Mysterious program on the ps3

axeman2008 · 07-03-2008, 05:05 AM

Hi Guys this is kind of aimed at ps3 owners, does anyone have a clue what the FOLDING@HOME program is and what it does? I'd like to use but i don't know how.

Sir Charles · 07-03-2008, 05:10 AM

Its for research into diseses amoungst other things. Instead of using supercomputers, they allow people to download the software onto PC or PS3 and contribute their runtime to the project. Its a similar concept to that SETi @ home thing that I remember a few years back - where It used peoples home PC's to scan for alien intelligance LOL.

axeman2008 · 07-03-2008, 05:13 AM

Cool so the longer i leave the program running the more computing power i contribute?

Sir Charles · 07-03-2008, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axeman2008

Cool so the longer i leave the program running the more computing power i contribute?

Thats correct. If you download the newest version it acts as a music/media player too. So your not just contributing electricity.

axeman2008 · 07-03-2008, 05:51 AM

Cheers thanks for that. Just another question, the yellow dots spread all over the globe do they resemble active ps3 consoles?

Sir Charles · 07-03-2008, 06:53 AM

Yeah I think so. Although it could be PC + MAC users also.

xxquepasaxx · 07-03-2008, 07:34 AM

they weren't lying ps3 cures cancer. the more you leave it on the more money they get i think

Kona Palangi · 07-03-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxquepasaxx

they weren't lying ps3 cures cancer.

It did? I wonder why people still die from it everyday.

blu_yu_away · 07-03-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kona Palangi

It did? I wonder why people still die from it everyday.

Well they obviously didn't own a PS3.

Kona Palangi · 07-03-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu_yu_away

Well they obviously don't own a PS3.

Obviously.

Scotracer · 07-03-2008, 10:27 AM

The cure for cancer doesn't start until we say it does.

Wraith 413 · 10-03-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axeman2008

Cheers thanks for that. Just another question, the yellow dots spread all over the globe do they resemble active ps3 consoles?

The dots only represent PS3 owners, no PC's or Mac's.
As far as the Folding@Home Program itself, it downloads WU's (work units) from Stanford Univ., crunches the numbers, then uploads the data back to Stanford Univ. Some work units take longer than others to complete and are usually worth more points. There are advanced options you can select from the menu, along with signing up for a Folding@Home Team. If you leave your PS3 working WU's all the time, you can download certain other WU's worth more points.
Stanford Univ. has had problems with WU's not uploading correctly and hardware/software issues from time to time, but they stay on top of most glitches fairly well.

All in all, it's a worthy program to be involved in, either part-time or full-time. IMO

Wraith 413

BRUTAL1TY · 10-03-2008, 10:50 PM

I've always known about this, but never actually decided to take part in it. Can I contribute to this "fight against cancer" and then just stop and start anytime? However, if you ask me, we don't need to cure cancer... we need to cure double posting.

axeman2008 · 11-03-2008, 04:51 AM

I just completed a workload it took about 12 hours over the space of a week.

Wraith 413 · 11-03-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRUTAL1TY

I've always known about this, but never actually decided to take part in it. Can I contribute to this "fight against cancer" and then just stop and start anytime? However, if you ask me, we don't need to cure cancer... we need to cure double posting.

The default WU's are given more time to complete, taking into to account that most console owners will not run their system 24/7. It's the "Advanced" WU's that have the shorter completion time and therefore are worth more points.