Optimizing Tasks From Wimpy Computers

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Optimizing Tasks From Wimpy Computers

Author	Message
David Maltais Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 4 Credit: 305,786 RAC: 0	Message 941821 - Posted: 21 Oct 2009, 20:56:40 UTC Last modified: 21 Oct 2009, 20:58:32 UTC
	Hi, I'm new to all this. I've currently got 11 computers running and a few of them aren't very powerful. Is there a way to choose tasks that are faster to compute? Aside from aborting everything until a smaller task shows up, I can't think of anything, but I'm not familiar with this software yet. The PC in question is very weak: CPU: Via Samuel 2 600Mhz MOBO: VIA EPIA mini RAM: 512MB DDR 266Mhz Running some of the more intense tasks, especially Astropulse tasks, take a hideously long time i.e. 400+ hours. If I could choose lighter tasks, I could keep this PC in the mix, but it does need to get shut down periodically so the current tasks will never meet the deadline. EDIT: I just realized I posted this in the wrong section. Sorry. Long day.
	ID: 941821 ·

skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8943 Credit: 36,753,300 RAC: 61,411	Message 941824 - Posted: 21 Oct 2009, 21:34:56 UTC - in response to Message 941821.
	I'd say that in your preferences on your account page make sure you click seti@home Enhanced and unclick astropulse astropulse v5.0 accept work from other projects use GPU this will keep you from getting any astropulse work. 600 mhz is slow and I assume only uses mmx instruction set. Crunch3r has an MMX opt app on his site. I'm not sure how much that is going to speed things up for you though. you'll notice that you have a long return by date on most work units. let the seti@home enhanced(multibeam MB) to run and see if it completes on time. there are several folks out there still running 200Mhz cpus that complete on time so you should be ok. just dont expect miracles with you CPU ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 941824 ·

David Maltais Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 4 Credit: 305,786 RAC: 0	Message 942000 - Posted: 22 Oct 2009, 18:27:16 UTC Last modified: 22 Oct 2009, 18:58:34 UTC
	Thanks, I'll try that. ____________
	ID: 942000 ·

David Maltais Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 4 Credit: 305,786 RAC: 0	Message 942138 - Posted: 23 Oct 2009, 4:43:22 UTC - in response to Message 942000.
	It seems that disabling astropulse will affect all my computers. I guess there's no way to disable it for selected computers. My better systems can chew up the astropulse work pretty quickly, so I'll just leave it on. ____________
	ID: 942138 ·

Ageless Send message Joined: 9 Jun 99 Posts: 11640 Credit: 2,008,250 RAC: 4,108	Message 942140 - Posted: 23 Oct 2009, 5:03:57 UTC - in response to Message 942138. Last modified: 23 Oct 2009, 5:04:14 UTC
	It seems that disabling astropulse will affect all my computers. I guess there's no way to disable it for selected computers. Set the faster computers on a different venue. You can set up the project preferences (and the global preferences) on different venues for different groups of computers. (default, home, work, school) ____________ Jord - BOINC FAQ Service - BOINC User Wiki Real is just a matter of perception.
	ID: 942140 ·

Wembley Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 16 Sep 09 Posts: 415 Credit: 879,818 RAC: 0	Message 942231 - Posted: 23 Oct 2009, 15:06:43 UTC - in response to Message 942140.
	It seems that disabling astropulse will affect all my computers. I guess there's no way to disable it for selected computers. Set the faster computers on a different venue. You can set up the project preferences (and the global preferences) on different venues for different groups of computers. (default, home, work, school) Looks like we need more choices: Slow, Medium, Fast, OMG!
	ID: 942231 ·

Ageless Send message Joined: 9 Jun 99 Posts: 11640 Credit: 2,008,250 RAC: 4,108	Message 942244 - Posted: 23 Oct 2009, 15:50:58 UTC - in response to Message 942231.
	Looks like we need more choices: Slow, Medium, Fast, OMG! Attach to your projects through the BOINC Account Manager (BAM!), it allows for custom venues to be made and used. Note: You can't attach and through an account manager and to the projects at the same time, use either, or. ____________ Jord - BOINC FAQ Service - BOINC User Wiki Real is just a matter of perception.
	ID: 942244 ·

David Maltais Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 4 Credit: 305,786 RAC: 0	Message 942417 - Posted: 23 Oct 2009, 23:54:44 UTC
	Cool, I'll check that out too. Thanks! ____________
	ID: 942417 ·

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Optimizing Tasks From Wimpy Computers