Coping with Wind

[Philip_Latheron]

I run a group, Bragbury_End_Folding and almost every Windows upgrade has stopped F@H working, usually with issues connected to opencl. Has Pande Lab tried to get Microsoft to not disrupt the contributers who are dependent on Windows? I also use several machines running Ubuntu which (so far) has not been broken by updates/upgrades. I have no particular desire to change my Windows machines to Ubuntu but may be forced to consider changing if the Windows upgrade process remains to invasive.

[Ricky]

This is why I stick to win8.1 OS. I just bought my sister the same for her computer.

[SteveWillis]

You can always set up VirtualBox to run your windows programs after you convert to Linux. That's what I've done and it works pretty well. Set up a second hard drive to run the VM from so if you have to reinstall Linux you don't have to redo the VM.

[Ricky]

My next machine will probably be Linux. I am sure that I will have many stupid questions at that time. But first, I will need air conditioning!

[SteveWillis]

I will need air conditioning!

fyi I have a 12,000 btu window unit that barely keeps up with 3200 watts from the wall of computers. If I scale up any more I need to double that.

[QuintLeo]

Microsoft doesn't care - they think that automatic upgrades are a good thing, and have blown off user complaints about that issue for several Windows versions.
It's NOT just Folding that gets affected - but it's one of the reasons many or most folks that build dedicated folding machines put those machines on LINUX.

One good reason to stick with Windows 7 for folding dedicated machines if you DO run Windows - 7 made it a ton easier to turn OFF automatic updates.

As far as A/C goes - are you in an area that evaporative cooling works well in?
It's a LOT less expen$ive than standard "mechanical" A/C where it works.

Alternatively, computers can and do run fairly comfortably at a lot higher ambient temperature than humans are comfortable in, perhaps set the folding machines up in a room that can be isolated from the rest of your house (a closed door is usually plenty) and has 2 windows to run ventilation air in to / out of the room, or set them up in a garage?

If the computers are in a room you don't use a lot that has it's own A/C unit, you could try turning the temp up to 80-85F range on the A/C to help avoid it getting overloaded.

For perspective, 1000 watts of power used generates about 3400 BTU of heat per hour.
A standard room air conditioner with a SEER of 9.3 (I believe that's the minimum the Feds require for Energy Star certification but might be 9.2, you won't see anyone selling lower) will use appx 366 watts of power to cool that 3400 BTU.
Luckily almost ALL of that power usage is on the outside of the A/C unit and doesn't add MORE to the load it has to cool.

[Ricky]

QuintLeo,

I appreciate your post. Yes, most people here use evaporative coolers. The house I bought has central heat with no cooling. We run fans at night in the windows. We browse the web with one machine. The other could be moved. It is just a dedicated folder. I told my wife that it is the spare computer. She knows better...

I will see if she is up to me moving it into the spare bedroom, with the door shut. I hope to add central ac maybe next year.

Thanks!