Idea: School Board Wide Folding

607 Views 20 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Odyn, Mar 14, 2009

Hayday

Discussion Starter · Mar 14, 2009

I have had this idea for a while and haven't found the best way to carry it out yet so I decided to come to you guys about it.

My entire school board ALWAYS leaves the computers on, 24/7, except during the summer I believe. Half are P4 and the other half are some Dual Core dells.

My idea is to start by talking to the computer courses leader in my school and ask him if we can get all these computers, that are on standby just wasting away there resources (mind you that most of these computers except the dual cores don't go into sleep for some reason), to fold (under the OCN team of course

but they won't know that lol) when they are not being used by students. That way they are helping cure cancers and not wasting anything else! Then afterward I can try my hand at writing to the Ministry of Education and try to get this done Board wide. Mind you that is A LOT of computers!

What do you guys think? Any suggestions would be helpful.

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1 - 20 of 21 Posts

The Duke

· #2 · Mar 14, 2009

So long as you get approval

I just hope they don't fit over the power consuption

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TestECull

· #3 · Mar 14, 2009

Great idea. Collectively, they'll make up for the crappy per-machine PPD as well.

Just mind the temps, those things are always neglected and throttling as it is.

Drackula2000

· #4 · Mar 14, 2009

You know I was just thinking about suggesting this myself. I go to church with the network admin and I mean it would be great PR for the school right saying "We contribute to cancer research!!" I know we could do it.. All our pcs are dual cores and run day and night. Not to mention crazy internet speeds. Could we all go to our schools and suggest this?

Is there a way to get the client to change settings based on time?

Hayday

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drackula2000

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Is there a way to get the client to change settings based on time?

It could be put on pause during school times from the server just like the update programs, I would think the computer guys at the server room would rather do that then to make a mod that slows down each individual computer when someone signs on.

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Drackula2000

· #6 · Mar 14, 2009

O it takes a minute to log on any ways (Vista) and they have been having server problems lately.

SinX7

· #7 · Mar 14, 2009

It would be nice, but what happened if something happen to the computer? would they charge you since you "Damage" there computer? in other words they'll tell you to pay for "breaking" there computer

Mootsfox

· #8 · Mar 14, 2009

Let them know how you can set it up via a time to run outside of school hours and/or have it set to the lowest priority so even Jimmy who uses the computer during study hall to play flash games won't notice a slowdown.

Hayday

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mootsfox

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Let them know how you can set it up via a time to run outside of school hours and/or have it set to the lowest priority so even Jimmy who uses the computer during study hall to play flash games won't notice a slowdown.

Yeah that is what I saw thinking because having it run at 100% CPU power would melt those little plastic cases they come in

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinX7

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It would be nice, but what happened if something happen to the computer? would they charge you since you "Damage" there computer? in other words they'll tell you to pay for "breaking" there computer

I'd make them sign a contract that says I am not liable for any potential outcomes

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Sullivan

· #10 · Mar 14, 2009

Sounds just like my school. We have P4's all over the place, and a few dual core dells here and there. And guess what, our 3ds max animation classroom, is using dual core p4's, so old and slow, but heres the funny part, our lunch room, for the lunch lady to check out your total, they have dual core amd's, brand new, with touchscreens. its funny.

But ya, folding at school, would get tons of folding done.

Slappa

· #11 · Mar 14, 2009

I had the same idea.

It would be great at my school too, we have brand new E8400s in a lot of computers. We also have some E4400s, and the rest are Celerons and P4's.

redsox83381

· #12 · Mar 14, 2009

Most likely they would never do it. Schools (especially public) are on extremely tight budgets as it is. They would not want to incur the extra electricity costs.

Drackula2000

· #13 · Mar 14, 2009

I doubt it would be extra energy costs most of the pcs are on 24/7 as is.

Chipp

· #14 · Mar 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drackula2000

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I doubt it would be extra energy costs most of the pcs are on 24/7 as is.

Idle consumption vs load consumption (and more importantly, extra heat from load vs cooling costs) is more than enough to make administrators unhappy.

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Drackula2000

· #15 · Mar 14, 2009

My school is very active in charities I think they would jump at this well at least I hope so. Besides they are state funded.

Hayday

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slappa

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It would be great at my school too, we have brand new E8400s in a lot of computers.

what kind of school do you go to lol.
Also I doubt they will mind the electric prices seeing as they are the biggest board and have too much money going to stupid things like a white board that plugs into a computer :/

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Drackula2000

· #17 · Mar 14, 2009

Smart boards? We have one in every classroom.. lol Along with sound systems.. (they cut out alot)

redsox83381

· #18 · Mar 14, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayday

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what kind of school do you go to lol.
Also I doubt they will mind the electric prices seeing as they are the biggest board and have too much money going to stupid things like a white board that plugs into a computer :/

Sorry I didn't realize you were in Canada. U.S. schools tend to be underfunded.
If the school will allow it then great!

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mortimersnerd

· #19 · Mar 14, 2009

Not to rain on your parade but the practicality of the uni core client is very low now.

Lets say that it will get a generous 300ppd running the single core client. If you have 100 machines with it installed your looking at 30,000ppd over 100 computers. That is a lot of additional electricity and cooling costs. 6 8800GTS/9800GTX/GTX+ would out do those 100 computers pulling a lot less electricity.

If you can get them to go with it, it will be good for the Stanford project (research), but its a lot of effort for what seems like little production.

Coma

· #20 · Mar 14, 2009

You probably won't get permission because it wastes power. You don't have to emphasize how the computers don't do anything when left alone and their processing power is wasted. That'll make them go "wait a minute..."

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