# How do you like to BOINC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478 "2007-05-17T17:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/1 "2007-05-17T17:36:57Z")
So what [shared-computing projects](http://boinc.berkeley.edu/) are you running? For those who don’t know, BOINC is a shell program developed at Berkeley that allows your computer, during idle times, to download and process data from a wide variety of [extremely complicated scientific problems](http://boinc.berkeley.edu/projects.php), and then upload them back to the server. SETI@home (the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is run through BOINC. Essentially, it becomes your screen saver. In this way, scientists are able to process massive amounts of data much faster than they would be able to otherwise given funding, staffing, and time limitations. Granted, in some ways it’s still like pissing up a rope, since the amount of data is so mind-meltingly massive, but hey, we might get lucky. As for me, I ran SETI@home for quite some time, but I’m a biologist interested in genetics and epigenetics, and the first step (well, the second, really, since the human genome is complete) is to develop a reliably complete proteomics database. The numbers here are staggering. Out of several billion base pairs in the human genome, they code for perhaps 200,000 different proteins. After synthesis, they can be modified in a bewildering number of ways. They can be glycosylated, acetylated, phosphorylated, chopped, diced, blended, and frapped. We are nowhere even close to understanding all the intracellular processes that affect proteins, or even what all the possible protein structures are. Note that there are 5 different projects that address some aspect of protein chemistry. To that end, I devote most of my computer’s down time to Ecole Polytechnique’s [proteins@home](http://biology.polytechnique.fr/proteinsathome) project. What do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/2 "2007-05-17T20:32:58Z")
Ba-dump! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/3 "2007-05-17T20:38:07Z")
I used to run Seti@Home on my computers but never pursued it when they swtiched to BOINC. I’ll have to look into it again. ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/4 "2007-05-20T04:10:17Z")
**Ogre** I read your thread just after you posted it and you got me thinking. I used to run the old Seti@home program but during the switch I had some serious computer problems and of course so did the BOINC team. I got frustrated and stopped running the program. After doing over 6000 work units on the original and a very frustrating 11,000 odd credits on BOINC I decided cold turkey was the best way to just quit. You have rekindled the need to crunch data again. I even went looking for [this old relic of a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=140316&page=1&pp=50&highlight=seti) which I have spent some time over the last two days reading and remembering old names from the Dopers past. Does any one remember any of these names? **Lolababy** , **erislover** , **fluffball86** , **leenmi** , **Kwyjibo** , **UncleBill** , **coosa** , **Achernar** , **mishaa** , **white-tigeress** , **Vanyel** , **TVGuy** , **Jonas Marainen** , **Qixotica** , **Wonko** , **auliya** , **Vengeant** , **bernse** , **Hattrick** , **mblackwell** , **iconoplast** , **Rutabegger** , **Sir Dirx** , **Lockz** , and **LeeJam** to name a few. Also **Xploder** who has recently let his membereship lapse, **Arcturis** the only doper I recall to have only ever made 1 single post. That thread also reminded me of some Dopers who are apparently still around though I haven’t run across any of them lately **Spikesbud** , **RJKUgly** , **rackman** , **Tuco** , **Wicked Blue** , and **Marcus Didius Falco** the only Charter Member who I’m aware of whose post count remains in single digits. Anyway for those interested the [Straight Doper BOINC team page can be found here](http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=30652). We are [currently rated 339 team in the top teams list](http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/top_teams.php?sort_by=total_credit&offset=320) apparently. Thanks for getting me going again after having been stalled for so long. Maybe we can get the Dopers fired up once again and maybe see if we can’t take another crack at breaking into the top 200 teams. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/5 "2007-05-20T04:25:12Z")
I’m all laptop and phone connection these days. Maybe in the future though. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/6 "2007-05-20T06:01:29Z")
[QUOTE=GawnFishin’] **Ogre** Anyway for those interested the [Straight Doper BOINC team page can be found here](http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=30652). We are [currently rated 339 team in the top teams list](http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/top_teams.php?sort_by=total_credit&offset=320) apparently. [/QUOTE] Heh… I clicked the link, and I’m listed there as “Astroboy” and I’m currently 14th! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/7 "2007-05-20T12:03:16Z")
[QUOTE=Astroboy14] Heh… I clicked the link, and I’m listed there as “Astroboy” and I’m currently 14th! 🙂 [/QUOTE] That is the listing by recent average credits. Your 6th when rated by [total credits](http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=30652&sort_by=total_credit&offset=0). Sorry 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/8 "2007-05-20T12:11:22Z")
[QUOTE=GawnFishin’] Maybe we can get the Dopers fired up once again and maybe see if we can’t take another crack at breaking into the top 200 teams. [/QUOTE] Actually this task should be easier than last time as we are currently rated [339th](http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/top_teams.php?sort_by=total_credit&offset=320) instead of around 800th or so like in the days of the classic Seti@home project. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/9 "2007-05-20T18:12:08Z")
I just uninstalled BOINC, actually. I found that it was not playing nice with my new machine – maybe it’s Vista or the Core 2 Duo, but it was not respecting my attempt to limit it to 50% CPU, and was driving up my CPU and motherboard temps past where I was comfortable leaving them for sustained periods of time. It makes me sad, because I want to search for aliens. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/10 "2007-05-20T19:12:54Z")
I tried it for a while, but it just took up too much system memory. Of course, I signed up for about a half dozen (mostly biology) projects, and each wanted to hold 100+ mb of memory, even though only one was running at any given time. Any tips on how to avoid this? I’d like to start it again, especially once I build a new and reasonably powerful computer later this summer… ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/11 "2007-05-21T02:44:58Z")
I was running the Grid project. In fact, I was the leading scorer on the SDMB team and was heartbroken when they cancelled it. I’m now running Seti and the Weather prediction projects. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/12 "2007-05-21T23:58:59Z")
I’m a BOINCer, so count me in on the list! I downloaded it a few months ago, and since I’m on a DSL connection, been lettin’ it run. So far I’ve discovered the Andorans, Kzinti, Tribbles, and gotten a hint at the Vulcans. Tripler But one night in April, I got hammered and sent the Ferengi a virus. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/13 "2007-05-22T01:47:14Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] I’m a BOINCer, so count me in on the list! [/QUOTE] Join the team [here](http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=30652), or are you already using another name? [QUOTE=Tripler] I downloaded it a few months ago, and since I’m on a DSL connection, been lettin’ it run. So far I’ve discovered the Andorans, Kzinti, Tribbles, and gotten a hint at the Vulcans. Tripler **But one night in April, I got hammered and sent the Ferengi a virus**. :smack: [/QUOTE] And what? This is supposed to be a bad thing? 😕 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/14 "2007-05-22T02:31:48Z")
[QUOTE=GawnFishin’] Join the team [here](http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=30652), or are you already using another name? [/quote] Holy Cow! I’m in there, I’m gonna go join _right now!_. FTR, I am using my SDMB screen name. I’m **Tripler** just about everywhere I go. Oh man, this is cool! Tripler I am such a geek. And yet, I feel welcome in the Geek Club. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/15 "2007-05-22T03:49:49Z")
[Proteins@home SMDB team](http://biology.polytechnique.fr/proteinsathome/team_display.php?teamid=758) ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/16 "2007-05-22T23:38:18Z")
I’m wondering if the Ogre who started this thread will ever reappear and if he’ll decide to join the team or not. [QUOTE=1010011010] [Proteins@home SMDB team](http://biology.polytechnique.fr/proteinsathome/team_display.php?teamid=758) [/QUOTE] It’ll never catch on. 😛 And just what _is_ the **SMDB** anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/17 "2007-05-23T05:33:29Z")
Doggone it! This thread dropped like a rock at first, and I promptly forgot about it. Thanks, **Binary**. I’ll join tomorrow after I get some sleep. I’m wiped out tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/18 "2007-05-23T14:02:16Z")
I used to have Seti@home running on my PC, then I changed to a climate modelling screensaver I saw on a BBC article, then I changed office and went back to BOINC with the Einstein@home module. I’ve actually forgotten what it models, but it seemed worthier than watching for aliens (sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/19 "2007-05-23T17:03:09Z")
18 replies and not a single sex joke? For shame! I for one prefer watching my computer BOINC. It amuses me. Seriously though, I’ll check out that link and join up probably. My PC’s dormant a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478/20 "2007-05-23T17:54:04Z")
Yep, I’m still crunching away on our SETI@home team(cool, I’m still #1 😉 ), though I’ve been having the same issues as Brainiac4, so I don’t run it all the time on my main rig. I’ll run it in the evenings when it’s cooler and I’m actually sitting at my computer and monitor temps and whatnot. I still run it on my work machine. There are a couple things that have me disillusioned about SETI right now though and that is the clients and the fact that they’re not actively developing a GPU client like Folding has. GPU clients can do tons of the work(you still need CPUs to do much of the work too) and crunch way more data than CPU clients do. If SETI comes out with a GPU client for NVIDIA cards I’ll definitely start my main rig crunching again. Edit: The other thing that I never liked was how poorly linux clients crunched. My Windows machines always blew my linux machines out of the water. I don’t know if anyone else had the same experience but it was really annoying, especially when they were similar machines crunching. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-to-boinc/404478.md?page=2)