"RS" wrote:

Compared to the command-line SETI, is the new BOINC generally well behaved
.... not using CPU cycles when other programs need attention ?

I'm doing ClimatePrediction.net on Boinc.  Thanks for letting me sneak onto 
the SETI group.

If my computer starts to run slow, it helps if I "Snooze" my antivirus 
software.  By contrast, "Suspending" Boinc never helps.  Boinc never appears 
to be guilty of slowing down other applications.

With Windows XP, this is what I find--

With Boinc suspended,
TaskInfo 6 reports "Idle" = 95% CPU usage
and with Boinc running,
TaskInfo 6 reports "Boinc" using about 95% CPU

I started 3 instances of Windows Media Player (WIMP) running, one at 128k 
bps, and two at 32k bps inside of browser windows (Mozilla), and one 
instance of Winamp playing 128k bps.  TaskInfo reports WIMP is using 15% of 
the CPU, Winamp is using 2%, Mozilla is using 15%, and Boinc is using 60%. 
It's a cacophony, but upon checking each stream individually, all streams 
are playing smoothly.

http://wmsc.dr.dk/e02ch06m?wmcontentbitrate=300000   Put that into your 
WIMP.  If there's distortion, reduce the levels in the equalizer.  (They 
speak German, but the music is good.)

On another tangent, they never promised Boinc would work on Win98se.  I 
tried, and there were too many errors.  I recall it was doing work, and then 
losing it.  Had to give up until upgrading to WinXP.

Best luck,
                  -Neil-


1.4 GHz Celery
About 95 Boinc Units per day