Is Distributed Computing A Good Thing?

MGP · 10 May 2013 at 20:03

So to be a bit contraversial.

When distributed computing first came of age the idea was to make use of spare capacity in PCs. The computer was on but underused. So why not use it all. OK but we know a fully used PC will draw more power than one at part capacity.

It then gets worse when we leave our PCs running 24/7 and even start bulding our dedicated farms.

Given Carbon dioxide passes symbolic mark, and general energy efficiency stuff do the benefits to science outweight the harm we might be doing?

ToxicTBag · 10 May 2013 at 20:08

If it leads to a cure for a disease that could save many lives like aids/parkinsons or even a knock at the door from E.T. I think its worth the trade off ..... besides I get to use my tin foil hat then

Biffa · 10 May 2013 at 20:26

But think of all the hot chicks!

Mattus · 10 May 2013 at 20:37

This was one of the reasons why I switched from Seti to F@H. Seti was fun, but all those millions of CPU hours and watt-hours have ultimately achieved pretty much nothing!

Folding, on the other hand, I can easily justify to myself...

joeyjojo · 11 May 2013 at 00:25

It's a good question. In the end it's up to the individual whether they believe the scientific/personal benefit is worth the resources.

With PC's being so efficient these days it's also getting more justifiable IMO, not less. A single GPU today does more FLOPS than several tens of chips 15 years ago while using several times less power.

MikeTimbers · 11 May 2013 at 10:20

It's a good question. I can remember when if you were overclocking using a TEC, if you didn't keep the CPU hot, the whole thing would freeze up, plus things like SpeedStep did not exist so the CPU wasn't truly idle like they are today. So many overclockers turned to programs like SETI or Prime95.

I was on alt.comp.hardware.overclocking when people started talking about Genome@Home and a.c.h.o. started a team up. I've been at full load ever since.

How much CO2 has that dumped? A lot, I expect. Cost me a lot, too!

But at least in the winter, that waste heat goes into the air of my house, which hopefully means my central heating isn't having to work quite so hard.

dekez · 15 May 2013 at 20:46

Yeah definitely good for winter, I barely have the heating on so don't feel so bad for using the energy. I'm keen to look into solar options for the future, but in a few more years when the panels get more efficient.

Jumper118 · 17 May 2013 at 01:32

I don't use my radiator any at all if its a bit cold i put a jumper on saves energy and money, it also means i can run a higher overclock on my stock cooler.