Meet the folders...

[Tattysnuc]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Hi, I’m Mike Buzzing and I’m 37 years old.



Great name eh? My Dad keeps Bees, which I swear he did just to add insult to injury! The hairy one in the photograph is Ruffus, my dog, and guardian of the folding room. By daytime I'm an MCP and work as an IT Business Analyst for a tinned foods producer – That’s a posh way of saying I work in Application Support. I get to write the specs and test all the functionality of our Business Systems, which is really interesting - I get to travel to Italy, Holland, Ireland as well as working here in the UK to work with my Sales colleagues.

How did you get into folding?
I read about it in CustomPC, and then started to get into it via the Bit-tech forums.

Where do you fold and how often?
I fold 24/7 on a couple of machines, depending on which ones are currently “in the workshop”

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
1. Number of rigs that fold: 5
2. OS: Win 7 X64 (x3), Win 7 X86, Win Vista x64
3. Folding Processor(s): i7 980X @ 3.46ghz, i7 970 @ 4.33ghz, i7 950 @ 4.0ghz, E8600 @ stock, P9400 @ stock
4. Folding GPU’s: GTX 480 SLI, GTX 295, GTX 285, 9600 GT
5. Clients: SMP on athe CPU’s, GPU2 v6.23 on all GPGPU’s



Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
I plan to fold indefinitely, with the kit I’ve got. I’m in the process of downsizing and reallocating kit to get more out of it. I’m going to consolidate to clear a bit of space in my room, and raise some funds to start paying for this hobby.. I’d like to get to Number 1..... one day!


Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Yes. Rebuilding several machines to go into different cases with upgraded water cooling thus allowing me more overclocking headroom.


What will be the next bit of kit you invest in for folding?
I’m retaining the hardware I’ve got and working on some sub-ambient cooling project materials... watch the modding forum for more details.


What change would you like to see most in the folding fraternity?
I’d like to see the ability to pool the resources that your farm has to work on 1 unit together, rather than being rewarded on the merits of each machine. A reverse cloud if you will... An automated Stats service as well so I only have to post the social commentary!  Maybe the inclusion of a mobile phone client to fold...


What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
For me, there’s been 3 things:
1. Look at the rates of your machines and compare them vs others. There can be silly things slowing you down (ie artificially limiting the GPUs by only having them fold on LOW priority, not based off the slider).
2. There is an optimum for each machine setup, but it varies by machine/client etc. You might want maximum points, this can be achieved by just turning on everything and pumping out numbers. Equally BIGADV units give you more points for returning them quicker – find your happy half way ground.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask! The forums are full of my banter. I’d consider myself quite knowledgeable on folding, but people interpret things or have learnt other things that you haven’t. Pop by there and join in! You can save yourself hours of frustration sharing...

What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
I’d like to see the integration of the folding stats into Hexus directly, and badges or awards for reaching landmarks integrated with the users control panel. A “you’re a folding millionaire”, or “Folder of the month badge” as part of the users profile rather than as part of their signature.

[Queelis]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Erm, yeah.. try pronouncing Kęstutis Gelažius. Or, actually, don't bother

That's me jumping into a lake on a summer's day last year, after a 2-day cycling trip, while it was 30-odd degrees outside. For around 80KM. Was a smart decision, that.

I'm a dentistry (yes, yuck, argh, whatever ) student at Vilnius university (the oldest one we've got ). But I've had PCs as a hobby long before I've known what I'll study in Uni. And didn't want any computer science studies - I like PCs as a hobby only.

How did you get into folding?
Stumbled upon it on some forum on some very illegal site for doo-dads But there are some very knowledgeable people there, I've learned a lot about folding from them.

Where do you fold and how often?
Around 14-16 hours a day on my Bawks (yes, I do call it that).

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
One lowly SMP client


The fans are actually spinning, but aperture time is very low with the flash. And I really need to vacuum it, ugh And need to change that silly Katana 3 heatsink to something chunkier, but don't have the funds at the moment.

Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
Fold until summer comes (I leave for the great big You-Es-of-Eh for the summer, so the folding will be stopped for those three months, sadly). Then - possibly upgrade? I want a six core on the cheap

Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Six core! But only if the price drops reasonably. And, of course, an SSD. In the Autumn, most probably.


What will be the next bit of kit you invest in for folding?
Six core! Again!

What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
Greatest find - the affinity settings. They work great for gaming, so that folding doesn't ground to a halt, and I don't have to restart the client and lose 3 minutes max of folding

I like to think I've given at least some people a bit of insight on undervolting and its results, and getting their CPUs to fold as efficiently as they can at their defined clock speeds (I just don't feel like overclocking just for folding).


What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
Maybe a bit more than being tucked away in a sub-sub-sub-section of the forums? Level up, anyone?

Roll up, roll up, who will be the next one?

[nibbler]

Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Nick Black, and I'm in my last year of school





How did you get into folding?
I also read about it in Custom PC and then when i got a faster pc and saw that hexus was recruiting as it were, I gave it a go.

Where do you fold and how often?
I turn my pc on every morning before school (well, almost every morning), then leave it on while I'm out, normally turning it off at about 11 each night.

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
I have one rig, currently with a 3.65Ghz triple core athlon with a 1GB GTX460 at 850mhz core.



Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
No plan really, just keep going at the moment and if I have to slow down, I have to slow down, but if I can afford to speed up I'll do so


Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Not definite plans


What will be the next bit of kit you invest in for folding?
An AMD bulldozer cpu with any luck


What change would you like to see most in the folding fraternity?
Smaller work units for the SMP core...


What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
-smp

What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
A cool pink name for me

[nibbler]

Also, you look like nick frost, tatty

[Teamsreth]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Hi, my name is Phill Cleverley.
I will edit to add a photo, when I find one.

I work at Motorcycle dealership, currently as Service advisor.

How did you get into folding?
Can't really remember, but as I used to fold on the CPC/Bit-tech team, I must have read about it there. Did stop for a while, then as I spend a lot of time lurking, I found the Hexus team.

Where do you fold and how often?
I fold at home, and for as long as I can get away with.

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
1. Number of rigs that fold: 1
2. OS: Win 7 X64
3. Folding Processor(s): i5 750 @ 3.3
4. Folding GPU’s: 560ti
5. Clients: SMP on the CPU, GPU3 on the GPU



Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
I will continue as long as I can get away with it, but probably wont be able to run 24/7 for much longer. The points/WUs will still rack up as the 560 can punch 9/10 WUs a day. Aiming to be as high as possible, but am under no illusions that one machine, my gaming rig, is not enough to challenge the top few places!


Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Will likely stay as is, unless I come into some money!!!!



What change would you like to see most in the folding fraternity?
A way of pausing the SMP client, without just closing.


What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
Spend some time in the Hexus Folding forum, some really helpful people, and if you are running the SMP, -smp and get 10WUs done ASAP. Hmmmm, Bonus points!

What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
I think it has been mentioned before, but a coloured name, and possible badges for landmark scores.

[Englander]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Good evening! I am Michael and I don't do much at the moment. I spent a term at a certain London med school before concluding that I would actually quite enjoy a gap year so I have undertaken an interruption of study since Christmas. In short, I've temporarily indefinitely dropped out. The most significant consequence of this is that I no longer have free electricity (which I did in my uni digs) so my PPD has taken a bit of a hit, I'm afraid. As for what I do right this moment, I volunteer in a charity shop down the road 3 days a week and live off my uni grants + loans

The other four days a week, I make very vague attempts at finding a job which actually pays money, but I quite like the charity shop (it's newly set up so still very much forming into its ultimate goal of a coffee shop. The coffee machine arrived yesterday!). I also frequent the local gymnasium from time to time, too.

I don't do pictures, but imagine something not dissimilar to a ninja and you get a fairly accurate idea.

How did you get into folding?
Can't really remember, but I think it was something along the lines of: I stumbled across it on these here forums and thought it would be a terribly good idea to fold as a way of testing my computer stuff and to use up any CPU cycles going spare.

Where do you fold and how often?
I fold in my bedroom during waking hours (typically about 10am to ~12am)

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
1. Number of rigs that fold: 1
2. OS: Win7
3. Folding Processor(s): None anymore (used to be OC'ed i5 750
4. Folding GPU’s: GTX 460
5. Clients: GPU



Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
The plan is to fold indefinitely at the rate I'm going at now (just shy of 6k ppd). I think I've reached the highest position in the team (7th) that I can at this rate, unless everyone suddenly stops folding, so my target is it fend off any rival folders as best I can and continue chugging through the folding milestones.


Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Nope


What will be the next bit of kit you invest in for folding?
I'm content with my computer at the moment, in terms of processing power, so in the near-mid term future there won't be any changes.


What change would you like to see most in the folding fraternity?
SMP pause would be very useful, as would a console SMP client like the GPU one.


What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
Power usage increases at a geometric rate with voltage increase when overclocking. (I think I've got that right.)


What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
A more official acknowledgement of folding by the powers that be. The news stories that pop up now are a step in the right direction. I'm really keen on the idea of coloured names/ badges or whatever to make it better known about by the rest of the Hexus community. I also feel that we're a very well hidden sub-sub-sub forum like a previous poster mentioned, maybe that can change.

[1stRaven]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Hi I'm Ryan, 29 (not 30 yet) and I work as an Infrastructure Manager.



How did you get into folding?
Found it in a new section once on Hexus.

Where do you fold and how often?
I fold on my home machine while it is switched on and some servers 24x7.

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
1. Number of rigs that fold: 12 (at the moment)

Two many to detail here but the average is below.

High

Dedicated folding rig or part time -Part Time
Brand/Model/MHz of CPU(s) - 2 x Intel Xeon X5650 @ 2.67Ghz (6 Cores plus HT)
Brand/Model/Mhz of GPU(s) - None
Brand/Model of Motherboard(s) - Dell Own
Brand/Model of PSU - Dell Own
Case & Any Mods Done - Dell R410 1u Rack mount server
The Rig's approximate PPD - 30000
Operating system/Driver version(s) Used - Windows 2008 Server Standard Edition
Virtual or Native SMP(s) - Native


Low
Dedicated folding rig or part time -Part Time
Brand/Model/MHz of CPU(s) - 1x Intel Xeon E5630 @ 2.53Ghz (4 Cores plus HT)
Brand/Model/Mhz of GPU(s) - None
Brand/Model of Motherboard(s) - Dell Own
Brand/Model of PSU - Dell Own
Case & Any Mods Done - Dell R410 1u Rack mount server
The Rig's approximate PPD - 8000-9000
Operating system/Driver version(s) Used - Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition
Virtual or Native SMP(s) - Native



Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
I try to fold as much as possible but on a downturn at the moment. Going to try and stick with 100kppd if I can but as the servers come out of testing, folding is removed and waits until the next set of servers turn up.


Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Yes but no idea to what. I do need to update my home pc's cpu so will start smp folding on that once I get the money to upgrade.


What will be the next bit of kit you invest in for folding?
Sandy Bridge CPU


What change would you like to see most in the folding fraternity?
ATI folding client that is actually worth some points.


What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
For me, there’s been 3 things:
Bigadv units are worth the hassle.

What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
Some sort of name colour change to promote those that fold but also to bring others in.

[Tattysnuc]

Also, you look like nick frost, tatty

Nah. He's too 'andsum!

[Rob_B]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Rob B - 28yrs old & currently a DB2 DBA (soon to be moving jobs due to offshoring by my #@!3$ company



(I'm the taller one btw...)


How did you get into folding?
I started back when Futuremark was MadOnion.com for their team, on and off, using a P3 1Ghz IIRC (did I mention I had the fastest P3 1Ghz + GF MX200 combo EVA!?)

Where do you fold and how often?
On & off, when my PC isn't hiberbated so maybe 2 or 3hrs/day + a few more hours at night. Sometimes more like when trying to hit the 100m mark!

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
<--- See my specs

Do you plan to continue folding at the current rate? What are your targets?...
I plan to carry on as is for now, SMP folding seems to get me nowhere so I'll keep hammering the GPU & fancy upgrading to a 460/560 or something soon (budget, wish I didn't have one!) Getting to 100 was fairly painless, getting to 50 is a bit more tricky!


Do you have any plans to change your folding gear in the next 12 months?
Yup, I'll probably go Bulldozer with a decent GPU sometime in the next few months funds permitting.


What change would you like to see most in the folding fraternity?
Hmmm...tricky, smaller SMP WUs, less penalty for smaller delays in submitting, we can't all keep them on 24/7!


What’s the most useful tip you’ve been given or found out to get the most out of your folding kit?
Overclock the tits off it...

What change would you like to see made by Hexus to support the Hexus folders in their quest for (folding) world domination?
More news items, prizes (they must get some freebies to give away!) Name colour change, say you get it for continually folding for a period of 6months, losing it if you don't return 1 WU per week or something?

[Zak33]

good thread... excellent thread.

[Terbinator]

Who are you, and what do you do?
Hi, I’m Aaron, 19 and I'm a student




How did you get into folding?
At first just by reading up on it but seriously since Tatty bumped the Hexus team.

Where do you fold and how often?
I try to fold as much as i can, maybe 4-6 WU every other day across GPU and SMP.

Please share the details of the folding rigs you have and the spec/range of specs of those rig(s)?
1. Number of rigs that fold: 3*
2. OS: Win 7 X64 (x2) PS3 OS.
3. Folding Processor(s): i7 860 @ 3.6GHz, Athlon X2 @ 2.8GHz, Cell B.E. @ 3.2GHz (PS3)
4. Folding GPU’s: GTX 460 SLI
5. Clients: SMP on athe CPU’s, GPU3 on the 460's



* ^ main folding rig, specs on the left.