Folding@Home - Stanford's Protein Folding Project

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Yasden
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Folding@Home - Stanford's Protein Folding Project

Postby Yasden » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:22 pm

I'm sure a lot of you are aware of the distributed computing project that Stanford has been using for years for protein folding calculations. This research has been beneficial to science.

I was goofing around on my PS3 the other day and noticed that you can now download the software directly to the Yellow Dog Linux OS that runs the PS3. The Cell processor in the PS3 that runs the calculations operates at speeds comparable to supercomputers. I've been running it for a few days now and have already completed 10 work units of 400,000 frames each. My PC (2.8 Ghz P4) has been working on a work unit of 5,000 frames for 3 days now.

It's a great project to work on, and you can run it while you're not gaming on the PS3 (it doesn't run while playing games), or if you're not doing heavy tasks on your PC.

I took the liberty of giving us (the MUD) a plug and created a team with the name "Torilmud - The Sojourner's Home". I linked to the icon with a copy on Photobucket.

So, if you're running this already, or you're interested in helping donate, check out Folding@Home, download the small application, or check it out on your PS3 and do the same. The team number is 65625, feel free to join up! Right now it's just me and my 2 machines.
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ssar
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Postby ssar » Sun May 06, 2007 12:09 pm

Oh cool.

I have been running the distributed computing projects:

1) "Climate Prediction Coupled Model Experiements" - http://www.climateprediction.net/index.php

2) "SETI@home" - http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/

Using BOINC open source software to attach & run them - http://boinc.berkeley.edu/

Will look into Folding@home too.
BEER
ssar
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Postby ssar » Sun May 06, 2007 12:15 pm

Hmm, seems the Folding@home project requires specific Folding@home software to run etc. and I cannot use my BOINC software like I had hoped.
Yasden
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Postby Yasden » Sun May 06, 2007 7:56 pm

It's a really tiny program, 371k in fact.
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Why Nerox is jealous of me:



Nerox tells you 'man this thing is kicking my ass and i have blisters!'

Nerox tells you 'ok attempting it again put tape on my fingers for easier sliding'
teflor the ranger
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Postby teflor the ranger » Thu May 10, 2007 6:44 am

I wanted to bump this thread back up, because it is one of the most beneficial distributed computing projects on the web. Your computer time and your mouse clicking time will go to great use by participating in this project - it certainly has more practical applications than searching for potential intelligent alien life broadcasting directly at us, or climate modeling that's likely to be critically flawed from the get-go.

Protein modeling represents one of the several major steps taken in the modern scientific-revolution of biochemistry and medicine. This project is as essential as the research into the nature of the atom was to the fields of chemistry and physics, and as important as the research into what role DNA plays in the fields of biology and life sciences.

If you have a spare 20 minutes to figure out how to get this thing running on your PC, please do set it up. It runs in the background, only using your idle processing time (read as: it won't mess with your computer box, you won't notice a slowdown).

If you would like to get the thing running, and would like someone to walk you through the installation, feel free to poke me on the mud or send me a PM.

Anyway, thanks for reading this post. Even if you decide not to put the devil in your alien box, just sit back and know that you live in mystical times - that the secrets of the universe and existance are being quietly unfolded on little computers all around you.

Teflor
Teflor does. Teflor does not.
Yasden
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Postby Yasden » Fri May 11, 2007 1:29 am

Thanks Teflor...and don't forget to join team 65625 if you do sign up! My PS3 has been working its Cell off on this, having already pumped out 55 work units in the past few weeks, with approximately 400,000 frames for each one! Your average PC work unit is only 4-5k frames, and takes 2-3 days to complete.
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Why Nerox is jealous of me:



Nerox tells you 'man this thing is kicking my ass and i have blisters!'

Nerox tells you 'ok attempting it again put tape on my fingers for easier sliding'
Sarvis
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Postby Sarvis » Fri May 11, 2007 4:22 am

Well at least the PS3 isn't a complete waste then. ;)
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Yasden
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Postby Yasden » Sat May 12, 2007 3:29 am

Pfft, PS3 >>>>>>> Mafiasoft 360.
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Why Nerox is jealous of me:



Nerox tells you 'man this thing is kicking my ass and i have blisters!'

Nerox tells you 'ok attempting it again put tape on my fingers for easier sliding'
Sarvis
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Postby Sarvis » Sat May 12, 2007 3:32 pm

Maybe, but Wii>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PS3. :P
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Yasden
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Postby Yasden » Sun May 13, 2007 12:38 am

If you prefer infrared over Bluetooth, I suppose...

I own both, Wii's innovation is neat, I'll admit, but charging out the wazoo for retro games? As if I'm gonna pay 5-8-10-20 bucks per download to get older console games on the system...ha. Then there's the lack of...

*stops himself*

Anyway, this thread isn't about console debate...let's start a new thread about that if you want. :P Sign up for the folding project dagnabbit! Team 65625!
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Why Nerox is jealous of me:



Nerox tells you 'man this thing is kicking my ass and i have blisters!'

Nerox tells you 'ok attempting it again put tape on my fingers for easier sliding'
Sarvis
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Postby Sarvis » Sun May 13, 2007 2:14 am

$5 isn't that bad for old nintendo games. You'll pay at least that in a used game store.
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I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write. - Some Guy Who Paraphrased Voltaire
Yasden
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Postby Yasden » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:35 am

Just an update on the Toril Folding@Home team.

We're currently ranked 2678 out of 105014 teams globally, with a WU (work unit) count of 897, and an overall score of 266963. My PS3's responsible for 721 of those work units. I know several people here own a PS3, and if you leave yours on 24-7 like I do, set yourself up with the free download of Folding@Home from the PS Store and assign yourself to team 65625!
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Why Nerox is jealous of me:



Nerox tells you 'man this thing is kicking my ass and i have blisters!'

Nerox tells you 'ok attempting it again put tape on my fingers for easier sliding'
Sarvis
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Postby Sarvis » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:48 am

Damn dude... I've been running this for at least 2 years on my PC and I only have 131 work units completed... :(

On a different team though, sorry guys!
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I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write. - Some Guy Who Paraphrased Voltaire
ssar
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Postby ssar » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:41 am

I run Rosetta@home, SETI@home, & Einstein@home these days, using BOINC.

PC has hummed along nicely ever since I built it, doing lots of this.
BEER

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