Best OS for BOINC - Windows 7/10 or Ubuntu?

MarcLister · 4 Jul 2018 at 21:29

I've just bought a CPU/Mobo/RAM combo from mcc49 on the OcUK members' market with the intention of getting a case, a PSU and an SSD to put together a cheap BOINC PC.

Which OS would be a better bet for running the PC and BOINC? Windows 7/10 or Ubuntu?

PDW · 4 Jul 2018 at 21:45

Why waste money on a case

Which OS depends on the project, some are better on Windows, some are better on Ubuntu (linux). Ubuntu is probably better in general, do you have a project in mind ?
Just go dual boot.

I don't have any Win 10 machines, but see a lot of problems caused by updates and reboots reported so would suggest Win 7 over Win 10.

MarcLister · 4 Jul 2018 at 22:06

Haha, had a feeling someone would say that about a case!

Going to be running SETI. If I go Windows I'll most likely go W7.

PDW · 4 Jul 2018 at 22:14

For that I'd go Win 7

K Olley · 9 Jul 2018 at 03:21

Ubuntu, With optimised apps, Look in "number crunching", lot of clues in "new computer on the way".

scole250 · 4 Aug 2018 at 01:33

If it's a dedicated crunching rig, dual boot is the only way to go.

MarcLister · 27 Nov 2018 at 21:14

The PC keeps freezing every so often and the only way to get it going again is to restart it. I've checked the power settings and the PC is not set to go to sleep or turn the HDD off.

It just stops. I've checked it now and it is frozen on the SETI screensaver. I've taken the HDMI, Ethernet, USB keyboard and mouse leads out and replugged them but the system still doesn't respond.

Any ideas what might be causing this before I create a thread in General Hardware?

PiKe · 27 Nov 2018 at 21:16

Power supply?

MarcLister · 27 Nov 2018 at 21:39

Corsair VS 550. New.

Biffa · 15 Dec 2018 at 11:24

Don't run the screensaver is my advice

MarcLister · 15 Dec 2018 at 16:52

Biffa said:
Don't run the screensaver is my advice

Does the screensaver slow the PC down too much by taking up resources from the CPU?

Matzo · 26 Feb 2019 at 20:53

Go for Windows Server if you don't fancy Linux instead of Windows 7/10 as it doesn't have all the graphical enhancements and uses fewer resources.

Install BOINC as a service. As already mentioned don't bother with the screensaver.