TPU's WCG/BOINC Team

[xvi]

I have been asked how do I know if my compute power isn't helping terr0rists.

Well, we're helping humanity, so, uh.. yes? I suppose we are?

 

[Nordic]

To put that more into context, I was at on of my grandparents parties and I was asked what my hobbies were. I mentioned distributed computing for WCG helping humanity as one of them. I live in one of the more conservative states, and this specific couple was definitely more than most in my state... you can get the picture there.

I was not sure if I should laugh or be insulted. I answered responsibly and brought up the clean energy project harvard results on my phone, and laughed later.

Anyone else have any odd stories like that? Usually when I mention distributed computing people are like who what huh where? Even in academia.

 

[xvi]

Anyone else have any odd stories like that?

I don't know about odd since it's a conversation we've all had.

"You do what now?"
Well, my computer does simulations for researchers that need the computing power.
"Oh. What do you get in return?"
Points.
"Huh. What can you do with the points?"
Well, um.. look at them.
"So the points do nothing."
No, they.. uh.. I mean.. Oh! There's daily pie! And teams! You get to see who did the most science each day!
"...sssssoooooo, the points do nothing."
..and there's competitions, those are fun too.
"ಠ_ಠ"
...
"ಠ_ಠ"
...yes, the points do nothing.

 

[stinger608]

what are you needing Vinska?

 

[librin.so.1]

what are you needing Vinska?

It's OK now: surprisingly, I found an easy solution

 

[ThE_MaD_ShOt]

I don't know about odd since it's a conversation we've all had.

"You do what now?"
Well, my computer does simulations for researchers that need the computing power.
"Oh. What do you get in return?"
Points.
"Huh. What can you do with the points?"
Well, um.. look at them.
"So the points do nothing."
No, they.. uh.. I mean.. Oh! There's daily pie! And teams! You get to see who did the most science each day!
"...sssssoooooo, the points do nothing."
..and there's competitions, those are fun too.
"ಠ_ಠ"
...
"ಠ_ಠ"
...yes, the points do nothing.

I know exactly what you mean. I get the blank stare also. I also get the "thats all fake nonsense. Some people just can't wrapped there head around what we do and why we do it. But hey we all enjoy it and it does mean something.

 

[Arjai]

I also get a lot of quizzical looks. "You are doing WHAT?" I sometimes find it hard to explain to the computer illiterate what it is we are doing. Even some complete nerds look dumbfounded.

"Do you really think it is doing anything?" Is another question I have been fielded. I assure them that there are viable sources behind what we do, including IBM, and Berkley, and Scientists from around the planet. I sometimes omit the "Scientists", because there are some far right fools around that don't believe in Science.

Most people though, think it is a great idea, once they wrap their head around it. Often days later....

and WCG!!

 

[t_ski]

After switching to MCM, I can't say I'm particularly pleased with the results. Hopefully it's just sorting itself out and I'll see some better results in the future.

This is what I was talking about before.

 

[HammerON]

Congrats to @Jstn7477 for passing me on on the top ten list to reach number 5

 

[thebluebumblebee]

My CL adventure:
Back in January, I found a motherboard/CPU/RAM combo on CL that I thought that the team could use for the February Challenge. Norton and I talked about it and I met with the guy, who actually brought it to my house because I wanted to test it. I could not get it to work and wanted to test it further. By that time I had seen that it was a 2600K on an Intel DH67DG with 4GB of RAM. But dead is worthless, so I offered him $20 (for the RAM) and promised him that I would pay him the rest if I got it to work. At the time, I only had one other 1155 system and I did not want to use it to verify if the parts worked. I called Intel and they RMA'd the motherboard but that did not help. They then RMA'd the CPU but then refused it when they got it because it was not a retail S/N. (still don't understand why they couldn't tell me that before I sent it to them) In the mean time I found a Celeron G530 on CL and verified that the motherboard and RAM were good. I had also picked up a MSI Z77A-GD55 motherboard on CL a few weeks ago. In preparation for this challenge, I was glued to CL trying to find i5's or better and finally scored an i5-3450. Yesterday, as I was assembling the 2 systems, I had this strong urge to try the 2600K on the MSI motherboard. Imagine my surprise when it booted. I owe someone some money. (gladly) Did I mention that he was only asking $75?
So, for this challenge, I'm bringing the following:
7 threads 2600K @ 4.4 on Win7 (also running the 7770 Folding)
8 threads 2600K @ 4.2 (OC Genie) Linux
4 threads 3450 @ 3.5 (stock turbo) Linux

And we're having a record breaking heat wave.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Can you crunch on a virtual machine?

 

[Arjai]

Yes but, it still uses the same CPU. Thus, slowing everything down. Just my two cents.

 

[Nordic]

My CL adventure:
Back in January, I found a motherboard/CPU/RAM combo on CL that I thought that the team could use for the February Challenge. Norton and I talked about it and I met with the guy, who actually brought it to my house because I wanted to test it. I could not get it to work and wanted to test it further. By that time I had seen that it was a 2600K on an Intel DH67DG with 4GB of RAM. But dead is worthless, so I offered him $20 (for the RAM) and promised him that I would pay him the rest if I got it to work. At the time, I only had one other 1155 system and I did not want to use it to verify if the parts worked. I called Intel and they RMA'd the motherboard but that did not help. They then RMA'd the CPU but then refused it when they got it because it was not a retail S/N. (still don't understand why they couldn't tell me that before I sent it to them) In the mean time I found a Celeron G530 on CL and verified that the motherboard and RAM were good. I had also picked up a MSI Z77A-GD55 motherboard on CL a few weeks ago. In preparation for this challenge, I was glued to CL trying to find i5's or better and finally scored an i5-3450. Yesterday, as I was assembling the 2 systems, I had this strong urge to try the 2600K on the MSI motherboard. Imagine my surprise when it booted. I owe someone some money. (gladly) Did I mention that he was only asking $75?
So, for this challenge, I'm bringing the following:
7 threads 2600K @ 4.4 on Win7 (also running the 7770 Folding)
8 threads 2600K @ 4.2 (OC Genie) Linux
4 threads 3450 @ 3.5 (stock turbo) Linux

And we're having a record breaking heat wave.

I am jealous of portlands craigslist. My craigslist gets some decent stuff but rarely.

 

[stinger608]

I am jealous of portlands craigslist. My craigslist gets some decent stuff but rarely.

I hear ya! Most of the idiots around here want 90% of retail from what it was 3 years ago.

 

[Nordic]

I hear ya! Most of the idiots around here want 90% of retail from what it was 3 years ago.

The worst part is, if I put something up that is good. A good price even. I get nibbles but no bites.

 

[Arjai]

Slowly, slooowly, climbing the ranks...

 

[librin.so.1]

Considering what You have available, You're doing superb there, @Arjai!

 

[Norton]

Is anyone else seeing the FAAH Vina work units flying through their s1155 systems?

See below:
- julia rig- 2600k/Ubuntu
- MrFoldy2 rig- i5-2320/Win7 Pro x64
- LILGIRL rig- Xeon (s1366)- Win7 Pro x64
- tricia rig- i7-970 (s1366)/Ubuntu

 

[librin.so.1]

TFW 52 points for 11 and a half hours of work. That's just BS.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Is anyone else seeing the FAAH Vina work units flying through their s1155 systems?

See below:
- julia rig- 2600k/Ubuntu
- MrFoldy2 rig- i5-2320/Win7 Pro x64
- LILGIRL rig- Xeon (s1366)- Win7 Pro x64
- tricia rig- i7-970 (s1366)/Ubuntu

Not sure how this works, but what I see (in my results) is that the "FAHV_ x3NF9" take a lot longer than the "FAHV_ x3NFA" and I only have S1155 systems. They just happened to line up wrong for you. From my results:

I would have been what the butter if I'd seen what you posted.
Edit:
MainII=2600K/Win7
How am I holding the 8th position so far today on FreeDC?

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Sorry, I looked at the wrong part of the chart.

 

[Durvelle27]

My current crunchers

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Answered my own question, but thought I'd post anyway.
I have 3 systems up for the challenge. 1 Win7 with BOINC 6.10.58 and 2 Ubuntu with BOINC 7.2.42. Is it just me, or does it seem that the newer client, or maybe it's Ubuntu, uploads completed work sooner? My Win7 system had a screen full of completed work when I checked on it this morning. Is it worth upgrading the BOINC client?

Update: I went ahead and updated the Win7 client due to this wording in the BOINC Wiki:

Time between network connections
Approximate time between network connections. When your computer asks a server for work, it will try to get enough work to last for this long. 0 means constant connection.

Update 2: Seems that the updated client is sending completed work in a very timely fashion. I'm not needing to hit "update".

 

[mstenholm]

TFW 52 points for 11 and a half hours of work. That's just BS.

That's why I stopped after I made the 5.75 year badge. My 8400 sometimes did good on these but my 1366s hate them or more correct they hate my i7's.

 

[mstenholm]

Answered my own question, but thought I'd post anyway.
I have 3 systems up for the challenge. 1 Win7 with BOINC 6.10.58 and 2 Ubuntu with BOINC 7.2.42. Is it just me, or does it seem that the newer client, or maybe it's Ubuntu, uploads completed work sooner? My Win7 system had a screen full of completed work when I checked on it this morning. Is it worth upgrading the BOINC client?

Update: I went ahead and updated the Win7 client due to this wording in the BOINC Wiki:


Update 2: Seems that the updated client is sending completed work in a very timely fashion. I'm not needing to hit "update".

I never figure out what triggers a prompt "update". My 8400 (old client) send them right away but the rest needs help other wise they do an update once a day. Not a big problem for me.

On a side note I tried to install BOINC on my dual boot rig yesterday. I gave up since I most have used a very complicated password for Linux and then forgot it.