Member discussion of optimal flag settings., Add your questions and findings here.

[Macaholic]

Post any findings and questions here about our recommendations for optimal Folding client flag settings.  If you have an Athlon 64, Pentium M, or Celeron D, let us know your results.  Questions about the settings listed?  Post 'em here.  Just fold it!

[susato]

Thanks, CB, this looks great - I will check all my machines against your list.

[ken]

WoW, Thats a Spicy meatballs... Thanks for the dedicated work on the Tips!

[nagromme]

Many thanks! I'm adding a link to that in my forum sigs next to the team link.

Three suggestions, FWTW:

1. Mention InCrease at the top, with a link to our Software page. Good for outsiders to be reminded of: the single easiest way to fold faster. And it gives non-CLI folks (the majority of Mac users) the control they need to follow your tips.

2. Mention that you can add virtual CPUs if you want to be sure your computer stays busy after a WU ends (such as for modem users).

Just some thoughts.

[ken]

As mentioned in another thread by Pluts, the NON use of the Adv flag seems to be golden opportunities at the moment. I for myself have invoked the use of the greater than 5 mg rule along with no other flags. (other than the forceams, and verbolosity 9 which are just a given on a Mac)

So far I've pulled down a 600 pointer along some DGrows to boot.

Happy folding! ken

[susato]

CB and Ken:

Many thanks to both of you for your work on the client flag settings and for being willing to share the results of your experiments with other folders.

One of the reasons we started putting up official recommendations, was to avoid confusion by new folders about which flags to use.  

Now we again have two sets of flag settings appearing on the forum.  There's Ken's advice just above to turn off -advmethods and turn on "allow big WU", which seems to have worked fine so far, but may only be valid for a few days depending on the supply of Dgros, big Gros and Tinkers.  Then there's CB's official post advising to turn on -advmethods and turn off BigWU, which is clearly more conservative but probably much better for a folder who doesn't want to be updating flags all the time.

I think that this discussion of optimal flag settings can be a real lively one and a great way to share info - but at the same time, we need avoid confusing our readers.  Can we agree on some kind of standard disclaimer, for example,

This information offered as input for the official recommendations, not as a competing recomendation. Your mileage may vary. Check back often for updates."

Or for something to drop directly into a post:  

Code: Select all

[quote]This information offered as input for the [URL=http://www.teammacosx.org/forum/cgi-bin/ikonboard.pl?act=ST;f=2;t=1812;st=0;&#entry28291]official recommendations[/url], not as a competing recommendation.  Your mileage may vary.  Check back often for updates."[/quote]

On my part, I'll commit to keeping the colored link current - red for new, maroon for more than a week since a change - and keeping the date of the last update in the colored link.

What do you think?

Jean

[Macaholic]

Color change sounds like a good idea.  As for flag recommendations, I would keep them the same.  My folding acreage is still pumping out the science with the same flags in place.  I would STRONGLY urge all Mac folding machines to stick with -advmethods and 5MB OFF due to the current AMBER core problem noted here.  The AMBER situation may very well be related to having 5MB ON as those are the machines that I have run into this problem.  As for the DGromacs and p114X 600pt units.  I would say changing the flags to get a DGromacs is somewhat futile since they are in such short supply and go so quickly on SSE2 machines.  The DGromacs will dry up pretty fast.  p114X has known problems with Mac processors.  You are 90% certain of having that 600pt unit come to an Early Unit End ON A G4 or G5.  I don't know exactly how much partial credit is given, but it slows down the project since it will have to be re-issued to a machine capable of completing the unit (no real problems on P4, Xeon, or AMD).  Foldin' away again in Margaritaville!

[treadlightly]

Quick question for the slightly non-technical: Am I right in guessing that "dual channel" RAM means two sticks of 256 as opposed to one stick of 512?

[Macaholic]

Yes.  You would be correct.  Check out this Kingston Dual Channel PDF for a more detailed understanding of the benefits of running Dual Channel RAM.

[ken]

Ok, I still am sticking with a "Unofficial Statement" that the advmethod slash late Beta flag isn't helping my production, at the moment, on my "Macs."

More news at 11:00...