Support Cancer Research and the NCSU Wolfpack With Your Computer's Idle Time!

What Is It?
Essentially Folding@Home uses your unused CPU cycles to model how proteins fold in the human body. The misfolding of proteins is often involved in well known diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease. Because this endeavor requires massive amounts of computing power, their project uses spare CPU time on computers that would otherwise sit idle in homes and businesses across the world. Here at North Carolina State University, we have formed this team in order to donate our spare CPU time to help this important endeavor.

The North Carolina State University Folding@Home Team (Team # 59) was one of the first teams to join the Folding@Home project, and was the very first University-based team to join. We are currently ranked in the Top 100 teams in the world and are ramping up production in an effort to make it into the Top 50. We are all dedicated to doing our part to help end some of these terrible diseases, and we would appreciate the support of anyone who would like to help.

All it takes is the installation of a small piece of software and your computer will start completing Work Units for the project and the team. The Folding@Home process runs at the lowest possible priority so you can run it 24X7 without slowing down your computer or interfering with your everyday computing tasks. If you have a Sony PS3 Game Console you can also run Folding@Home on it with great results.

How can I Help?
Download and install the software appropriate for your OS (Windows/Linux/Mac). For dual/quad core computers, be sure you install the SMP client. It will get you and the NCSU team far more points than the traditional client. Whichever client you choose, we recommend running the Folding@Home client as a service. The client will run in the background without notification, and will release CPU resources as needed since it runs at the lowest priority. The NCSU Team Number is 59.

Visit the team homepage for detailed installation instructions

Windows Computers
We recommend using the "text-only console” client for most windows computers. If you have a dual/quad core processor, be sure to install and run the SMP client to get you and the team far more points than the standard console client In general, its best to stay away from the graphical clients. If you have a Pentium 4 with Hyperthreading, its best to turn off Hyperthreading in the BIOS if you know how. Feel free to post in this thread with any questions.

Mac and Linux Computers
There are both "text-only" consoles and SMP clients for Linux and Macintosh computers too! If you have a dual/quad/etc core processor be sure to run the SMP client as you'll get far more points than the text-only client. But the regular console clients also help out too if you only have single-core processors.

Playstation 3
PS3s currently provide over 60% of the processing power in the Folding@home network and are capable of producing many points for the team. If you have PS3 system version 1.6 or later, you will see a Folding@Home icon in the Network column of the XMB (PS3 Networking menu). Just click on the icon and that's it. If you don't have 1.6 or later, perform a system upgrade. Make sure to use Team #59!

The more computers and PS3s you run the clients on, the more points your username and the NCSU team earns! Install as many clients as you can and watch your username/team progress at the stats page


Links

Team Links
Official NCSU F@H Team Website - Tell your friends people. It's ncsufolding.com
NCSU F@H Team Discussion - This page.
NCSU F@H Team Facebook Group - Join our facebook group!

F@H Links
F@H Project Homepage - Official Stanford project webpage
F@H Official Forums - Official Project forums. Full of great information about the project and the computer/ps3 clients
F@H Wikipedia Article - General information about the F@H project
F@H Wiki Site - Excellent Wiki site with tons of helpful information about the project. Geared towards F@H users like us.

Stats
Extreme Overclocking NCSU Team Stats Page - The best F@H stats site
Stanford Stats Page - Official Stanford stats site
Monitor your production - Extremely useful little utility. Monitor the point production of local/network F@H clients
Compare your production with other users - Use information from above to compare your points production with other folders

3/15/2008 8:27:14 AM

^i wouldn't call it banner, b/c most adblocks have the filter *banner*

if I hadn't known to look for it I honestly wouldn't have known the image was there... just a thought

3/15/2008 5:21:53 PM

ANOTHER one bites the dust:

[01:46:15] Completed 495000 out of 500000 steps  (99 percent)
[01:51:16] Timered checkpoint triggered.
[01:56:15] Timered checkpoint triggered.
[02:00:18] Writing local files
[02:00:18] Completed 500000 out of 500000 steps  (100 percent)
[02:00:18] Writing final coordinates.
[02:00:19] Past main M.D. loop
[02:00:19] Will end MPI now
[02:01:19] 
[02:01:19] Finished Work Unit:
[02:01:19] - Reading up to 3722496 from "work/wudata_04.arc": Read 3722496
[02:01:19] - Reading up to 1775892 from "work/wudata_04.xtc": Read 1775892
[02:01:19] goefile size: 0
[02:01:19] logfile size: 23288
[02:01:19] Leaving Run
[02:01:23] - Writing 5526076 bytes of core data to disk...
[02:01:23]   ... Done.
[02:01:23] - Failed to delete work/wudata_04.sas
[02:01:23] - Failed to delete work/wudata_04.goe
[02:01:23] Warning:  check for stray files
[02:01:23] - Shutting down core
[02:04:15] Folding@home Core Shutdown: MISSING_WORK_FILES
[02:04:15] Finalizing output
[02:04:21] CoreStatus = 1 (1)
[02:04:21] Client-core communications error: ERROR 0x1
[02:04:21] Deleting current work unit & continuing...
[02:06:41] - Warning: Could not delete all work unit files (4): Core returned invalid code
[02:06:41] Trying to send all finished work units
[02:06:41] + No unsent completed units remaining.

3/16/2008 12:12:09 AM

Found some sweet tools, qfix & qgen:
http://linuxminded.xs4all.nl/mirror/www.boston.quik.com/rph/fah.html#qfix

I just ran qfix and it found my old results file that wasn't submitted and added it to the queue. The next time I started the console again, it went to go submit my old results file.

3/16/2008 8:03:14 PM

HP Quad Core box for $370 after rebate!!

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=772018

3/17/2008 2:50:24 PM

lets see if this quad core will work well

3/17/2008 3:27:10 PM

you installing the SMP client on one? what proc?

3/17/2008 3:27:55 PM

^^it's a AMD Phenom 9500 Quad Core , only 1700-2000ppd

Here's a good deal on a C2D:
Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 M0 Stepping Conroe 1.8GHz - $67
http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA1938281

Can run at 3.2Ghz - http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/09/12/pentium_dual_core/

That could be close to ~1500ppd from a $67 cpu

[Edited on March 17, 2008 at 3:32 PM. Reason : .]

3/17/2008 3:29:18 PM

i'm running on a 2.4ghz intel quad-core here at work.

3/17/2008 3:30:33 PM

we've flattened out over the past few days.

3/17/2008 3:45:28 PM

Quote :

"we've flattened out over the past few days."

sure have. hopefully we can push back up to 65k-70k PPD

3/17/2008 3:52:19 PM

once i see how this works with my computer i may throw it on a few of our lesser used conference room computers which are also quad core

3/17/2008 3:57:00 PM

sweet, if you have any questions/problems let us know. be sure to install it as a service!

http://www.ncsufolding.com/?page_id=4

and if you or anyone else thinks we need to add information to those instructions (special vista stuff?) let me know

3/17/2008 4:02:01 PM

i dunno, i submitted two WU's last night at 7pm that haven't shown up, maybe stats delay?

3/17/2008 8:05:19 PM

ugh so i left it running overnight and it apparently choked up at 3135 steps and just hung all night. restarted it today and it's chugging along doing about 1% every 15 minutes.

It seems to be randomly locking up on me and I have to restart it, any ideas?

[Edited on March 18, 2008 at 8:32 AM. Reason : .]

3/18/2008 8:04:45 AM

Quote :

"It seems to be randomly locking up on me and I have to restart it, any ideas?"

define locking up. how did you set it up? service or do you just open the dos window every time you run it? if youre getting any errors paste in some of your log file. what os?

3/18/2008 9:16:08 AM

3/18/2008 9:17:31 AM

I installed it as a service but have not rebooted yet so it's running in a window. It doesn't lock up as much as it just seems to stop processing. I'll probably reboot for lunch and hope it fixes it, though how will I be able to check up on the progress if it's running as a service?

3/18/2008 9:30:23 AM

Quote :

"It doesn't lock up as much as it just seems to stop processing"

you mean it stops using the processor...or it looks like it stops completing frames? The easiest way to see if its still working is to check your task manager and see if its still using 100% CPU.

Quote :

"though how will I be able to check up on the progress if it's running as a service?"

Best way to watch progress is to install a little utility called fahmon. http://fahmon.net/

Other way is to go to the directory its installed in, and check for the log files.

3/18/2008 9:38:54 AM

just restarted and it's in my process list but not using anything

3/18/2008 9:56:41 AM

^post some of your log file where its messing up.


and has anyone looked at the overtake lately? our team is headed down unless we can pick up production some

3/19/2008 12:39:45 PM

[13:27:29] Entering M.D.
[13:27:53] Calling FAH init
[13:27:54] Read topology
[13:27:55] g local files
[13:27:55] Completed 22704 out of 500000 steps (4 percent)
[13:27:55] Extra SSE boost OK.
[13:27:55] iles
[13:27:55] Completed 22704 out of 500000 steps (4 percent)
[13:27:56] Extra SSE boost OK.

Folding@Home Client Shutdown at user request.

Folding@Home Client Shutdown.


----

This is the last entry. It's running a process right now but it's not taking any cpu time at all. No errors, it just will sit there and not process anything.

3/19/2008 12:47:21 PM

sometimes when you shut it down manually one of the processes may hang and it won't be dropped from memory... you just have to open up task manager, close it. then re-open FAH

btw, here's the new EOC stats server:

# 2 x Intel Xeon E5440 (2.83 GHz)
# 24 GB RAM (12 x 2 GB modules)
# 4 x 146 GB 15K RPM SAS hard drives - PERC6/i in a RAID-10 configuration.
# Redudant Power Supplies
# DRAC-5 card -

3/20/2008 10:38:13 AM

this has persisted through several reboots so i don't think it's a shutdown issue

3/20/2008 10:41:05 AM

did it hang, then YOU shut it down? or did it shutdown automatically?

Quote :

"Folding@Home Client Shutdown at user request."

3/20/2008 10:48:50 AM

in that specific log i shut it down manually after it stopped processing data.

the issue is that it stops processing but gives no error.

3/20/2008 10:55:20 AM

so it uses the cpu for a little while, then at some point, without any error message,stops using the cpu? do the processes go away from the task manager list...or are they still there using 0%? What operating system? are you an admin on your pc? did you set up exactly like the instructions on our website?

3/20/2008 12:38:13 PM

run "fah.exe -verbosity 9" to get the underlying error.

3/20/2008 5:01:59 PM

last 24 hours = 47k points

3/23/2008 3:26:15 PM

Anyone tried getting to the folding website this morning? I can't seem to get there now. Didnt know if they were doing work on the site or not.

3/24/2008 8:55:37 AM

you mean this site: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/Download ?

it's a little slow, but currently working

3/24/2008 8:59:43 AM

Ah no I was going to stats but it is workin now, must just be my shit ass work computer.

3/24/2008 9:01:12 AM

well the guy running that site got a new server recently, so maybe he's moving stuff over.

but i try not to visit that site too much, too depressing

3/24/2008 9:25:35 AM

My quad and PS3 are down until I get back into town Saturday. I'll get them back up and running to help the team since it seems we are in a slump right now.

3/24/2008 10:50:14 AM

i'm pulling nothing but p3050 WU's (1440pt)

could be one reason points have decreased

3/24/2008 12:58:21 PM

C2D E6850 @ 3.0Ghz - 16:06 frame - 1574 ppd - 64-bit Vista
C2D E6850 @ 3.0Ghz - 15:15 frame - 1626 ppd - 64-bit Vista SP1 (~3.3% increase)

anyone else notice any performance gains in Vista SP1?

3/24/2008 1:53:01 PM

^^^ great! that'll be a good start back to get us back to 70kPPD!

^^ I hate those work units. I have a project 3065 (2144PT) WU on my core duo laptop...still getting ~715 PPD on it, like I was on the 1760 UWs. I'll check the other computers when I get home. I'm hoping not to see the 1440 pt WUs

3/24/2008 2:04:49 PM

just bought a house... this means, i'll be adding another 1700-1800 ppd or so in a month or two.

X2 4000+ 2.1Ghz - 800 ppd (SMP)
Athlon64 3400+ 2.2Ghz - ~150 ppd
C2D (E4500?) - 700-800 ppd (SMP)

3/24/2008 3:53:22 PM

Mine seems to be running fine after it dumped the out of date WU's and i ran it with the verbosity switch.

3/24/2008 3:59:38 PM

I guess the service just isn't working correctly here. Looks like I'll have to command line it to get it to work.

3/25/2008 7:06:48 AM

^ that sucks. still hanging?

if you are going to use command line:

1) create a shortcut to the FAH executable (with whatever flags you want...use -forceasm for sure)
2) place that shortcut in the windows startup folder so FAH starts everytime you restart
3) use a program called TrayIT to minimize the FAH DOS window to your system tray .http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm

3/25/2008 8:30:20 AM

Yea, the only thing that sucks about that is that it won't run while my computer is logged out or anything. I guess I'll just have to lock it during the week.

3/25/2008 8:40:59 AM

great.

did you try the lab PCs yet

3/25/2008 10:03:36 AM

The problem is I don't want them to be left logged in, and if the services on them are fucked up like mine then it'd be worthless.

3/25/2008 10:04:31 AM

Down to 6th place for me. At least the team will move up one more spot for a little while.

3/25/2008 10:08:58 AM

Quote :

"and if the services on them are fucked up like mine then it'd be worthless."

maybe its just your pc. worth a try, that would be mad points.

3/25/2008 10:09:00 AM

broke into the top 150 on our team this weekend.

I'm starting to get obsessed. I haven't upgraded my PC at home in nearly 6 years, and all of a sudden i'm itching for at least a new CPU.

3/25/2008 2:25:18 PM

Quote :

"and all of a sudden i'm itching for at least a new CPU."

forget a new cpu...just get a new pc. you can get a Q6600 quad core system with 22" lcd from dell for a little over $600 when the deal is active. you can get it for $600 with a 19" every day. sell the monitor (if you dont need it) and the system is that much cheaper.

3/25/2008 2:48:16 PM

haha, it certainly has that effect on people... i know i check my stats every day

3/25/2008 2:48:23 PM

if i'm bored I'll check stats near the update times of 1:00 4:00 and 7:00 (updates at am and pm for all times) to see how we're doing...

3/25/2008 3:12:25 PM