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The Facts About Folding

post #1 of 7
6/15/12 at 9:25am
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Hello OCN Community! I have recently become quite the folder in the past week, and have came to love it more than I thought I would. However, with that, two members of my family (brother and step-father) have begun to "attack" me. They have been using statements and claiming "facts" such as that if I continue folding the way I am (basically 24/7), then I will raise the electric bill by $75 (brother's statement) or by $90 (step-father's statement). Not only that, my step-father has gone so far as to say that my computer will basically catch on fire because of it. Also, that what I am doing is pointless, and should only be done by college students in dorms that don't have to pay for electricity. In spite of all of this, I have become quite angered and decided to reach out to an entire community of people that I know will have my back on the matter. I had my good friend, rrims, write a multi-paragraph email detailing counter-arguments to both of their statements, but obviously that wasn't good enough for them. So now I come to you, all of you, asking you for your help. To give me the REAL facts about folding, etc. I really appreciate the help guys, hopefully I can continue folding for the OCN team!

~Snake
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post #2 of 7
6/15/12 at 10:43am
This should be good. It is an absolute fact that folding causes a computer to use more electricity than it would if it were left idle. Folding by itself will not cause your computer to start a fire.

There's no way for anyone other than you to assign a dollar value to the additional electrical usage incurred by folding. There are simply too many variables: computer usage, electrical draw (which depends on the individual components that make up your PC; specifically CPU, GPU, and power supply), and local electrical rates.

If you want hard numbers, buy or borrow an electrical consumption meter. I bought a Kill A Watt for less than <$20 a few years ago and have found many uses for it.
http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html
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post #3 of 7
6/15/12 at 10:53am
The facts are, folding is done for a good cause, but it isn't going to produce a visual result for your step father or brother to see in order to warrant the increase in cost of electricity. Not only is it done for good, there are so many events here on OCN that bring people together to match competitive insticts with a good cause that make it fun. It especially makes you feel good to know you are helping if you or someone you know have been affected by a disease such as cancer. Everyone will always have their opinion. My wife does a lot of scrapbooking and creating greeting cards for different competitions. I don't attempt to understand it or try to figure out why she likes it, but rather compare it to my hobby of computer building or folding and realize it produces the same excitement for her. If its costing your step father money, he has the right to ask you to stop, as its his money you are spending. If its not the money that he cares about, but instead just questioning why you do it, try to compare it to something he really enjoys doing. Maybe he fishes religiously and while you don't enjoy fishing, help him understand that folding for you is as interesting as fishing is for him, and that you don't expect for him to understand. Arguing with him will never get him to see your side, as human nature is to defend their own point of view, but helping him understand your perspective may help.
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post #4 of 7
6/15/12 at 11:58am
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I can't speak to the electricity bills, as stated before, there are too many variables...however, I fold on 7 systems (down to 5 now while I do some rebuilding), but even folding on 5 desktops and 2 laptops, all 24/7, I haven't seen a noticible difference in my electric bill. I'm sure it has effected it, but not by enough for me to take notice.

As for the fire part, is it possible, yes, but if a computer were in bad enough shape to catch fire, it would do it whether you are folding on it or not. Personally (as I stated before) I fold on 7 systems, 24/7 and have for over a year now without any issues. I have had one MB burn up, but that was a manufacturing defect, it was replaced and running again. And when I say "burn up" I mean, the motherbord did turn black (where the CPU power connector meets the board) but due to the safety features built into every MB and PSU, it didn't catch fire, it simly stopped working.

Frankly, I would pick up a kill-a-watt, measure what your computer draws while folding 24/7, figure up what the cost is and offer to pay him that amount each month. I have a deal worked out with my mother that I will pay her each month for whatever he desktop (a cheap draws if she folds it for me. So far she's never told me the cost, but when I asked her about it, she said she never saw a change in her electric bill so she isn't worried about it.
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post #5 of 7
6/15/12 at 2:02pm
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Pretty much what WonderMutt said.

I fold on 3 computers (my three sigrigs) and noticed a $4 raise in my bill last month (That was with 1 week of dual GPU folding as well, for the Chimp Challenge).

As for the benefits of folding, the cures that could come of it, the diseases that could be ended. I'd try to explain that to them. And failing that... Realtemp shows the wattage that a CPU draws. At idle, I was 60 watt or so, and at full load, I'm 128 watt. While this would obviously very in different situations (Heat, CPU type, if you've a WC system to power, etc etc) You could explain it as no different then leaving on a pair of outside lights 24/7 by accident (I used that, because my mom did that all the time tongue.gif).

Worse comes to worst, just wait on folding. It is something that is very worthwhile, and it will (hopefully) lead to saved lives, and much less sadness in the world; but it's not worth getting kicked out of home for (an extreme, I know...), or ruining/hurting relationships with siblings / parents over.
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post #6 of 7
6/16/12 at 2:55am
Assume you pay 10c per kWh. <- something to check on a bill.

Assume your rig uses 400W when folding. <- something to check with a kill-a-watt.

0.4 [kW] x 0.1 [10 cents] x 720 [hours in a month] = $28 for 24/7 folding for one month.

That's just a rough guess based on my estimations. Once you've got your actual values, you can work it out accurately.

Bear in mind that this is the cost solely of your PC being used 100% flat out for a month. If you're already using your PC a large chunk of the time, the price differential will be much lower thumb.gif
In my example, if your PC uses 125W at idle, then you can use 400 - 125 = 275W in the calculation, and the price increase per month becomes less. (~$20)
I like to think of my time spent folding as a charitable donation. If your family sees that as pointless, then you might be fighting a losing battle, but hopefully proving to them that the price is negligible will help.

Also, ask your family which other appliances that they use frequently for their stated purpose spontaneously burst into flames? wink.gif
Edited by omega17 - 6/16/12 at 3:01am
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post #7 of 7
6/16/12 at 3:07am
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To help with figuring the cost let us know what type of folding (cpu or gpu)if both what percentage each and how many points are you pulling a week.To explain the part folding plays in the scientific process,first make sure they know the process and explain how things do not happen so quickly.How about you chip in a bit for the bill and also explain how folding is teaching you to understand how your machine works better.If people are saying there is a fire hazard it is clear a full understanding of what is going on is lacking.
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