Please make sure she gets the slow, easily interrupted modem line then. ;)

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How many of the PC's crunching BOINC projects would have to be left "on" 24/7 if they were not being used for distributed computing projects? Virtually none. That is why its appropriate to question the amount of resources expended on these projects. I would guess that the majority of computers being used for BOINC projects average only a couple hours a day of "regular" computer use - some more than others, but there are many machines out there that do nothing but DC. The only PC's that really have to be on 24/7 are servers and gateways...how many of you can say your computers would have to be "on" all the time if not for DC?

I have one 24/7 machine that would be 24/7 regardless of DC projects (a university office machine that frequently does analyses for me overnight). Two others are on dial-up and are never on 24/7, though overnight runs for the slow process of updates are not unusual.

Thank you though for your guess that the majority of machines are only on a couple of hours per day in regular use. I suppose we should write the the thousands of businesses, universities, etc. that have people employed 8 hours per day that they really only need to provide their workers with computers 1/4th of the time...think of the overhead they would save!

I would guess that there are many more servers and gateways running BOINC than you suggest. Also, there are many other instances of 'have to be on 24/7' machines (e.g., university computer labs, etc.).

Sure is easy to stir up this hive!

Sure is easy to stir up this hive!

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sure is easy to stir up this hive!

Of course it is! That needed no prove...

:-/ Greybeard

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All about BOINC: BOINC-Wiki (by Paul D. Buck)