BaptistBoard Folding@Home Project

[bb_baptist]

BaptistBoard.com has grown into an amazing community. I have decided to try and enlist interested BB members in a very innovative way to use their computers to help find cures for many neurodegenerative diseases.
Folding@Home is a distributed computing project. People from throughout the world download and run a small piece of software to band together and form one of the largest supercomputers in the world. The software runs in the background, using "spare" CPU cycles and not interfering with or slowing down any of your regular programs. It basically puts your computer's "extra" power to good use!

Many human diseases, including many neurodegenerative diseases, are thought to be caused by improper protein folding, or protein misfolding. ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are just a few of the diseases that could be positively impacted by this project.

If you would like to contribute to the Folding@Home project, please go to Folding@Home 's website, download the software and install it. It will ask you for an optional TEAM NUMBER to join. Please enter 47603, BB's team number! Your contribution will be added to the BB Team, and we can keep track of how much of a contribution all BB members make as a community.

BaptistBoard.com Team Statistics

FAQs at Stanford: http://folding.stanford.edu/faq.html

Here is a flash movie that gives you a bit more information: http://www.teamshort-media.com/videos/foldflash2.html

Every bit helps!!! Join Today!!!

Updates:
(Nov 19, 2005)- Completed first WU (work unit) and were awarded 46 points. Team BaptistBoard.com is ranked # 16,576th of 41,201 teams.
(Nov 24, 2005) - We're in the Top13,000 teams (#12,547 of 41,322). 1 computer completed 7 WUs for 578 points
(Nov 27, 2005) - We're in the Top10,000 teams (#9,981 of 41,379). 5 CPUs completed 19 WUs for 1966 points.
(Dec 2, 2005) - We're in the Top 9,000 teams (#8,919 of 41,470). 7 CPUs completed 28 WUs for 3,143 points.
(Dec 8, 2005) - We're in the Top 8,000 teams (#7,940 of 41,578). 8 CPUs completed 44 WUs for 4,837 points.
(Dec 17, 2005) - We're in the Top 7,000 teams (#6,958 of 41,728). 12 CPUs completed 67 WUs for 7,900 points.
(Dec 21, 2005) - We're in the Top 6,000 teams (#5,966 of 41,793). 17 CPUs completed 96 WUs for 12,159 points.
(Dec 28, 2005) - We're in the Top 5,000 teams (#4,965). 19 CPUs completed 171 WUs for 19,245 points.
(Jan 5, '06) - We're in the Top 4,000 teams (#3,941 of 42,038). 24 CPUs completed 287 WUs for 31,051 points.
(Jan 19, '06) - We're in the Top 3,000 teams (#2,980 of 42,273). 27 CPUs completed 465 WUs for 52,386 points.
(Jan 31, '06) - We're in the Top 3,000 teams (#2,575 of 42,273). 28 CPUs completed 586 WUs for 67,292 points.

[ January 31, 2006, 01:55 PM: Message edited by: AndrewT ]

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by webmaster:
BaptistBoard.com has grown into an amazing community. I have decided to try and enlist interested BB members in a very innovative way to use their computers to help find cures for many neurodegenerative diseases.
Folding@Home is a distributed computing project. People from throughout the world download and run a small piece of software to band together and form one of the largest supercomputers in the world. The software runs in the background, using "spare" CPU cycles and not interfering with or slowing down any of your regular programs. It basically puts your computer's "extra" power to good use!

This sounds like something good and something I may be interested in. I guess I am confused though as to how it works. What exactly would I be doing to help find a cure and how would I be doing it from my computer? I guess I just don't understand the program very well. If I went to the link, would I understand it better?

Joseph Botwinick

 

[NateT]

Distributed computing is a model of computing which basically takes the philosophy of "there is strength in numbers."

In order to be part of a distributed network, you need to be on the network. In this case, online. You are then added to their list of what computers they have.

Distributed computing is helpful in dealing with complex calculations which require A LOT of processing. Your computer might only be calculating a little tiny bit (say 1% on your PC) but if you start adding up all the PCs that are doing that, then you can do a complex calculation faster.

It's kind of like delegating for computers. While the single CPU of a PC is around the 3-4gigahertz range right now, you could simulate a 5-10ghz by compiling computers who each share their resources when they're not in use.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by NateT:
Distributed computing is a model of computing which basically takes the philosophy of "there is strength in numbers."

In order to be part of a distributed network, you need to be on the network. In this case, online. You are then added to their list of what computers they have.

Distributed computing is helpful in dealing with complex calculations which require A LOT of processing. Your computer might only be calculating a little tiny bit (say 1% on your PC) but if you start adding up all the PCs that are doing that, then you can do a complex calculation faster.

It's kind of like delegating for computers. While the single CPU of a PC is around the 3-4gigahertz range right now, you could simulate a 5-10ghz by compiling computers who each share their resources when they're not in use.

I think this makes sense to me. Let me get this straight: I would not be doing any computations, but my computer would be doing it in the background and sending it to the research team at Stanford as long as I am online and a member of the team. Does that sound close to being correct?

Joseph Botwinick

 

[bb_baptist]

That's correct. The software runs in the background, and makes use of the CPU when it is not busy. In all computers, the CPU is rarely used to its full capacity at all times; the Folding@home client takes advantage of this unused processing power.

 

[Gina B]

Wow.
Thanks Webmaster.
Both my daughter and myself think it's a VERY worthwhile cause, and God bless you for your efforts. That goes for everyone who contributes! Neurological issues are among the scariest to deal with...there's so much that is unknown, and when it's your own child you watch going downhill...well it's nice to know that there's people out here who do take that extra step to help find answers.

Joseph, I think what they're looking for is speed. Here is a very simple explanation. (about as good as you're gonna get outta this small brain!)
Neurons work in very very fast time frames. The scientists working to find out more about diseases try to simulate the normal and abnormal actions of neurons. They do this with computer programs, but computers are slow and it would take a very long time for a computer to simulate the work of neurotransmitters and blah blah blah.
BUT! When they get the speed of a ton of computers together, the computer programs work faster. Think of it as one big computer sitting in the middle. When your computer hooks to it, the program playing on the computer in the center goes a microscopic bit faster. When mine hooks up, it goes a bit faster. As more hook up, the program is able to go faster and faster and is better able to simulate the processes of all those electrons and neurons or whatever is being replicated in the program.
That's how I think of it. Am I wrong? Mebbe, but it sounds so right!

 

[rsr]

A cool project.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Work Units? Is that also something the computer does for you?

Joseph Botwinick

 

[hillclimber]

I'm asking my son if it's OK for me to do. I'll know later today.

 

[bb_baptist]

Originally posted by Joseph_Botwinick:
Work Units? Is that also something the computer does for you?

Joseph Botwinick

Work Units (WU) is a measurement used by Stanford. It’s the term Stanford uses for a single simulation run.

The amount of time needed to complete a WU varies (anywhere from 3 to 36 hours) by WU and by machine. There are two factors that affect how long it takes: WU size and computing power. A large WU will require more processing time than a smaller one. Your computer speed and available processor time are also key in determining how long each WU will take. Obviously, a 1GHz G4 should be twice as fast as 500MHz one, but if the 1GHz only works half the time, or at 50% of its capacity it is equal to the 500MHz machine running full-time at 100% capacity.

Stanford has set the scoring system so that you get more points for the bigger WUs.

More WU and points related answers @ http://folding.stanford.edu/FAQ-points.html

[ November 19, 2005, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: webmaster ]

 

[kubel]

I was in team 32 (overclockers) until they decided to delete my signature on their forums (had a verse in it). I had a dual 1.6GHz server, a 1.7GHz rig, a 800MHz (hp), and a 450MHz (old compaq) folding 24x7 for a while. I'll try to get a few up either today or tomorrow.

GO 47603!

 

[bb_baptist]

Thanks "kubel"

It's great that we can donate the unused power of our home computers to scientific research.

We're up to 2 WUs.

 

[Barnabas H.]

Webmaster, I just downloaded the program, but I do not know if I entered the information correct? It was asking for my name and I typed BB Team, and then gave the #47603 on top of the page.... It seemed to run the program but no icon on my Desktop.

P.S. I see it now. It is on the tool bars on the bottom. Question still stands, did I do it right?

 

[bb_baptist]

1.) Dowload from Stanford’s site the appropriate program by clicking on a link appropriate for your computer's operating system. http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html

2.) Install the program (select a username and add BB's Team number -- 47603). If you see the Team Number 47603, you're part of the BB Team. If not, right click anywhere on the Folding@Home's page and select "Configure" and enter 47603 in the Team Number box.

3.) Start the program. The program will now automatically download a Work Unit (WU) and begin crunching. When the first WU is completed (may take up to 5 hours) your username will appear on BB Team's stats page. The software will automatically assign the proper credits to both your personal and our team total (there may be a 1 hr delay of posting stats). BaptistBoard.com Team Statistics

4.) Disable any screensavers, as they rob you of valuable idle processing cycles.

[ November 24, 2005, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: webmaster ]

 

[kubel]

For those of you that are interested in "one-click installers", I have a few here:

http://www.minihost.org/bb/

These are only for more advanced users that want to put F@H on multiple computers. They run, hidden, in the background as a service and are a snap to install. If you are unsure, just download the first one. It will work on all Windows 2000/XP systems.

Just make sure you change the username in the cleint.cfg file.

God Bless, and happy folding.

 

[Barnabas H.]

Hum, I don't know about this. Sounds great though. But when I downloaded, as per Webmaster's instructions, the F@H took over my computer and I could hardly do anything. I clicked on WebPages and it took 10 times as slow in opening as before, and my curser was vibrating profusely.... to the point that I was not able to aim it on practically anything. I had to delete the program and now I am ok. Is there any advise what went wrong? BTW I did disabled the screen saver as advised by Webmaster. The idea sounds great, but I need some pointers as to what went wrong and how do I eliminate this "intrusion." For I thought that this program should only work when the computer is "idle" and not when I am using it. Any advise will be appreciated.

 

[kubel]

F@H isn't supposed to slow down your computer at all, since it's only programmed to use the power of your processor that you aren't using.

Example: Lets say you are surfing the web. Your CPU is only running at 10%. F@H will take that unused 90% and put it toward folding.

I would give it one more try. Maybe it goofed up or something. I'm running BB-FAH502 (one-click) on two computers (on a slow computer and on a fast computer), and I can't even tell it's running on either.

 

[bb_baptist]

F@H does not impact my computer at all.

I usually have several programs running at the same time and F@H works in the background without any conflict.

BTW, we're up to 6 WUs and 412 points resulting in Team Ranking of 13,178 (out of 41,303 teams). Unfortunately, only 1 computer completed a WU to bdate. We need many more people joining the BB Team.

 

[kubel]

I've got 2 rigs folding (one of them 24x7). It completed a work unit and sent it, but we didn't get anything for it. I've also got an X2 that will be folding under my name, and its running 24x7, so hopefully we will get some active folding rigs going here in a bit.

 

[kubel]

My friend (Ross) and I just turned in our WU's. Better watch out webmaster, we're catching up to ya!