How does Folding affect the following things:

754 Views 16 Replies 13 Participants Last post by tenchimuyo93, Mar 5, 2009

alphafalafel

Discussion Starter · Mar 4, 2009

Hi everyone, very recently I decided to start folding. I'm using the GPU client on my sig rig, and I hope to eventually work my points up to getting on the OCN list but it's early days.

However I do have a few questions I would appreciate answers from some of the more experienced folders.

1) I am conscious of the huge benefits that folding can bring to the world, but I am also aware of the environmental and financial impact of leaving a PC running 24/7. The financial side wouldn't be such an issue but I am living with my parents and I don't want them to foot a massive electric bill because of me. So are there any tips that you guys have for me for creating the best balance between the environment and folding? (Tips more useful than "turn off your monitor" etc would be appreciated)

2) How much do you think leaving the client running on my rig 24/7 will wear the components? Long-term folders - any experience of parts wearing out through the constant use that folding elicits?

Thanks in advance for your help

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

BikePilot

· #2 · Mar 4, 2009

Your system shouldn't pull too much current. Probably under 200W when folding would be my guess. I would fold on the GPU only as the CPU client has much worse Watt/PPD ratio. One option is to fold only when you'd have the computer on anyway as then the marginal increase in power consumption is really minimal.

You can save a bit watts by undervolting your CPU as your gpu won't be CPU bound.

good luck!

alphafalafel

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 4, 2009

Thanks for the advice! I'd forgotten about the lower CPU usage

Error 404

· #4 · Mar 4, 2009

Saving energy and folding don't go well together...You could try undervolting your GPU and keeping it stable...Kinda counterproductive. At least, don't just turn off your monitor, if it's got a wall wart or a power brick, unplug it!

Downclocking/undervolting the CPU will help too, maybe even enable C1E

I know how you feel - I stopped folding simply becuse I jacked our power bill up a fair amount (My CPU is *not* energy efficient, but also not very powerful...)

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alphafalafel

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 4, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Error 404

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Saving energy and folding don't go well together...You could try undervolting your GPU and keeping it stable...Kinda counterproductive. At least, don't just turn off your monitor, if it's got a wall wart or a power brick, unplug it!

Downclocking/undervolting the CPU will help too, maybe even enable C1E

I know how you feel - I stopped folding simply becuse I jacked our power bill up a fair amount (My CPU is *not* energy efficient, but also not very powerful...)

I suppose I'll just surreptitiously sneak a look at the electricity bill when it comes and see whether I've doubled it or not!

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JMT668

· #6 · Mar 4, 2009

i leave my ps3 on for folding and i havent even noticed any difference in power!

aod2002

· #7 · Mar 4, 2009

Folding during non-peak hours might help. Also, maybe unplug any unused devices from your computer when you go to sleep, lol.

topshooter

· #8 · Mar 5, 2009

if you got more than one hard drive, you can have it turn off when idle, under power saving options, so it turns off idle hard drives after a set amount of time (powers it back on if you or an application try to access it)

also important is your PSU's efficiency, it should be 80+ so it decreases energy wasted

Maddog7771

· #9 · Mar 5, 2009

if in vista you go to power option setting you can select balanced or power saving and both will help reduce your rigs consumption greatly for me it took my rig down from 220w to 150-160w peak. Hope this helps

The Fryer

· #10 · Mar 5, 2009

I have been folding on all mine when awake and shutting them down at night. i am in the 1500's of ocn folders now and have yet to see any increase in my bill.

StarryNite

· #11 · Mar 5, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphafalafel

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I'm using the GPU client on my sig rig

If you're serious about working units, get the text client. The graphic one is slower (and those who do work units watching the pretty graphics for the nth time gets a t-a-d boring over time!). The point is Folding (or working on SETI) is for the proc churning to go on in the background - like when you goto sleep at night (which for those concerned about peak power rates per kilowatt, it's not only the best time, it'll also be cooler).

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mortimersnerd

· #12 · Mar 5, 2009

Folding on just the GPU client won't show a large increase in electricity. Shutting off two lights will be about enough to counteract leaving the PC folding. If you don't want to run it 24/7 then at least run it while browsing OCN and such. It doesn't use much energy over an idle GPU.

As far as I can see, as long as your temps are good, there is no long term damage. Parts wear out, but I have found that the rigs that are always on seem to last longer than the ones that I reboot often. (usually killing the PSU).

=Digger=

· #13 · Mar 5, 2009

I fold five PC's with a total of about eight (an average) GPU's.

The total increase on my hydro bill is about 15%. Thats all.

Most of my GPU's aren't hooked up to separate monitors, I use a KVM switch and dummy plugs in the secondary cards. With GPU folding you can run several clients, (some guys have up to eight in one PC) .

Have a look at these threads and browse the folding Forum, then decide for yourself.

http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...t-folding.html

http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...-card-ppd.html

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todd2008

· #14 · Mar 5, 2009

Folding is 100% efficient*

* if you live in a cold climate and need heat.

tenchimuyo93

· #15 · Mar 5, 2009

also look into swapping out the light bulbs in your house to CFLs, an 8w CFL puts out the same amout of light as say a 30w reg bulb {not exact numbers and to tired to look them up}. the short term cost of them is higher but the long term pays for themselves twice over.

todd2008

· #16 · Mar 5, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenchimuyo93

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also look into swapping out the light bulbs in your house to CFLs, an 8w CFL puts out the same amout of light as say a 30w reg bulb {not exact numbers and to tired to look them up}. the short term cost of them is higher but the long term pays for themselves twice over.

CFLs release too much UV rays. So you need to fold to make sure they find a cure for skin cancer.

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tenchimuyo93

· #17 · Mar 5, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd2008

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CFLs release too much UV rays. So you need to fold to make sure they find a cure for skin cancer.

side benefit year round tan. just kidding.

didn't know about the UVs though.

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