Stainless

Alright, well, there are a lot of FAQs for folding, each of them answering difference questions. In this FAQ I'll try to cover all of them to the best of my knowledge. Questions will be highlighted in red.

Q) I have an unbelievable estimate time to complete my work unit! Is this normal?
A) Yes and no, the client takes some time to get the right estimate, let it run for 10 frames and it’ll give you a more precise one which I’m sure you’ll be happier with. There are differences with the work units too, you can get a 150 frame unit that’ll take two days or more, or can get a 1000 frame unit that’ll take 10 hours.

Q) What are these “flags” everyone’s talking about? And how do I implement them?
A) Flags are features you can enable on your client (Or any program that accepts them really). On the Folding at Home client the easiest way is to create a short cut to the program, right click it, click properties and in the “target field” (where the program directory is) write your flag on the end. You can use as many flags as you want and should look something like this “ "C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\winFAH.exe" -advmethods –forceasm ”. Apply the settings and launch the program from your shortcut. Here’s list of flags you can use with F@H and their use (In a nutshell)

-config: Configure user information
-configonly: Configure user information, then exit
-help: Display flag usage screen
-queueinfo: Get information on queued work units
-delete x: Delete item #x from work queue
-send x: Send result #x to server then exit. Use x=all to send all results
-verbosity x: Sets output level from 1 to 9 (max) Default: 3
-pause: Pause after finishing and trying to send current unit
-oneunit: Exit after completing one unit
-local: Use configuration files from local directory. Default: Registry
-forceasm: Force core assembly optimizations to be used if available
-advmethods: Use new advanced scientific cores and/or work units if available

The only real flags of use are the last two, in the graphical version anyway.

Q) Is there anyway to get a work unit worth big points?
A) On the whole it’s chosen on how your system benchmarks to what work units you get, but are ways to narrow it down a little. In the configure/send menu there’ll me an option to “all receipt of work assignments and return of results to be lager than 5MB”, make sure you check this box. There is also a flag that’ll let you set your client (supposedly) so that you can get newer work units, which maybe worth more value. This flag is –advmethods.

Q) Is there anyway to make my computer process a work unit quicker?
A) In the configure/advanced section of your client there’s a CPU usage slider, slide it all the way to the right to make sure the client has full opportunity grab those idle cycles! There’s also a flag you can add which apparently forces your system’s extras into the working of a work unit (Like MMX and SSE, and the Intel equivalent). This flag is –forceasm.

Q) My computer’s only folding at 50%, is it a client bug?
A) Hyper threading is enabled on your CPU. HT is there to stop a single application from using all of your CPU’s resources, limiting it to 50%, even if it’s only using your idle cycles. There are two ways around this. You can either A) Disable hyper threading within your bios or B) Run two instances of F@H (Console Version! Not graphical to do this this!) from difference file directories.

Q) Can I use multiple systems to fold for the same user name?
A) Yes you can, put in the exact same user name and team on each machine.

Q) What about dual CPU or dual core machines?
A) I am unfamiliar with dual CPU or core machines. To answer this question I'll quote from the Stanford website.

"Yes, you can. Additional processors must run the console version (with the "-local" command-line argument if run on Windows). First, make additional directories for each processor and copy the FAH Console executable file into each. Then configure them with the -config switch, filling in settings for each. It is very important to make sure that under the "Advanced Settings" option each copy is given a unique machine ID (from 1 to 8). The first copy will default to a machine ID of 1, so additional copies should be given IDs of 2, 3, 4, etc. Each may then be run out of their installed directory, using the -local switch on windows."

Q) My game keeps minimizing! What’s wrong?
A) This is a common problem with the F@H clients and there are no fixes for it. Just keep trying to open up your gaming window a few times, if that doesn’t work then you’re going to have to exit the program while you play.

Q) Will my computer be slower?
A) No, and if it is it wont be noticeable. The F@H program uses idle CPU cycles and doesn’t deprive any CPU power from an application that wants it. F@H is the wimpy kid who’ll take what he can get, but when big Microsoft word comes along, it’ll sit in the corner and wait.

Q) I finished a work unit, but it isn’t showing up on this site! Was it lost?
A) No, most probably not, the F@H website updates itself regularly, but not in real-time, maybe every 10 – 30mins. F@H only updates it’s stats to third parties every 3 hours also.

Q) I just got my first WU, why is my username not listed?
A) After your client does a single WU your username and details will be posted, it normally needs to do a WU before it thinks straight

Q) I’ve overclocked my CPU, will folding hurt it?
A) Not if you’ve got a solid Prime95 stable machine, it should be fine. If your computer is unstable then you may encounter problems. F@H does not stress the computer like benchmarking, but it does heat up your CPU.

Q) Can I check all the projects and their point values somewhere?
A) Yes, at http://vspx27.stanford.edu/psummary.html

Well that’s about all I can think of at the moment! I hope I helped some people out.

Remember though, fold for team 37726!

CyberDruid

You are mistaken regarding HT intel CPU PCs being able to run two instances of F@H--it cannot--I just installed F@H on a separate drive in a seperate directory but only one copy can run at a time--otherwise a useful and well-written FAQ--good job

Stainless

This is copy/paste from the Stanford site

"Can I run both the screen saver and console version at the same time? What happens if I run two console versions at the same time?

ONLY if you install in different directories. Also, DO NOT just copy the files from one directory to each other. This will cause our server to get confused, and 1) you won't get credit for the work you do, and 2) it will be no use for science. Instead, run the install program twice into each directory. If you have already copied the program into multiple directories and are trying to run it, find the client.cfg file and delete the "userid=xxxxxxxx" line. Next time it connects to F@H, it should reset the client.cfg file, and all should be well."

So you rated the FAQ down, thanks :p

ENTERPRISE

HMM good faq well done...this has answered alot of questions for me

Oknilp

Great information that I had thought of asking many times. I especially will consider turning off hyper threading during times when my PC is not in use like overnight, out of town etc... thanks for your time and energy that went into this FAQ.

Xavier1421

Regarding CyberDruid's comment...HT Intels can run two processes of folding...if you run 2 console (non-graphical) versions of Folding, in two different directories. When installing, you will need to change the ID on the second install (not ID as in username) to 1 (if the first install was 0) or 2 (if the first install was 1)

Glueeater

Is the flag -foreasm or -forceasm

I always thought it was forCeasm...

Could be wrong. Good tut for new people.

Stainless

-forceasm

I've always thought of it as "Force ASM"
Folding will reject it if it's spelt wrong anyway.

thebeautyofdestruction

[quote]

::::::::::::::::::::::I KNOW WHAT THIS PROBLEM IS :::::::::::::::::::::::

I saw this anwer on another forum basically u have to turn the priority of the client to below normal or lower (taskmanager >> proceses >> right click the process) as both process are @ the same priority are are vying for the processors attention..
Another fix is to install F@H as a Service (PM me for a link to a guide)

Stainless

I've checked core priorities, put my game on the highest and folding on the lowest, I've even cut back CPU usage in the folding program itself to as low as it will go. I myself cannot find a way around it :( Never tried running as a service.