Folding@home Quick Install Guide - How to Start Folding

[WYP]

It seemed like now was a good time to try and encourage more participation in the Redline folding team, so I have created a short install guide for the main site.

If there is anything that people want to add, please let me know. We could create something more comprehensive in the future. For now, I just want to get some information on the cause out there and let people know how easy it is to get started.




Read more about how to start folding with Folding@home.

 

[hmmblah]

Nice quick guide, hopefully we’ll get some new additions to team 98860. Bitcoin really stole f@h’s thunder. We appreciate the support, thanks!

 

[riotcity76]

Very nice, good job! I see we've already had a nice influx of new users. If anybody has any questions, feel free to ask and one of us veterans will be more than willing to help. :beerchug:

 

[Peace Ð]

Will definitely join and hopefully, the Android client will see its relaunch soon!


Is the client updated via an auto-update mechanism so we get Corona automatically or how are updates handled?

 

[dazbobaby]

Aren't they currently trying to find a treatment for corona virus too?

 

[riotcity76]

Will definitely join and hopefully, the Android client will see its relaunch soon!


Is the client updated via an auto-update mechanism so we get Corona automatically or how are updates handled?

Not sure about the Android client specifically, but generally no updates are needed to the folding software. The client will download Work Units, crunch them, and then send the data back to the server, at which point it will receive a new work unit. These work units reflect the underlying research being done, so the data you're crunching can continually change without the client ever needing to be updated.

Aren't they currently trying to find a treatment for corona virus too?

Yes, F@H has announced they are going to start sending out Coronavirus work units, however there is no ETA as far as I have seen yet. Obviously there is some urgency with this kind of research, so I'm sure they are working as fast as possible on it.

 

[WYP]

Seems there are issues getting passkeys sent to a lot of email clients ATM. Not sure what the issue is but I have reported it on a folding forum with a few others. Strange issue.

Not a huge deal, folding isn't just about the points, but points are nice.

It looks like the Android folding client has been abandoned. It was open-sourced but nothing really came of it. Sad

 

[Peace Ð]

It looks like the Android folding client has been abandoned. It was open-sourced but nothing really came of it. Sad

Very sad

Not sure about the Android client specifically, but generally no updates are needed to the folding software. The client will download Work Units, crunch them, and then send the data back to the server, at which point it will receive a new work unit. These work units reflect the underlying research being done, so the data you're crunching can continually change without the client ever needing to be updated.

So the list of diseases that can be worked towards is automatically updated

 

[SOA_RRU]

I've noticed that a few new folders seem to be only getting base points after completing more than 10 work units so...Just a quick reminder, Don't forget to set up your Passkey for bonus points

 

[Peace Ð]

Just installed and joined team OC3D as well as created a Passkey <3

Is it normal, that my GPU sits at 22% usage although I've set the Power to Full?

Also, is it safe to shut my PC down in the middle of folding or should I set a countdown for until a WU is done?

 

[riotcity76]

Very sad



So the list of diseases that can be worked towards is automatically updated

Gotcha. What I've read is that updating the client is pretty resource intensive on their part, and there may not be an update that allows users to specifically choose to fold Coronavirus WUs. My understanding is that clients set for "Any" cause preference will eventually start crunching Coronavirus WUs when they become available.

 

[riotcity76]

Just installed and joined team OC3D as well as created a Passkey <3

Is it normal, that my GPU sits at 22% usage although I've set the Power to Full?

Also, is it safe to shut my PC down in the middle of folding or should I set a countdown for until a WU is done?

22% GPU usage is pretty normal. It won't peg a GPU at 100% like it would typically do with a CPU. What is your estimated points per day?

The client creates checkpoints at regular intervals, so it is fine to shut off the computer at any time. Worst case is you will have to re-crunch the last few percent of a work unit, but the majority of the progress will have been saved.

 

[SOA_RRU]

Just installed and joined team OC3D as well as created a Passkey <3

Is it normal, that my GPU sits at 22% usage although I've set the Power to Full?

Also, is it safe to shut my PC down in the middle of folding or should I set a countdown for until a WU is done?

Welcome

22% isn't normal, most of the time Nvidia cards will sit from anything like 70-100% usage depending on the work unit (my current usage is 95-99% on a 11738). One thing i always do even though it might not actually make any difference is to set my card to Performance in the Nvidia control panel.

Yes it's safe to shut down your PC before the work unit has finished as when you restart it will just revert back to the last checkpoint and carry on, only downside to this is less points. The faster you return the work unit the bigger the points (quick return bonus)

 

[Peace Ð]

GPU says: 48453 Points per day My computer has 8.17 days to complete this work unit. 11737 (0, 9661, 7) 2 hours 06 mins 53957 Work Unit (PRCG) Work Unit (ETA) Estimated Points

 

[riotcity76]

Welcome

22% isn't normal, most of the time Nvidia cards will sit from anything like 70-100% usage depending on the work unit (my current usage is 95-99% on a 11738). One thing i always do even though it might not actually make any difference is to set my card to Performance in the Nvidia control panel.

Yes it's safe to shut down your PC before the work unit has finished as when you restart it will just revert back to the last checkpoint and carry on, only downside to this is less points. The faster you return the work unit the bigger the points (quick return bonus)

Strange, I could swear 22% is pretty normal from what I remember looking at my 1080Ti....but I'm not home right now so I can't check it.

That PPD is very low though, for a 1070. I wonder if you're not getting bonus points.

 

[Peace Ð]

Strange, I could swear 22% is pretty normal from what I remember looking at my 1080Ti....but I'm not home right now so I can't check it.

That PPD is very low though, for a 1070. I wonder if you're not getting bonus points.

Passkey is set up though I'll see what I can do later

 

[SOA_RRU]

You’ll have to complete 10 work units before you start to see any bonus points though.

 

[Peace Ð]

You’ll have to complete 10 work units before you start to see any bonus points though.

Ah yes, I forgot about that!


//EDIT: Not sure about setting my GPU to performance mode, though... My GTX770 died because of hardcore Doge Coin mining at 100%

 

[SOA_RRU]

//EDIT: Not sure about setting my GPU to performance mode, though... My GTX770 died because of hardcore Doge Coin mining at 100%

Both my 1070 & 1080 have died in the past, Folding the cause? maybe, Maybe not but both got fixed under warranty and went straight back to work

 

[Peace Ð]

Welcome

22% isn't normal, most of the time Nvidia cards will sit from anything like 70-100% usage depending on the work unit (my current usage is 95-99% on a 11738). One thing i always do even though it might not actually make any difference is to set my card to Performance in the Nvidia control panel.

Yes it's safe to shut down your PC before the work unit has finished as when you restart it will just revert back to the last checkpoint and carry on, only downside to this is less points. The faster you return the work unit the bigger the points (quick return bonus)

Setting the GPU to performance instead of quality doesn't change anything in terms of utilisation.
Setting it to OC Mode in ASUS' software is also not doing anything
//EDIT: LOL, ASUS' software is reporting 94-98% utilisation, while Task-Manager still says 20-22%!


Maybe it's because it's folding the DHFR benchmark.