Folding Forum

Hi, I'm trying to set up a folding farm with older PCs/Macs. When I say older cpus, I mean early PIVs, PIIIs, perhaps PIIs and PIs, and their Mac equivalents. In regard to hardware and network setup, I plan to put linux distros on the comps I get, and set some up as terminals (using LTSP) if they don't have an HD, or as stand-alone 'desktops' if they have an HD.

My question is this: which clients should I use and how should I config them? With the older Macs, I plan to use v5.02 as the cpus are all PPCs. Although if I'm running a linux distro on it (for example, debian), should I use a linux client instead? In regard to the PCs, which will all be running linux (most likely debian or ubuntu), should I use an older Linux client such as v5.04, or the newest client? How should I config all of these clients as well?

I know F@H used to have deadlineless WUs, but afaik that's a thing of the past. However, I'd hate to see older hardware have to end up in the landfill over being used for science because there are no WUs that it can crunch. Any suggestions on how I should config the various switches and options? Or if I just set the defaults, will the server send 'appropriate' WUs (ie, ones that the machine can complete in a reasonable time)?

Thanks for the help, and if this is in the wrong board, I apologize, but it didn't seem appropriate to go into a client version-specific board. Also, please don't reply with suggestions of buy/acquire newer hardware and build a farm from newer/faster machines. If Pandegroup has made specific choices in terms of their scientific research and the breakdown of that research into WUs to not support AT ALL older machines, please let me know that and, as much as I'll be disappointed, any machines I acquire that are below the min requirements I will junk. But I'm referring to replies where the poster can't conceive why I would want to use old hardware and thinks the only way to run a farm is to get new hardware. I'm not opposed to acquiring newer/faster hardware as part of my farm. But my desire is to use machines that nobody wants anymore, whether they be old or new, and utilise them for science instead of just junking them.

Thanks.

sure go for it.

I thinks that, dont quote me on this, the minimum proc required to complete the classic client is a pentium II @ 400 mhz. Even then you would be cutting it close on the deadlines.

On running a linux distro, I recommend Notfred. Easy to use, Easy to setup.

Unless you plan to heat your house with these older computers, stick with P4s and above. With the money you save by not running several very slow P3s, you could buy a new computer in a few months time. And it would produce 3x as much for 1/3 the price of electricity. Faster is also better for the project.

@7im, I'm not worried about the electricity costs, as I my utilities are included in rent. Right now, I don't have the capital to buy a newer pc. However, I'm not limiting this farm to certain types of pcs. So, when I do get some extra cash, and can buy a newer pc, I'll definitely get one to add to the farm. I also want to add any old pcs I can acquire for free to help F@H in any way possible. Thanks for the suggestions though.

The original Pentiums and P II's will not be able to complete the deadlines under 400MHz. The ones under 500MHz are not worth your time or the hassle of setting them up.

With many of the older machines, overclocking may be a viable option, but you need to watch for EUE's.

No offence, but a cheap dual core will be doing the same work, and ALOT less wasteful.

So much inefficiencies in older computers cause them to be so wasteful, and just because you get free power, doesn't give you the right to be wasteful... Plus, you are gonna burn up any room you put them in, plus not have enough power running in the wall.

You'd be better off recycling them to a proper recycler, and use it as a tax break.

Free electricity changes the game a little. Even so, the number of places to plug in computers is limited, as is the # of amps you can safely pull. So the story is about the same. Of course you will want to get the faster machines working first.

I think it would be more helpful for the F@H-project and the environment if you sell some P4s and buy cheap, used GPUs like 8800GT's for the money and put them into computers with PCIe slots (or ATI GPUs for AGP computers). One of my 8800GT's with its ~4500 ppd (Wine/Linux) is the equivalent of what ... 40 Pentium IV's with 2.8 GHz which is the benchmark machine for the uniprocessor client (=110ppd). You could also save a lot of space

If your powering the old computers via solar panel or wind turbine I would say your contribution to science would be overshadowed by the pain inflicted on the environment.

Fun to farm with and setup? Sure. Useful? No.

Sorry to be such a thorn in your idea.

Best of luck though with any further projects!

Thanks for the replies; definitely food for thought. Someone had mentioned about a tax break through recycling them; I didn't know I could get a tax break this way! Does anyone know what I need to do for this?

As for the PIIIs and PIVs, for now I might set a few up and run 'em just to contrib some points. I like the idea though of trying to sell them or generate cash through them to buy GPUs. Of course this could all change once I get some disposable income; then the plan becomes stalking eBay and other cheap sources of all things computers for cheap, fast hardware.

But perhaps you could generate some cash from your stock of older computers, by recycling them as working parts or even restoring them to working order with a free software and OS as a super cheap 'email computer' etc, some people have limited needs and well as limited means. Enough cash to buy a more energy efficient folding system ...
kiore.

Here out of toronto...http://rcto.ca/donors/equipdonations.aspx
You then can claim a charitable donation on your taxes

BUT they otta be P3 650's or better, with 128megs and 6Gigs