Folding@Home FAQ's

[KarmaKiller]

So you've heard all of this talk about folding, and want to know what it is. Well my friend, this is the thread for you!

What is folding@home?
Folding@home is a world wide distribute computing project, ran by Stanford University. It uses advanced computing methods, on the millions of PC's running this piece of software, to try to figure out how proteins fold, or "misfold". When they misfold, it can lead to some well known and world wide diseases. (Examples being Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers.) This program tries to solve and cure these misfolding proteins.

How can I help?
You visit Stanfords page, here, and download the client that corresponds with your system. There are many different clients for the many different systems out there. Running this program some of the time, or all of the time will help. Any/Every contribution helps!

How do I join the TechIMO team?
You download the software, and upon setup, when asked for a team number, you type in 111. That is TechIMO's team number. It's that simple.

Which client is right for me?
It all depends on your system.
■Single Core systems:
WinXP/2003/Vista System Tray - Version 6.20 - Install instructions

WinXP/2003/Vista Console Client - Version 6.20 - Install instructions

Linux (x86) and BSD *combined uniprocessor and SMP client* (64-bit required for SMP) - Version 6.02 - Install instructions (single core) (SMP)

■Dual/Quad Core Systems:
See post #2. (Thanks Engracio)

You can also run Folding on your graphics card too!
Nvidia cards:

a GeForce, Quadro, or Tesla card that supports CUDA (G80 or later for the most part)
A CUDA capable driver, version 177.92 is recommend. Folding Application included with driver download.

Windows operating system (32 or 64 bit), XP or newer (better Vista and 64-bit support coming soon)

ATI Cards:

2xxx/3xxx ATI Video Card, or newer
ATI Driver v8.1+, v8.3 or newer recommended
AGP GPU aperture size in the BIOS must be set to 128 MB or larger
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0, with updates recommended
Windows operating system, XP or newer
Processor with SSE2 support to feed the GPU

■Download:See this post!
(thanks 2Monsters)
Note: If you want to run the GPU client along with the SMP client, you have to dedicate one processor core just for the GPU. This will insure your GPU is getting all the work it wants. If you have problems/questions setting up any of the above versions, feel free to PM me or another team member with questions.


What are these points I keep hearing about?
For every work unit (WU) you finish, there is a set amount of points that's given to you for completing that WU. These points basically show how much a person has contributed to the project. Points are kept track of by Stanford University, and you can check them on multiple pages.
Individual Overall Rank - EXTREME Overclocking Folding @ Home Stats
Kakao Stats - Folding@Home - Teams Ranking
Folding@Home


Does folding slow down my computer?
Short answer, no. Folding only uses "idle" clock cycles. So whatever percent of your processor that your not using, that's what folding will use.
ie- your using 60% of your CPU, folding will use 40%

What is PPD?
PPD (points per day) is a quick estimate of how many points per day your system is netting. The easiest and best way to figure this out is with FahMon. This is a small app that keeps track of your clients for you. It also gives you a rough estimate of how many points your netting.

How do I get the most PPD for my system?
■If you are able to run GPU2, then that is the current fastest client.
■Run SMP if you can.
■ Another less known way is to fold in linux. The linux client is up to 15% more efficient then the windows counterpart. This takes a whole another guide to get setup though. Pm me if interested

Help, I can't get it setup right!
Drop a visit to our "Distribute Computing Section" and start a thread. Include as many details as you can, including system specs and what you've tried. There are many experienced heads on this site that are willing to help.

Why should I fold?
If you have a high powered machine that sits and does nothing all day, then why not? You might notice a slight increase in your electricity bill if you have multiple systems running, but that is the only draw back. Your donating your PC for the greater good of mankind, and it may possibly turn out to help a loved one or yourself down the road. Your are taking part in creating one of the largest super computers known to man. And it's all in the name of medical research. What better cause is there?

Again I stress, if you are having problems, or have any questions, please feel free to PM me or another folding team member. Or you can drop by our "FadChat" threads and ask there.

[engracio]

This is for the Deino MPI client:

Folding@home - DownloadWinOther

-Stop the current client by pressing CTRL+C (either after completion or in the middle of wu completion).
-Open your current folder (that you used to run 5.91/5.92 smp client).
-Unzip the new 6.22beta2 executable in the same folder or unzip/extract the zip file to its own folder and copy all files to the 5.91/5.92 folder.
-Rename the new client 6.22beta2 executable to fah6.
-Run the new executable with the -configonly flag then check the configuration (there are some new fields added).
-Create a new shortcut for the new client and replace the old startup shortcut.
-Restart the client as usual.

-The old 5.92 client will expire tomorrow 2 Aug 2008.
-The 6.22 client is capable of being use as single core without the -smp argument or multiple core with -smp argument.
-The new client has several new -configuration field added. The client arguments like -smp, -verbosity 9, -forceasm or -oneunit. The argument can now be either put on the client config or on the shortcut like the 5.92 client.

The same process also applies to the GPU clients which also expires as the smp client.

Let's go FOLD!!!!!

[engracio]

Stanford have an official how to install for dual gpu clients under Windows XP. This instructions is for the Nvidia console version.

Folding@home - WinGPUGuide

-Install the first video card and Nvidia CUDA drivers with at least the 177.35 version as per instruction above.

-Ensure that the card is stable and able to complete wu.

-Install the second video card and install the driver.

-Right click on any part of your windows desktop and left click on properties

-Click on settings tab and click on number two or second display (you would not see this if you only have one video card installed)

-Click/check on box "Extend my windows desktop into this display". Click apply/ok and the second video card will be recognize by Windows XP. Vista is different and must have a dummy plug or actual monitor attached to video card before you can extend/recognize the second video card.

-On gpu0 folder run -configonly and change the additional client parameters to -gpu 0 for the first video card. The system recognizes the first video card as -gpu 0

-On the second video card folder run -configonly and ensure that the client have a different machine id other than the default id of 2 which is more than likely the machine id for gpu 0. Machine id 3 is acceptable.

-The parameter -gpu 1 must be added to again separate the first video card from the second. If you are lucky to have multiple video cards -gpu 2 or the third, gpu 3 are next.

-Create a shortcut for each client i.e. gpu60 and gpu61 and add to start up and monitor both gpu client until satisfied they are stable. Watch ppd increase in the next couple of days.

On my 8800GS I am able to OC the first video card using the EVGA Precision video card overclocking proggie. I use RivaTuner on my second video card as the overclocking proggie.