The cost of Folding to your home and wallet

[Shrygue]

via PS3 Fanboy




The PS3 -- it helps researchers learn more about various diseases with the aid of Folding@Home. It helps us feel good about ourselves (and impress our science-addicted friends), knowing we're making some kind of difference, despite how marginal it may or may not be. What hasn't been talked about on this site yet, specifically, is the cost this really does inflict on you, the selfless consumer/pseudo-researcher. IGN wrote up an article about exactly that.

IGN used the estimated 200W usage for the Folding@Home program and compared them to electricity rates from December of 2006. They used a chart, but we'll let you look at it. We'll tell you the cheapest and most expensive state to run the program in (and my state, since I'm selfish).

The cheapest state to run Folding@Home is Idaho, at 4.78 cents per kW hour -- running the program for a month straight nets you a bill of $6.88. The most expensive is Hawaii at 19.28 cents per kW hour ($27.76 for a straight month). Georgia? Near the middle -- 7.31 cents per kW hour ($10.53/month).

We're not trying to dissuade you from running the program! That's for running the thing an entire month straight. We don't know if a PS3 could actually handle that (if I had an extra $500, I'd do a huge piece on it with a webcam 24/7 to show you it's always on, but nah). It's safe to assume that cutting the monthly price in half will be what to expect from running your PS3 -- gaming included.

[Tree]

yeah its costing me like £5 a hour to run it ... i only run it one night on sunday because it was lauched or they was seeing how many people they can get on it

[SSaxdude]

I'm skeptical of how useful this whole Folding business is. Really, if this was useful why isn't it available for computers? There are less than 2 million PS3s but hundreds of millions of computers.

[eatnooM]

You might have wanted to google it before you said that. =) Many people use it as a sort of benchmark and/or competition on their rigs.

[pkmusicmaker]

I'm skeptical of how useful this whole Folding business is. Really, if this was useful why isn't it available for computers? There are less than 2 million PS3s but hundreds of millions of computers.

It IS available for your computer, just less popular. The difference with the PS3 is it's powerful and takes almost no effort. I say if you can't spare a dollar or two to help fight these diseases, you shouldn't have spent the $600 on the PS3 to begin with.

[TeenDev]

strange....

[SSaxdude]

I still don't understand how this helps fight diseases. For all I know I could be fighting diseases right now and even I don't know it.

[Chameleon]

oh thanx SSaxdude i feel much better thanks for the help

dont ever get AIDS it sucked...LOL

[Uchuu]

It IS available for your computer, just less popular. The difference with the PS3 is it's powerful and takes almost no effort. I say if you can't spare a dollar or two to help fight these diseases, you shouldn't have spent the $600 on the PS3 to begin with.

Just wanted to elaborate on this....

PC's are powerful as well, just the cell-processor itself is extremely good at doing calculations. It's so good at doing calculations that it might take a couple to a dozen of the high end computers out there (depends on processor type) just to keep up with the cell-processor.

Back on topic, hm.......maybe this is a small price to pay for cures that can help the world?

[Tree]

i think its a good idea but if ur like me 16 and your parents paying the bills they might get a bit pissed off with a £120 bill for just your playstation