Newbie needs help

[Morgana]

Hi guys, I hope you won't think this question is stoopid but I'd been using the screensaver for a while but thought I'd give CLI a whirl coz I was told it would do wu's much quicker. It only knocked off about 30 mins. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but my P4 2.5 takes 3.5 - 4 hours per unit is that normal?

Please be gentle with me, I don't understand tech speak. :D

[genesound]

My P4 1.7GHz takes 4.5 - 5 hours with the CLI (or more if I'm actually using the computer ;) ), so it doesn't seem that far out of line, maybe others with faster P4s can help on that.

This little guide (http://www.setiteam.com/sah_faster_by_gibsinep.htm) may help you on speeding it along :t

[Scavenger7]

I Have P4 2.4b 3 hrs for each wu sometimes 2 1/2.

[Morgana]

So my machine should be doing better, yours is about an hour per wu faster. What's your secret? :confused:

Thanks for the guide, I'll see if I can speed things up a bit.

[Logan[TeamX]]

Let me check the one Dell P4B 2.4GHz machine I have...

I'm seeing just over 3 hours as the norm for this one... only thing it has running as active services are McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 7.0 and ePolicy Orchestrator for same, Diskeeper when not active... CLI is running at Low priority just in case I actually need to do something on that machine.

Are you running SDRAM on that P4? Active virus scanning or virus scanning that becomes "active" when your CPU is idle? Might be overloading you with terms and ideas, but just trying to sort out a solution for you.

Here are a few of my recent times on a Dell OptiPlex GX270T workstation, Pentium 4 B core 2.4GHz, 1x512MB DDR333 RAM, Windows 2000 Professional SP4. Running CLI version 3.03 and SETI Driver.

Oh yeah... are you running CLI 3.03 or 3.08?

:t

Logan

[Morgana]

Hi Logan,

I'm running the 3.08 and it's on low priority. I tried it on high but I couldn't even check my email. I leave my machine on 24/7 and as it's always online I have my av and firewall running. Would they slow it down? I haven't a clue about the RAM how do I find out?

Thanks for trying to help me. :t

[RampageIII]

Just check to see what you have running in the background.

You don't say what OS you're using.

Make sure you don't have screensavers or power management running. Shut monitor off when not in use.

Ram is not a factor.

Use sethide and keep it on idle. SETI gives up cpu for programs.

[Logan[TeamX]]

Hopefully you're running Windows 2000 or XP. IF you're running Windows 98, 98SE, or ME, you might be taking a hit due to the fact that they don't "multi-task" as well as they should.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and disagree with the knowledgeable RampageIII and say that RAM does indeed make a difference, but not overly in this case. What's killing you more than anything is the fact you're running the 3.08 client (more "secure", but up to 15-30 min slower per WU), and your personal software firewall. They "actively" look for incoming threats and whatnot, running 24/7 it will provide a significant drain on your system when running the CLI in Low priority, moreso again in Windows 98/98SE/ME. I'd never presume to tell you to shut off your firewall... I'd simply suggest that as soon as you can get a hardware router with Network Address Translation built-in, do so :)

In a nutshell, 3.03 is a faster version of the CLI, although possibly vulnerable to the buffer overflow exploit they discovered. Windows 2000 and XP are the best Windows operating systems to run SETI under, as they properly allocate system resources (unlike the Win9X operating systems). Running the CLI at low priority in Windows 9X/ME with a software firewall and Anti-Virus software running will indeed give you less performance than you're looking for.

[Morgana]

Thanks for the replies. :)

I have XP and I never use a screensaver. I have the power option set to always on, someone told me that hibernate is for laptops. :confused:

My firewall is pretty busy, it's always flashing red in the taskbar. If I unplug the modem then I won't need to be running it would I? I guess I should think about getting a router.

If I download the 3.03 do I need to reinstall the driver? Or is setihide better?

Heck this is so complicated, all I wanted to do was find ET. :D

[Logan[TeamX]]

If you're using SETI Driver, and you're running it from the same working folder that CLI 3.08 is in, then just delete (or backup first) your 3.08 client and copy in the 3.03 CLI. SETI Driver will notice this and run that client automatically for you.

I believe the SETITEAM website has the 3.03 CLI, and my website does for sure as well.

You can always email me if you have any other questions.

Yes, I would certainly endorse a router, particularly a Linksys model. This is from rather extensive personal experience with them at home and in my day-to-day business supporting my satellite office users that have them.

[RampageIII]

Personally, I don't care for the SetiDriver interface. SetiHide has been a good performer and has lots of options with it.

3.03 will work fine for you. I think RAM was more important for the screensaver graphics (which we don't use). Otherwise, if you're running 512 or better you're pretty well set.

AMD Rulez, btw!:D

[Logan[TeamX]]

Something we can agree on! :D

Just dropped in my Asus A7V8X-X last night... very slick board. 1x512MB DDR333 goes in tonight, and then I'll walk the FSB up to 166 to match the RAM. After that, 180 FSB is my goal for 2070 MHz. I got to 156 base bus (1794 MHz) last night, but then my RAM locked up (on the slowest settings at that!) after a few minutes in the operating system.

Oops... I'm rambling. Sorry I hijacked your thread Morgana! :)

Logan

[RampageIII]

One other point FYI, both sethide and setidriver are merely graphical interface to enhance the visual enjoyment of the SETI experience. They add nothing the the performance of the client which is doing the work.:) If you just wanted to run the client in a window by itself you'd get the same results.

[Morgana]

Don't worry about rambling Logan, I didn't understand a word of it. :p

And I won't ask why you think AMD is better but don't those things get hot? ;)

I think maybe I need to add another stick of RAM to my shopping list, I only have 256. :(

Are you saying I don't really need the setihide or driver? Don't they transmit the wu's?

Sorry about all the questions, you'll be glad to hear I'm working this weekend so I won't be bugging you. :D

[Logan[TeamX]]

That's ok... I'm off all weekend, so I won't be around all weekend to read it! :p

AMDs do get hot on the whole, but the new P4s, especially the 800 FSB ones (the ones that can Hyper-Thread) also get **** hot. My overclocked XP1800+ sits at 40-42 idle, 46-49 full load running SETI or UD, and I have a Palomino. Palominos run a good 10 degrees hotter than the Thoroughbreds on the whole.

[Morgana]

Blimey you type fast. :p

I'll be sticking with my old P4 for now and there's no way I'll be overclocking it. That seems to be a bloke thing. :eek: :D

[genesound]

The seti software actually does the sending of wus. The add-ons provide wu caching (a valuable thing since the seti wu server goes down from time to time) and other grapical or record keeping enhancements.

All the newest cpu dissipate great gobs of heat, but it's actually the newest P4s that are the hottest, but they do spread it out over a larger contact area to the heat sink.

[SirFrank]

Im running 3.08 at the moment with a P4 2ghz and 512 rd-ram. This is one of my surfing computers. When I surf I put the Setidriver on normal. When playing audio I have to put it on low. Wnen I leave my computer I always set the driver back on high. Im getting a little over 3 wu,s a day with it. I have a slow dialup at the moment so I set my Cache at 3. If your gone from your computer for a few days and dont use auto dial, set the cache up higher and use high priority.:t
One other point FYI, both sethide and setidriver are merely graphical interface to enhance the visual enjoyment of the SETI experience. They add nothing the the performance of the client which is doing the work. If you just wanted to run the client in a window by itself you'd get the same results.
Setihide maybe but not setidriver. I see a definite change in speed on my Xp. and using high priority. High priority bogs my machine right down when trying to use an app and high priority at the same time..

[RampageIII]

I see a definite change in speed on my Xp. and using high priority. High priority bogs my machine right down when trying to use an app and high priority at the same time..

Exactly my point, and I think it's been said before.
Leaving the client alone (low priority) will probably be better for the overall performance of your computer, not the client, as the client will hog cpu power on high priority, and release it at low or normal. My main reason for using either SH or SD is the cacheing ability.
If you feel you're getting the results by continually manipulating the priorty then have at it.:t

[Scavenger7]

Originally posted by Morgana

Are you saying I don't really need the setihide or driver? Don't they transmit the wu's?

No.. The Client Does..

As genesound and RampageIII said, SH & SD are merely caching and progress viewing progs. the client does the work...

But you should run one of them. As genesound stated the server does go down from time to time, and it is good to have like 10 wu's cached on your system just incase....

:t

[genesound]

Indeed, Scavenger, and as as for setting the priority SirFrank, this can be accomplished in Task Manager (it's a windows setting after all), but I'm also sure it's more convenient via SetiDriver like you're doin it... All in all, my preference is to use an interface/caching program :t

[SirFrank]

convenient via SetiDriver like you're doin it
I thought about the task manager and it was faster with the setidriver for me. I understand what everyone is saying now though. My problem as far as the amount of work units was the cache. I didnt have it set high enough. The computer would sit and Idle without crunching:rolleyes: This lowered my amount of Wu,s when I was not on my computer. When your dumb you gotta be tough!:D I may have more "dumb" questions when I set up my network for this stuff!
Thanks Oh Enlightened Ones!:t