Folding Forum

So I have a 10850K with an RTX 3080 rig that's been up and running since April 2021.

And I canNOT get FAH to run on the IDLE setting without also setting up the ugly FAH screensaver, that looks like it's from the 90s, horribly stretched out on dual monitors.

It won't even activate if I set the screensaver to BLANK.

It's freakin' 2021. Are you kidding me?!

It may be the only way FAH can even detect a computer really is idle (as in: no user activity). Monitoring CPU usage isn't reliable (if I use a putty session to my server, it doesn't register on the load). I suppose the FAH client could monitor mouse and CPU activity, but some people (and possibly malware detection) will consider that creepy.

This may help though: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=37076 - pause FAH when specified software (games, outlook, etc) is running.

Idle folding should start when Windows turns off the monitor signal.
Any active screensaver will prevent idle (except the fah screensaver).
You'll have to remote monitor it to see idle folding start.

Another way to detect folding is to note the progress of the active WU and wait a few hours. when you wake up the screen, it will have advanced.

Welcome to Folding@Home!

The OS determines 'idle' not F@H.

In MacOS, it uses keyboard and mouse activity

Windows uses the screen time out in the Power Control Panel

Sadly Linux varies by Windows Manager, and I can't comment on what is 'idle'.

There is no single right answer.

PaulTV wrote:It may be the only way FAH can even detect a computer really is idle (as in: no user activity). Monitoring CPU usage isn't reliable (if I use a putty session to my server, it doesn't register on the load). I suppose the FAH client could monitor mouse and CPU activity, but some people (and possibly malware detection) will consider that creepy.

This may help though: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=37076 - pause FAH when specified software (games, outlook, etc) is running.

Thanks for your workaround idea, however, I just want it to run when I'm idle, without having to use the F@H screamsaver.

calxalot wrote:Idle folding should start when Windows turns off the monitor signal.
Any active screensaver will prevent idle (except the fah screensaver).
You'll have to remote monitor it to see idle folding start.

So you're saying if I set up power options to shut off the monitor, F@H set to idle should fold?

And what? Remote monitor?

bruce wrote:Another way to detect folding is to note the progress of the active WU and wait a few hours. when you wake up the screen, it will have advanced.

WORK UNITS have NOT advanced when idle w/the screensaver on. That's how I know it's NOT working.

JimboPalmer wrote:Welcome to Folding@Home!

The OS determines 'idle' not F@H.

In MacOS, it uses keyboard and mouse activity

Windows uses the screen time out in the Power Control Panel

Sadly Linux varies by Windows Manager, and I can't comment on what is 'idle'.

There is no single right answer.

Thanks for the welcome and the insight.

I agree with your OS 'idle' statement, HOWEVER, F@H coding determines when F@H *runs.* A ton of apps will run when a pre-determined idle-time is set (like BOINC), and others, when the screensaver activates.

I have Win10Pro. So if I set up power options to shut off my monitor, F@H set to idle should work?

I go to the Windows Control panels and choose System, then Power & sleep.

I set the screen to turn off when plugged in to 5 minutes, and sleep when plugged in to Never.

Then fold when idle works for me.

(You do not want to fold on battery power)