Questions on folding efficiency

[RMouse]

Currently I run a Dell Latitude E6400 which has a Core2Duo and a low level but supported video card. I average around 600 PPD. Would those here with experience say that this amount of PPD is in line with expectations?

Next year I am scheduled to get a new laptop which should have a newer processor, either an i3 or i5 I suspect. It is more than likely that I this new computer will come with either a video card that is unsupported or integrated graphics that are not supported at all.

How much more PPD would I expect (if any) with the more powerful processor? Is it substantial? I keep reading about folks here who get 8,000 PPD or more. That's very impressive. I know that laptops will not match desktops, but I'm wondering how far up the chain a laptop can go in terms of PPD.

Thanks,

[Joe_H]

Whether that PPD is in line with expectations depends on which Core 2 Duo processor you have in your laptop, whether you run F@H all of the time, and which OS you are using. I am assuming Windows, so my experience is not a direct comparison. But, I run my MacBook 24 hours a day folding and get around 2000-2400 PPD with OS X 10.6.8. It has a T8300 Core 2 Duo running at 2.4 GHz. Since it is OS X and GPU folding is not supported, that is totally from SMP folding.

As for the future purchase, a four core i5 will definitely get you an improvement in points production. How much will depend on the speed and whether you have a laptop that has sufficient cooling to run the CPU at maximum continuously.

[jrweiss]

Do you run the SMP core, or 1 or 2 uniprocessor cores? If your C2D will meet SMP deadlines, the SMP core will generally get more PPD. You have to get a Passkey to get the SMP bonuses, so get that now.

Running GPU cores on a laptop is generally NOT a good idea. Most laptops are thermally stressed with only CPU Folding, and many will not bear full-throttle Folding. If the laptop is normally running, you can run the SMP cores, but shutting it down regularly may cause missed deadlines and loss of most points. For mixed laptop use, multiple uniprocessor cores is preferable.

[RMouse]

Whether that PPD is in line with expectations depends on which Core 2 Duo processor you have in your laptop, whether you run F@H all of the time, and which OS you are using. I am assuming Windows, so my experience is not a direct comparison. But, I run my MacBook 24 hours a day folding and get around 2000-2400 PPD with OS X 10.6.8. It has a T8300 Core 2 Duo running at 2.4 GHz. Since it is OS X and GPU folding is not supported, that is totally from SMP folding.

As for the future purchase, a four core i5 will definitely get you an improvement in points production. How much will depend on the speed and whether you have a laptop that has sufficient cooling to run the CPU at maximum continuously.

Wow...that is a lot more points than I get. I fold about 22 hours a day and have never come close to 900 points much less 2000 per day. I have a Core2Duo running at 2.4 gigahertz. I also fold with an NVIDIA NVS 160M video card. 700 PPD is my normal rate.

[RMouse]

Do you run the SMP core, or 1 or 2 uniprocessor cores? If your C2D will meet SMP deadlines, the SMP core will generally get more PPD. You have to get a Passkey to get the SMP bonuses, so get that now.

Running GPU cores on a laptop is generally NOT a good idea. Most laptops are thermally stressed with only CPU Folding, and many will not bear full-throttle Folding. If the laptop is normally running, you can run the SMP cores, but shutting it down regularly may cause missed deadlines and loss of most points. For mixed laptop use, multiple uniprocessor cores is preferable.

I'm not skilled enough to know if I am running 1 or 2 uniprocessor cores. I believe that I am meeting deadlines and also have a pass key, but do not care about points so want to focus only on PPD with regards to more WU's completed.

My GPU is so low powered that I think it is OK to run. I fold mostly 22 hours a day and 24 hours/day over the weekend. The fan is running fast, but the computer, if set right to allow air underneath, does not seem excessively hot. I have been folding for 6 months or so without any heat related problems.

[patonb]

Look and see if your cpu is at 50% or 100%

50% means 1 core, 100% means 2.