Maximum PC

http://folding.typepad.com/news/2012/02/update-on-bigadv-16-the-new-bigadv-rollout.html

As we've mentioned earlier, we have been preparing changes to the bigadv system –– both an increase in the number of cores required (and a shortening of deadlines to match) and the release of some new bigadv projects. The motivation for the core changes is as follows:...

Discussion in the existing Folding Forum topic has resumed... http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=20050

I want my bonus points for my gpu's since they are doing 10x the work in 1/16th the time for almost no points compared to those bigadv bonus points on 2P or 4P setups.

I found that part from the blog post particularly interesting.

Thanks 7im!

oh... I wonder if they'll have some sort of benchmarking system for certification. Hopefully nothing stupid like the Windows Experience Index...


lol

Don't forget the part about if you have a SATA HDD you will never get higher than a 5.9 rating for your entire PC, even if you have a 2P system with 4 monster video cards!

yup, it makes my PC all sad inside it's warm warm case with three video cards folding in sync

Indeed.

The original -bigadv allegedly required 8 physical cores. A lot of people were running their quad core HT enabled Intel cpus on 7 virtual cores, reserving one for other projects and still were able to meet deadlines. Others were convincing 6 core AMD cpus to run it and meeting deadlines.

PG actually has 2 crude tools. Core count, which seems easy to fake (if you choose to go against the Best Practices FAQ), and Preferred Deadline. Core count minimum went from 8 to 16, but as noted, doesn't really matter. But also consider the deadlines will be nearly cut in half to match that BA-16 performance expectation.

Conclusion, core counts don't matter (in theory ) only making the very short deadline matters. Either you make it or you don't. Crude, but effective.

And the deadlines are so tight now, no one from PG is going to complain about running hardware that "just makes it" under the deadline. Then again, no one should complain if they "just don't" either.