I would go more linux, but, sad to say most projects still target Windows so to have the full range you still need to feed the MS monster if you want to have the broadest capabillity on BOINC ...
Most physics and chemistry projects run on Linux 32 bit. I am running big computer chemistry programs, probably written in FORTRAN, in the ORCA Beta project at QMC@home. But also climateprediction.net, CPDN Beta, AQUA@home and SETI run on my Linux box besides Einstein and LHC@home.
Tullio
I would go more linux, but, sad to say most projects still target Windows so to have the full range you still need to feed the MS monster if you want to have the broadest capabillity on BOINC ...
Most physics and chemistry projects run on Linux 32 bit. I am running big computer chemistry programs, probably written in FORTRAN, in the ORCA Beta project at QMC@home. But also climateprediction.net, CPDN Beta, AQUA@home and SETI run on my Linux box besides Einstein and LHC@home.
Tullio
Yes, I know ... but there are enough projects that don't ... I don't have my list anymore as I did not expect to bring the Linux machine back on-line ... but ... I am only running three projects on it at the moment as it is the slowest machine ... but it can run WEP-M+2 so what the heck ...
I was going to try GPU Grid there but lost my lowest end card so had to shelve that plan. maybe if they ever get a 6.6.x version running I might consider it ...
Fundamentally if the project is issuing work, it is more than likely that I am putting some time into it ... there are only a few "live" projects that I am not, usually a testing project, or those that are closed to new participants and I don't have an account ... Of the 77 projects on my list I have put work into 62 ...
I would go more linux, but, sad to say most projects still target Windows so to have the full range you still need to feed the MS monster if you want to have the broadest capabillity on BOINC ...
Most physics and chemistry projects run on Linux 32 bit. I am running big computer chemistry programs, probably written in FORTRAN, in the ORCA Beta project at QMC@home. But also climateprediction.net, CPDN Beta, AQUA@home and SETI run on my Linux box besides Einstein and LHC@home.
Tullio
Yes, I know ... but there are enough projects that don't ... I don't have my list anymore as I did not expect to bring the Linux machine back on-line
Lost your list, how convenient. LOL!!
And how many is enough? Enough for what?? I haven't lost my list and it has only 1 project that doesn't support Linux... Spinhenge. If there are other projects that don't issue a Linux app then name them, please, and I will add them to my list.
The last 2 new projects I joined, Orbit and ABC, released science apps for Linux first. Windows users had to wait several months to participate, not that it matters much in the end. But it needs to be said in order to prevent "lemming think" and "lemming speak" from infecting even more victims.
Getting back to the point raised by the OP and his wondering whether 64-bit is worth it or not... there are so few projects offering 64 bit apps and so few of those run faster than the 32 bit version, it doesn't make much sense to buy a 64 bit OS just for BOINCing, unless you happen to have too much money in your bank account and need to burn some off.
I wanted to dabble with 64 bit 2 years ago so I looked into a dual-boot Linux-Windows XP setup. Took about 10 minutes to find the info on how to do it and about 45 minutes to actually do it. It's as easy as falling off a slippery log. Within 3 months I realised Linux is far easier to work with than Windows, far more stable, far more secure, has no viruses in the wild, and... it's free. Within 4 months I had deleted Windows from every computer I own and gone 100% Linux. Windows just isn't worth the pain.
There are 2 Windows machines in my list of hosts. They are, of coure, an embarassment but one belongs to Honey (she's transitioning to Linux, 50% there) and the other belongs to a friend who wants to donate but doesn't want to learn BOINC. I'm working to save him too.
One other reason to consider not using 64-bit systems is that video drivers are still less stable on the 64-bit systems in that they are a smaller segment of the population ... if you are planning on doing CUDA or any other GPU processing this is another consideration.
But, there is much truth to the idea that the only way to know is to try the systems to find out if they are suitable for YOU ...
Linux has the clear advantage that you can try before you buy and you can see if one is better for you than another.
I did buy two Dells of essentially the identical configuration only one is set-up as 64-BIt XP Pro and the other 32-bit ... the 64-bit is slightly more productive (though it is now hard to see that because I have a GPU running on the 32-bit system and don't have one in the 64-bit system.
And how many is enough? Enough for what?? I haven't lost my list and it has only 1 project that doesn't support Linux... Spinhenge. If there are other projects that don't issue a Linux app then name them, please, and I will add them to my list.
.
.
.
Spinhenge? Maybe. There is an app for linux32 but that isn't optimized. A WU need 1/3 more time to complete. A native linux64-app was/is/will be in development and the same with a leopard-version. Both versions will be released in the next century ;)
RE: I would go more linux,
)
Most physics and chemistry projects run on Linux 32 bit. I am running big computer chemistry programs, probably written in FORTRAN, in the ORCA Beta project at QMC@home. But also climateprediction.net, CPDN Beta, AQUA@home and SETI run on my Linux box besides Einstein and LHC@home.
Tullio
RE: RE: I would go more
)
Yes, I know ... but there are enough projects that don't ... I don't have my list anymore as I did not expect to bring the Linux machine back on-line ... but ... I am only running three projects on it at the moment as it is the slowest machine ... but it can run WEP-M+2 so what the heck ...
I was going to try GPU Grid there but lost my lowest end card so had to shelve that plan. maybe if they ever get a 6.6.x version running I might consider it ...
Fundamentally if the project is issuing work, it is more than likely that I am putting some time into it ... there are only a few "live" projects that I am not, usually a testing project, or those that are closed to new participants and I don't have an account ... Of the 77 projects on my list I have put work into 62 ...
RE: RE: RE: I would go
)
Lost your list, how convenient. LOL!!
And how many is enough? Enough for what?? I haven't lost my list and it has only 1 project that doesn't support Linux... Spinhenge. If there are other projects that don't issue a Linux app then name them, please, and I will add them to my list.
The last 2 new projects I joined, Orbit and ABC, released science apps for Linux first. Windows users had to wait several months to participate, not that it matters much in the end. But it needs to be said in order to prevent "lemming think" and "lemming speak" from infecting even more victims.
Getting back to the point raised by the OP and his wondering whether 64-bit is worth it or not... there are so few projects offering 64 bit apps and so few of those run faster than the 32 bit version, it doesn't make much sense to buy a 64 bit OS just for BOINCing, unless you happen to have too much money in your bank account and need to burn some off.
I wanted to dabble with 64 bit 2 years ago so I looked into a dual-boot Linux-Windows XP setup. Took about 10 minutes to find the info on how to do it and about 45 minutes to actually do it. It's as easy as falling off a slippery log. Within 3 months I realised Linux is far easier to work with than Windows, far more stable, far more secure, has no viruses in the wild, and... it's free. Within 4 months I had deleted Windows from every computer I own and gone 100% Linux. Windows just isn't worth the pain.
There are 2 Windows machines in my list of hosts. They are, of coure, an embarassment but one belongs to Honey (she's transitioning to Linux, 50% there) and the other belongs to a friend who wants to donate but doesn't want to learn BOINC. I'm working to save him too.
BOINC FAQ Service
Official BOINC wiki
Installing BOINC on Linux
Oh, ... One other reason
)
Oh, ...
One other reason to consider not using 64-bit systems is that video drivers are still less stable on the 64-bit systems in that they are a smaller segment of the population ... if you are planning on doing CUDA or any other GPU processing this is another consideration.
But, there is much truth to the idea that the only way to know is to try the systems to find out if they are suitable for YOU ...
Linux has the clear advantage that you can try before you buy and you can see if one is better for you than another.
I did buy two Dells of essentially the identical configuration only one is set-up as 64-BIt XP Pro and the other 32-bit ... the 64-bit is slightly more productive (though it is now hard to see that because I have a GPU running on the 32-bit system and don't have one in the 64-bit system.
RE: Lost your list, how
)
Spinhenge? Maybe. There is an app for linux32 but that isn't optimized. A WU need 1/3 more time to complete. A native linux64-app was/is/will be in development and the same with a leopard-version. Both versions will be released in the next century ;)