When I run 1 task my cpu is approx. 50%. When I run 2 tasks my cpu is at 100%.
I am eager to help seti but do not want to fry my dell xps 600 dual cpu 3.0GHZ as it was rather expensive and I use it for other stuff as most other do I would guess.
Is there any way to set a value for cpu usage at less than 100% when runn more than one task?

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When I run 1 task my cpu is approx. 50%. When I run 2 tasks my cpu is at 100%.
I am eager to help seti but do not want to fry my dell xps 600 dual cpu 3.0GHZ as it was rather expensive and I use it for other stuff as most other do I would guess.
Is there any way to set a value for cpu usage at less than 100% when runn more than one task?

1) You should if possible get a temperature reading and see if it is within specifications for your machine. (This will drive the rest of the discussion as well).
2) If you are not in spec (or too close for comfort) you have a couple of options:
A) Increase cooling. For desktops, this can be adding extra case fans or changing the CPU heatsink for a better cooling one. For laptops this can be a stand with cooling fans that blow at the bottom of the computer.
B) Use the built in BOINC capability to reduce CPU usage (use at most X% of CPU time). This has a one second time slice. So 90% would be 9 seconds on and one second off. 50% would be 1 second on and 1 second off. Believe it or not, 1 second off out of every 10 seconds helps CPU temperature a great deal. Play with the CPU usage % until the temperature is comfortable.

Desktops tend to have enough cooling to cope with 100% on. Laptops may not have enough cooling to cope.

BTW, there are several threads around that discuss cooling.

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BOINC WIKI

When I run 1 task my cpu is approx. 50%. When I run 2 tasks my cpu is at 100%.
I am eager to help seti but do not want to fry my dell xps 600 dual cpu 3.0GHZ as it was rather expensive and I use it for other stuff as most other do I would guess.
Is there any way to set a value for cpu usage at less than 100% when runn more than one task?

Welcome to Seti@Home.

You won't 'fry' your processor by running it at 100% as long as it is properly cooled (keep fans, grills and particularly the heatsink free of dust for example.)

Some people do run at less than 100% load in hot weather, though, to prevent any overheating. Recent versions of the BOINC manager have the ability to control that. Under Preferences choose "Use no more than ...% of the processor" (tab at the bottom in simple view, Advanced -> Preferences... menu item in Accessible view.) I'm not sure how that works with a multiprocessor machine, though. Try setting the value and looking at the resulting cpu utilisation.

There are programs available to monitor system temperatures - SpeedFan for Windows for example.

Thanks, after I posted I found a previous post that answered my question and set it to run @90%. I appreciate the help and look forward to helping the effort to helping ET phone home hahaha.

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Just to calm your fears, I have had a computer running 24/7 at 100% for more than 5 years, and have not fried the processor.

Processors run at 100% all the time, it's just that 99% of it is idle processes. So, all you are using is idle time.

Using the % thing on the website does not stop the 100%. Because it needs to be compatible with all processors, they time slice. So you will get 100% for 9 seconds then 0% for 1 at 90%.

There are some computers out there that have been running even longer on SETI project at 100%. If you keep the machine clean, allow air to flow around the unit, and just normal maintenance should keep the computer working well.

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