SMx project Europe.

botheredbothered Manchester UK
edited April 2004 in Folding@Home
The SMx project is doing great work in the USA but what about a European 'branch'? I would imagine it's quite difficult and/or expensive to send parts to the USA and this may put some people off contributing.
What level of interest is there for doing the same thing based in Europe?
Who has the expertise and commitment to handle it?
What do you think?.....................volunteers?

ps, You can vote for more than one option.

Comments

  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited March 2004
    I had the same idea a week or two ago. To people who say there isn't enough interest: I really don't think that makes much of a difference. It's like the parts will expire if they aren't put into a rig in x amount of months. Even though the contributers may be smaller, I believe they still can contribute a rig or two.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    European rigs are usually left to come together the old-fashioned way: one at a time. If people in Europe chime in and commit parts, we can have a second UK/Europe rig hosted by someone on that side of the pond. Necropolis_uk and Shorty donated all the parts for SM16 to have the first European rig. Whenever other members over there want to donate more, it'd be great to have another. :)
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited March 2004
    It's a good idea. You should keep the issue in front of the people in a position to contribute. I have a feeling that once you get a few parts donated you will be able to complete a rig quickly by putting out a call for the parts you need to finish it off.

    I hope I'm proven to be correct. :cheers:
  • EyesOnlyEyesOnly Sweden New
    edited March 2004
    Well after i get my new rig my old one could go into a smx rig. It needs faster cpu and mobo to support it but otherwise it's fine. Since the fan in the psu has been making noices i'll switch psu but otherwise i don't think it needs replacements. I'm not to fond of the fact to ship something of to the US since it does seem really expensive but if i don't have to then i can contribute. I doubt i'll get much for this rig anyway if i tried to sell it.
  • botheredbothered Manchester UK
    edited March 2004
    Hmm, lots of views, very few votes. I take it (almost) nobodys interested then?
  • KingFishKingFish
    edited March 2004
    What are the shipping rates from country to country within Europe compared to shipping from most countries in Europe to the U.S.?

    KingFish
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited March 2004
    Don't give up yet! I didn't vote because it's not likely that I would be able to donate, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a great idea.

    Out of curiousity I checked the price for a three pound package from the US to the UK. It was $24. I assume shipping costs would be comparable going the other direction. On top of that, you'd have to worry about potential customs issues. At that rate you would be better off selling the stuff on ebay and sending the money via pay-pal.

    To get things started, maybe you could put out a call for specific items. If you have anything of your own to donate you could mention that as a starter. Perhaps if people saw exactly what was needed they would find something in their pile of old parts to do the trick.

    (Intentionally snotty challenge to spur interest): What's the matter? Is Bothered the only guy in Europe with the gumption to step up like a man and do something to help this good idea grow? :vimp:
  • NecropolisNecropolis Hawarden, Wales Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    I am 100% behind this. Its time to give this a major push, I will speak to Shorty and see what we can work out.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited March 2004
    Necropolis_UK wrote:
    I am 100% behind this. Its time to give this a major push, I will speak to Shorty and see what we can work out.
    Bravo! :rockon:

    Don't let him put you off - remember what he did to Judge Dredd! :bigggrin:
  • KingFishKingFish
    edited March 2004
    I think doing transactions via paypal would be better than shipping parts. The costs eat everyone alive to ship parts.

    KingFish
  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited March 2004
    This is all fine and dandy, but IC16-UK is still down according to the stats, with the last WU being turned in on 11/15/2003. :( If all of you in the UK or Europe would want to get involved with the SMx project, let's get IC16-UK back up and folding first. That rig has been down for 4 months now, and no word on when it's going to get running again. :(

    We already have enough deadhead SMx rigs right now, without potentially starting another that might just get shuffled off to the wayside if something breaks.

    Besides IC16-UK, we also have SM12, which I don't hold too much hope of getting back any more (Goddam thieving mother****er), SM7 (folding as Icrontic7), which hasn't turned in any work since 2/12/04, which is a month ago, with no word from Wahoogie since his original post, and finally we have SM15_Folding_Frog that hasn't turned in a WU since 2/21/04 with no word whatsoever from reelbigfish. :mean:

    If I sound a little down about expanding the project right now, you are very perceptive. I can't see how someone would want to host a SMx rig and then not follow through on their word and that crap just makes me sick. I guess some people just don't hold to the same priciples that I do; a man's word is his bond. :rant:
  • KingFishKingFish
    edited March 2004
    I'm in agreement with you muddock for the most part. I think centralizing some or all of the SMx project may be a good move into an SMx farm or something. Instead of SMx 1, 2, etc, all the nodes would be folding under the short media SMx name and each node would give a boost in performance. This would cut down on some of the costs like a case. I think the SMx farm would give some of the top ten producers a run for their money after a few units were put together. It would take a dedicated host that could absorb the electricity costs, have a good broadband connection, had good hardware troubleshooting skills, and willing to put in the time. This would cut down on thievery and dishonesty that appears to be on the rise. Just a thought, I hope this didn't veer off topic too much. It may something to consider before kicking off a European SMx campaign.

    KingFish
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    a big part of SMx is giving poor people like me the opportunity to host a rig for the team. i had wanted to add a machine for a long time, but couldnt afford to buy the parts to make another rig. now for just a few dollars/month i am able to contribute more to the 'cause' by hosting a machine full of parts donated by those who did have the money to buy them. i am very honored to host SM21.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited March 2004
    The SM-Farm idea is a good one from a purely practical point of view. Whenever this subject has come up it has ultimately been decided that the benefits to team spirit by having every member in good standing eligible to host a rig (except the committee members who choose the host) outweigh the benefits of consolidation. I personally fear that it would have an adverse effect on donations if all the parts were going to a central host location.

    Another concern is that if one MegaHost had a farm of 20-odd computers he or she might be a little lackadaisical about tweaking one or two underperforming machines, so long as the others were cranking right along. Even The Great Folding Master ( :respect: csimon) occasionally finds a machine or two which has gone fubar for a while. There are several recent threads where SMx hosts have asked for help in getting the most out of the rig they are hosting.
  • KingFishKingFish
    edited March 2004
    There are many pros and cons to both sides. I was trying to come up with something that would minimize the cons like theft of computers. This is not to slight the honorable hosts that are out there doing good.

    KingFish
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited March 2004
    KingFish, I know you never meant anything at all like that. From a theft point of view the farm idea makes a lot of sense. The SMx project is always being refined and all ideas are welcome. :rockon:
  • CryptoCrypto W.Sussex UK Member
    edited March 2004
    How about we get IC16-UK up and running first.
    What's the problem Necropolis? Something we can help with from within the UK?

    Cheers

    Crypto :fold:
  • EyesOnlyEyesOnly Sweden New
    edited March 2004
    Yea let's get the rigs we have back in working order first. I don't think that we should expand the project before it's complete. As for the cost of shipment i think sending money would be better, i mean if costs $24 for just 3 pounds then sending heavy stuff like cases or psus are out of the question. Bying used ones would be cheaper.
  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited March 2004
    KingFish, I'm not against the idea of individual team members being host to the SMx machines; it's a great opportunity for people like FatCat to be able to contribute more to the project by being a host to a computer he would otherwise not be able to get up and running.

    Also, I'm not totally against the idea of an SMx Europe, if we can get enough interest from our members who live on that side of the pond either. If we can show enough interest from enough European members in supplying and keeping running some SMx rigs, that would be great. What I'm saying is that we need to get IC16-UK back up and running before we need to take the next step. I know our membership base from Europe is much smaller than here in North America and I don't know how viable a multi-rig SMx would do over there yet and so far, IC16-UK hasn't proved to be a consistent producer. I really don't want to see the onus of keeping an SMx Europe up and going fall on just 1 or 2 people financially, which is what has happened with IC16-UK so far.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    Necroooooo? :)
  • NecropolisNecropolis Hawarden, Wales Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    General Keebler wrote:
    Necroooooo? :)

    Yeeeessssssss.

    There is a reason I haven't replied to this thread yet until now. With the KX7R-333 Bothered kindly donated gave me an evil idea :rarr: IC16-UK will no longer be a low 1GHz Athlon, no, no, no, no, no. IC16 is getting a brand new Athlon XP 2600+ (currently winging its way to Shorty as he got it on his card), I have picked up a new case for it today and also acquired a 256mb stick of PC2700 for it as well. Just have to pick up a heat sink and fan that will take a minimum of a 2600+ on Sunday (if anyone in the UK has one lying round, donations are welcome ;) ) and we should be up and running. :ukflag:

    Worth the wait in me posting I think :p
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited March 2004
    Great news! :respect: :ukflag:

    :celebrate
  • CryptoCrypto W.Sussex UK Member
    edited March 2004
    I've got a stock HS and fan that came with my retail Barton 2500 if that's any good. I'd be happy to post it anywhere in the UK.

    Cheers
    Crypto :ukflag:
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    The SMx project is doing great work in the USA....

    Whoa! Our Canadian contingent is a major force! :canflag: Rather than "USA", "North America" would be more accurate. :doh:

    Comments:

    Let's get established SMX rigs running before we open a new venue.
    The SMX collective project is greater than the sum of its parts. The SMX inertia is so much more than just additional work units credited to our team. One of the main reasons for individual SMX hosting is esprit de corps. A farm might be more practical; but dispersed stand-alone SMX rigs gets more people actively involved and fosters more team spirit. It's my opinion that if we had a super-node, it would give the feeling to many members that only an elite few (node managers) were worthy of recognition and the trust of the team. Dispersing SMX boxes gives all members the opportunity volunteer and to compete for host service.
  • JimboraeJimborae Newbury, Berks, UK New
    edited March 2004
    Leonardo wrote:
    Comments:

    Let's get established SMX rigs running before we open a new venue.
    The SMX collective project is greater than the sum of its parts. The SMX inertia is so much more than just additional work units credited to our team. One of the main reasons for individual SMX hosting is esprit de corps. A farm might be more practical; but dispersed stand-alone SMX rigs gets more people actively involved and fosters more team spirit. It's my opinion that if we had a super-node, it would give the feeling to many members that only an elite few (node managers) were worthy of recognition and the trust of the team. Dispersing SMX boxes gives all members the opportunity volunteer and to compete for host service.


    I agree entirely with Lynn's commments.

    I currently have three rigs folding virtually 24/7 and now due to the cost of running these rigs and space limitations I dont think I could personally host another rig. However would I contribute parts to a UK/Euro SMX? Hell yes. Would I want to contribute to a Euro SMX folding farm, probably not for the exact reasons Lynn gave.
  • NecropolisNecropolis Hawarden, Wales Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    .....update......
    Heat Sink came from Crypto this morning. I should have it up and running by tonight.
    .....update ends......
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    Necropolis_UK wrote:
    .....update......
    Heat Sink came from Crypto this morning. I should have it up and running by tonight.
    .....update ends......

    Awesome!:thumbsup: dont forget to let me know what speed u get her running here...
    http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11257
    thanks Necro
  • NecropolisNecropolis Hawarden, Wales Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    IC16 Update.

    Well, I got everything built on Monday as planned. Installed everything. Realised I hadnt put the network card in and went to put the old ISA network card in to find that the board had no ISA slots :( I couldnt do anything yesteday as I was ill. I am picking up a pci network card for it tomorrow.
  • JimboraeJimborae Newbury, Berks, UK New
    edited March 2004
    Necro,

    If you dont want to spend the wonger I have a couple just sitting round doin' nothing. PM your details & I'll pop it in the Royal Mail tomorrow. Tis about time I made a contribution to a rig.

    Regards

    Jim
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited April 2004
    All you guys in the UK that want another SMx Machine look here:
    http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11947
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