Seeking BOINC Computer Preference suggestion for my system running Seti@Home

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Seeking BOINC Computer Preference suggestion for my system running Seti@Home
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Profile Donald Bosso-Locquiao

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Message 1902953 - Posted: 26 Nov 2017, 3:59:18 UTC

Aloha,
Can someone please tell me the optimum preferences to set my computer for computing preferences of Computing, Network, Disk & Memory, & Dail Schedules plus give me an idea of a good low priced GPU to use in my SFF PC?
My system is:
Lenovo Desktop PC H520s (57312711) Pentium G2020 (2.90 GHz) 4 GB DDR3 1 TB HDD Intel HD Graphics Windows 10.
I am a blind user and am finding it a bit frustrating to find the information online.
Many Thanks,
Donald
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Profile Donald Bosso-Locquiao

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Message 1902963 - Posted: 26 Nov 2017, 6:25:21 UTC - in response to Message 1902953.  

Specifically I am looking for answers to these questions and also how to get transfers to work as my computer is connected tho wifi and there are no day specific limits as it runs when I have it on, usually at night and all weekend.

Thanks!

Computing
Usage limits
Use at most N % of the CPUs: Keeps some CPUs free for other applications. Example: 75% means use 6 cores on an 8-core CPU.
Use at most N % CPU time: Suspend/resume computing every few seconds to reduce CPU temperature and energy usage. Example: 75% means compute for 3 seconds, wait for 1 second, and repeat.
When to suspend
Suspend when computer is on battery: Check this to suspend computing when running on battery power.
Suspend when computer is in use: Check this to suspend computing and file transfers when you're using the computer.
Suspend GPU computing when computer is in use: Check this to suspend GPU computing when you're using the computer.
'In use' means mouse/keyboard input in last N minutes: This determines when the computer is considered 'in use'.
Suspend when non-BOINC CPU usage is above N %: Suspend computing when your computer is busy running other programs.
Compute only between HH:MM and HH:MM: Specify time-of-day range.
Other
Store at least N days of work: Store at least enough tasks to keep the computer busy for this long.
Store up to an additional N days of work: Store additional tasks above the minimum level. Determines how much work is requested when contacting a project.
Switch between tasks every N minutes: If you run several projects, BOINC may switch between them this often.
Request tasks to checkpoint at most every N seconds: This controls how often tasks save their state to disk, so they can be restarted later.
Day-of-the-week limits
Specify day-of-the-week time ranges when BOINC can compute.
Disk
Use no more than N GB: Limit the total amount of disk space used by BOINC.
Leave at least N GB free: Limit disk usage to leave this much free space on the volume where BOINC stores data.
Use no more than N% of total: Limit the percentage of disk space used by BOINC on the volume where BOINC stores data.
Memory
When computer is in use, use at most N %: Limit the memory used by BOINC when you're using the computer.
When computer is not in use, use at most N%: Limit the memory used by BOINC when you're not using the computer.
Leave non-GPU tasks in memory while suspended: If checked, suspended tasks stay in memory, and resume with no work lost. If unchecked, suspended tasks are removed from memory, and resume from their last checkpoint.
Page/swap file: use at most N %: Limit the swap space (page file) used by BOINC.
Network
Usage limits
Limit download rate to N KB/second: Limit the download rate of file transfers.
Limit upload rate to N KB/second: Limit the upload rate of file transfers.
Limit usage to X MB every Y days: Example: BOINC should transfer at most 2000 MB of data every 30 days.
When to suspend
Specify a range of times during which BOINC can transfer files.
Other
Skip data verification for image files: Check this ONLY if your Internet provider modifies image files (UMTS does this, for example). Skipping verification reduces the security of BOINC.
Confirm before connecting to Internet: Useful only if you have a modem, ISDN or VPN connection.
Disconnect when done: Useful only if you have a modem, ISDN or VPN connection.
Day-of-week limits
Specify day-of-the-week time ranges when BOINC can transfer files.
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Profile Jord
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Message 1902993 - Posted: 26 Nov 2017, 11:28:38 UTC - in response to Message 1902953.  

Can someone please tell me the optimum preferences to set my computer for computing preferences of Computing, Network, Disk & Memory, & Dail Schedules
That doesn't matter much. You have a two core CPU, so you can run at max two tasks at the same time. No matter how you set the preferences, it won't improve beyond that.

plus give me an idea of a good low priced GPU to use in my SFF PC?
That depends on what slots there are on the motherboard, and whether they're free or not. Looking on ebay gives an idea, but doesn't say what's what.

Your Maintenance Manual shows in the FRU section what all you can replace though - if you can find it on the internet. I see you can put in a new CPU, up to an i7-2600 (although you wouldn't want that because believe me, these things get HOT. It also gives ideas for Graphics Cards.

Seeing the "Replacing hardware" section, more specifically the "Replacing the graphic card" section, I think you'll be hampered by the drives that are in that section in the PC. You may not be able to place a big GPU in there, as these take up two PCIe slots, space you may not have. The case itself also looks slim, so then the GPU you can put in needs to be slim line, with not too adequate cooling - perhaps even passive cooling.

Can it be done? Sure, if you have money enough.
But do add all that up and consider if it isn't cheaper to buy a new PC.
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Questions and Answers : Preferences : Seeking BOINC Computer Preference suggestion for my system running Seti@Home


 
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