notfordman

Madrias,Madrias!!  Did you get the screws you needed yet?? Hope so.

Screws are on the way, still waiting on the OS.

I tried to get him to install Ubuntu Server last night to fire it up, but he is too stubborn. 

Coresair

I tried to get him to install Ubuntu Server last night to fire it up, but he is too stubborn.

I could've told you that.
No Mad's tried that before and all he did was grumble that some of the programs and things he likes to do didn't work with it he was back to windows after a week give or take, The SR-2 as Mad said in another thread is going to replace his current rig for folding gaming and anything else he does.
 
Speaking of grumbling, I was trying to do something yesterday and Madrias kept talking to me, I waved my arms about at him and gave him a look to kill then a stern "I cant right now." Then I started crying cause I thought I might've charged my bro's paypal account (with his permission as he logged me in) too many times cause the site kept screwing up and telling me 'No payment method had been selected', Was a glitch in the site cause it wouldn't let us use any payment method and there was no confirmation and bro said he hadn't gotten any emails.
I still haven't gotten what I wanted to purchase, but what I've gone through has got me appreciating the effort Zophar went to back when he got me the PSU even more so that there are no words or enough thanks.
 
Kinda off topic but when one needs to vent...

The last 6174 chip should b here tomorrow! 

Just dropped one , but haven't been able to pick one up on my 990x since i started. My 920 that just completed one just picked up a 6099 also :(
 
Play nice stanford give us some good ones!

Madrias

Punchy

Madrias
Screws are on the way, still waiting on the OS.

Ubuntu FTW - you can switch to windoze after the TZC
Very sad - ruining a perfectly good SR-2 with GPU folding and windoze.

I won't be GPU folding.  I'll be ripping away with SMP, maybe a little -bigadv.  The 590's for when I want to game.

 
If's not going to be a dedicated Linux folding box you might as well fold on the 590 too. 
 
I would still consider setting up a dual boot option to go into Linux and pump out some -bigadv's. That way you can still go into Windows when you need it but drop some bombs on days you won't be using it as much. You have a lot of power in the new rig, may as well get the most out of it. 

Madrias
This means not just does it have to be able to fold, it has to be able to run all my programs, and one of them I can't get on Linux is my Yahoo Messenger.

There are plenty of messenger packages on Linux that can talk to Yahoo, including Pidgin and Kopete.  I've also heard of people running a Windows VM under Linux to get those last few Windows apps they can't live without that don't have better free alternatives on Linux.

Punchy

Madrias
This means not just does it have to be able to fold, it has to be able to run all my programs, and one of them I can't get on Linux is my Yahoo Messenger.

There are plenty of messenger packages on Linux that can talk to Yahoo, including Pidgin and Kopete.  I've also heard of people running a Windows VM under Linux to get those last few Windows apps they can't live without that don't have better free alternatives on Linux.

One problem: I can't use Linux to play my games, either.  If I'm going to run a VM, it's gonna be Windows as my primary and Virtualizing Ubuntu within it.  I grew up with Windows 95.  Windows is burned into my brain, I've tried many linux versions over the years and I can't get into them.  Windows made installing programs easy, along with the fact that while the core changes, the whole thing stays intuitive to previous users.  At this point, it's too late for me to pick up Linux and run that.
 
Oh, and regarding Pidgin: I've tried that.  All it gave me was an ability to type to someone else running Yahoo.  Couldn't use the Webcam, couldn't use Voice, couldn't send or receive a file.  I'm not anti-Linux in any way, other than I can't stand running it for more than a week at best.
 
Oh, and before someone suggests it, I'm not setting up a second rig just for gaming.  There's no way in hell I'm setting up a gaming rig in the bathroom because that's the only room with power to spare to fit it.  The SR-2 is going to be a replacement for the rig I run now, which does my folding, gaming, photo-editing, movie watching, and the one thing everyone forgot: chatting with everyone on Steam and Yahoo.  I know you guys want to help optimize my folding productivity, but I won't compromise functionality for folding.  I also won't plop a Windows VM into a Linux environment.  Now, if I want to use Linux in a VM, I'll set up the VM in Windows.  Not that it should matter if I'm not going for -bigbeta, which all I'm going for is -SMP 20 and some GPU.  If I'm feeling in the mood to overnight my rig, I'll run -bigadv and let it rip.
 
Yes, I know running Windows makes me have less PPD, but it also means less headaches for me in the long run, and I'll be more than happy with even 20k PPD.  I run an odd timeframe that I can fold in, so I run what I feel is best: SMP and GPU, both of which run for long deadlines with easy completion.  I can only rarely 24/7 my rig, and even at that, I get yelled at for the power bill for "leaving my rig on all night again" even if it is for the greater good of humanity.  Yes, Dad knows that the SR-2 will draw almost the same amount of power as I draw now (with my 275 and dual GX2's), so I won't get in trouble, but the thing is, I can't 24 hour it all the time, which is really needed for -bigadv, and I don't want to run Linux as my primary OS.  I've got Linux on a laptop somewhere and I never use it (dual boot with XP) because I'm not comfortable with it.
 
Also, I know that the contest is going and CST (last I checked) is in last, but I'm overly patient.  I waited since May to get the upgrades, and so waiting a few days for an OS isn't going to kill me, nor us.  It's not like we're only 30k PPD behind the lead, or I would bite the bloody bullet and throw it together with Linux.  However, we're behind enough that even if I fired it up full right this second, it wouldn't help the cause.  The reason I'm behind on my estimates: my system has an instability somewhere that causes a BSOD when I fold more than one GPU.  On a normal day, I can do a 15k average.  On my best days, I can break 20k.  On a bad day, I do anywhere from 8k downward.  I've been having bad days with this old rig.
 
Yes, I'm stubborn, and it's probably my fatal flaw, but I'm set in my ways with Windows and I don't do well out of it.  The programs I use are binding me to Windows because the replacements for Linux either don't exist or don't offer the full functionality.  I don't like Virtualizing because everything seems to run slower in a VM than on a physical rig.  I've never been good with installing anything in Linux, and I do a lot of things with my rig that work well in Windows that I've yet to figure out how to make work in Linux.  The first time I tried to watch a DVD in Ubuntu, I spent more time looking up the bloody codes to unlock DVD codecs than I spent actually watching the 2 hour movie.
 
I'm sorry for the page long rant, but I had to clarify it.
 
TL;DR:
I'm not going to run Linux as primary because I don't like it.
Yes, I will run the 590.
Pidgin doesn't work for me.
I'm very much patient (I waited since May to get this upgrade, a few days more won't bug me for waiting on an OS)
 
I understand you guys are all trying to help me run it as a prime folding machine, but I had planned from the start for it to be the replacement, whatever was sent was to replace my aging old desktop.  Now, after having spent this time typing this in Open Office Writer (because the first time I tried writing it, I had a BSOD again), I'm gonna hit post message and pray it posts before I BSOD another time.  I know you're trying to help (not just you, Punchy, but all who keep suggesting Linux as an option), but I'm sure Muskie will have Windows in my hands before the contest ends.

mnparadox

It's totally cool dude, I don't blame you for wanting to run Windows.  I only suggested Linux earlier because I wasn't 100% aware of your situation.  Sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way, that wasn't my intention.

No one's rubbed me the wrong way.  That wasn't my intended tone in my post.  I just wanted to take the time to explain the whole situation as much as I could, and in as much detail as I could.
 
Do I like Linux?  Yes.  Ubuntu is fun for those times I'm wanting to just waste a bunch of time using a laptop.  But, the big thing is I can't run the programs in the way I'm used to.  All VM software I've tried makes the VM feel slow and not as responsive, even if I give it most of the resources of the host machine.
 
Also, running SMP, I'm sure the PPD loss of running Windows vs. Native Linux isn't awful.  The fact that I can pause the SMP and play a game makes Windows more suited to me for folding.

Macaholic

Madrias

Also, running SMP, I'm sure the PPD loss of running Windows vs. Native Linux isn't awful.  The fact that I can pause the SMP and play a game makes Windows more suited to me for folding.

Linux is 15% better than Windows on most SMP units. Your call if that is "awful" or not.

 
Considering the most I've seen out of my SMP is 4200 PPD, anything's better.  Maybe way off in the future I might give Linux a try for folding, but at this time, Windows will work.

kody7839

I think the reason people are suggesting so many options is because of the capabilities that an SR-2 build bring to the table, that's all. I can understand your situation as this will be your main rig and has to pull the normal desktop duties along with folding. It's just when people in this section of the forums see SR-2 they immediately think of -bigadv goodness. Even more so with the newer monster wu's that would be available to a setup like yours. 

From the sounds of it, a new Sandy Bridge build would have met your needs and been a lot more cost effective. But then again, this was a gift from fellow folders...so the cost is a moot point. Like you said, any improvement is a a good thing and it mean research is getting done 

Fold on and enjoy the new setup 

I understand.  SR-2 does bring in the thoughts of massive -bigadv goodness and with the -bigbeta units, it's more inclined to be used for it.  While Sandy Bridge probably would have met my needs, I somewhat understand the motives Kris and Muskie had: giving me something with many options open to me, each of them capable of making lots of points.  As it will be taking over for a former desktop, I'm gonna start with SMP, if I like the points, I'll keep doing it, other than maybe one or 2 -bigadv units to try them and see what I'd rather do.

Welcome to SR-2_land Madrias! I'd run a few passes of Intel Burn Test on that new rig, process a couple standard SMP's, and if all was good launch into at least a Bigadv and never look back! You're gonna be like a "kid in the candy-shop"!!!

LearjetMinako

Madrias 
There's no way in hell I'm setting up a gaming rig in the bathroom because that's the only room with power to spare to fit it. 

 

This ladies and gentlemen, is the quote of the day. 

Bottom of sig worthy!
 
Hey madrias! Ever hear of extension cords??

My bigadv rig finished some regular SMP WUs and picked up another 6900.  Should be done Sunday morning.
 
I think it's safe to say that the real battle is for 2nd place.  I don't think any team is going to make up 3million+ points to take the lead.

I'm riding the blue-screen line here, with all GPU's blazing away on the Q9550.  If only the GX2's would quit stealing resources from each other, I could make some decent points with 'em.