm if you have sufficient cooling ).
Yeah, mine runs cool enough. I just don't want to use too much electricity, really, or have noisier fans than necessary.

Looking for aliens is lovely. I think the question is if you wouldn't prefer doing something good for humanity? I'll disregard that egoistic quote about you dying from a heart attack - which is mostly a curable and preventable condition.
It is lovely. It makes me happy.
I think they're both "good for humanity". If it cheers you up I have rosetta@home as my secondary distributed computing project. No, I wouldn't prefer running something instead of SETI, thanks :P

Oh, and as for the heart attack: I know of which I speak. Trust me. Better than dying from cancer, though, and it probably ain't going to happen for 40 odd years.

They already have that.

It's an american project called, well..

http://fightaidsathome.scripps.edu/

Damn it. Oooh, I know, the cure for herpes?

i'm already working on it, along with trying to get the source code for the universe, or at least earth

That's easy.

1 BEGIN
2 SET ENDTIME=1
3 ENDTIME+1
4 SET UNIVERSE=1
5 IF UNIVERSE=1, GOTO 42
.
.
.
42 PRINT "I AM THE LIZARD KING"
43 IF ENDTIME=666, GOTO 45
44 GOTO 3
45 END