Question about Distributed@MURC...

[Mikko]

Sorry about this amateur style question. I would like to know what is this Distributed and Top Crunchers things all about?

[High_Jumbllama]

THere are two basic reasons to participate in any distributed project. The first involves ego. "My Computer(s)' are faster than yours are." The other is actually believing in the project. SETI, you want to see if there really is life out there, Genome@Home-You want to help map the human genetic structure, Folding@Home and Distributed Folding analyzing how proteins fold to form microscopic structures and their functions.

Distributed Folding
SETI
Distributed@Home

[Mikko]

Thanks for clarification. Seems to be quite popular subject here. Atleast you have losts of replies and views.

[Pace]

The big thing about Distributed Computing, is taking advantage of our unused CPU time. You're CPU spends about 1% of its time doing home tasks (Word, Internet, typing). So, DistComp projects use the spare time (running on low-priority, so if you play a game, it will get all the time it needs).

So, what do the projects again? Well, Seti uses your PC to crunch radio signals for patterns leading to alien communication.

Genome/Folding are biology based, and generate proteins and stuff. There's more about them on their sites, I'll post back later with links. Check out Distributed Folding which MURC has just started, some recent threads are around on it.

P.

Also, the site www.distributedatmurc.co.uk/index.php