Do we want an Adopt-a-Rig Program for the Folding Team?

[ZhengHe]

The way Adopt-a-Rig usually works is that team members agree to donate their old parts to create a bare bones folding Rig. Once all the parts are inventoried they are sent to whoever agreed to take them. Then the recipient puts all the parts together and agrees to Fold with that machine 24/7. That means no gaming, no Photoshop, no surfing the internet. Just Folding.

Now, assuming we wanted to do this it would take a fair bit of organization. First you have to make sure you have all the parts. Then those need to be determined to work together. All hardware needs to be working. There are questions of mailing and accountability. What happens when a person can't do it anymore. All this problems have solutions, but the real question is do we want to go to the trouble of making it work? Let me know what you think?

For anyone curious as to what an Adopt-a-Rig effort can look like here are two successful, but very different examples you can take a look at: EOC (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t142085.html) & OCforums. (http://www.ocforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=132)

[jellyrole]

I can host whatever the site comes up with, I've got a good spot for it here next to my desk.

[srpeters18]

I can't think of a better way to get rid of old parts laying around. Not sure what I have on-hand, but I'm sure I could contribute somehow.

[raidersforever01]

I can run this thing 24/7 no problem. I already have a case, psu, and hard drive we could use and an athlon 64 3200 (754) unless someone has a better proc to do smp on. Also have some DDR ram, unless we get a board thats ddr2, ddr2 so cheap anyway i'll pick up a stick folding doesn't need 2gigs anyway. Also have and agp and pci-e card. Throw a flavor of linux on and we got a nice folding machine.

[ZhengHe]

I can run this thing 24/7 no problem. I already have a case, psu, and hard drive we could use and an athlon 64 3200 (754) unless someone has a better proc to do smp on. Also have some DDR ram, unless we get a board thats ddr2, ddr2 so cheap anyway i'll pick up a stick folding doesn't need 2gigs anyway. Also have and agp and pci-e card. Throw a flavor of linux on and we got a nice folding machine.

Sounds good. Well let's see if we can get one more person on board with this and then we can start putting together the parts for the first machine. We should set these machines up with special usernames so that it's easy to keep track of them.

[Goliath182]

I like the idea but i need some time to get some parts so i can build a decent folding pc and someone can have it.

[raidersforever01]

We should set these machines up with special usernames so that it's easy to keep track of them.

Bjorn3d_FM1 then just replace the one with whatever number.

[slugbug]

We could use the Diskless folding method which cuts down on parts needed and power consumption.

[jellyrole]

I've got a 500W and a 400W PSU that I'm not using.

[raidersforever01]

We could use the Diskless folding method which cuts down on parts needed and power consumption.

I completely forgot about that. Thats probably the best way to go.

[bobletman]

That sounds like a great idea but sadly I dont have any old parts to donate.

[coxmaster]

I think it would be a cool idea. As for who is gonna host it.. i think we should decide based on location.. thus making shipping cheaper for everyone.

Jellyrole and I are both in the Kansas City area, which is about as central as you can get. If my parents would let me I would do it, but they wont.. so i would say Jellyrole, its all yours

[tyle6]

Ive got almost a whole rig ready to go, Im down.

[coxmaster]

Ive got almost a whole rig ready to go, Im down.

More and more people keep saying this.. it seems possible that we could get 2 going fairly easily.

[raidersforever01]

You gave me an idea coxmaster. I think it would be best to have someone from west, central, and east side of america then someone up in canada since we have a few up there to. small things are best shipped USPS but some of the larger and/or heavier items cost less to ship ups/fedex, but depending on where your shipping the fuel surcharge can make a big difference in price. So shipping to places very close to you is best with these gas prices. the fuel surcharges change on a daily basis depending on the price of gas. <--- glad i work for postnet i figured out the cheapest ways to ship and pack things.

Maybe we should map out who is willing to donate and host to see what would currently be the best setup. Which i wouldn't mind doing just post your general location on were you are in the universe.

[coxmaster]

I think thats a pretty good idea. We can get a widespread folding farm.. with bases in the West, Central and Eastern States if we get enough parts. Heck, i'll even buy some cheap stuff on ebay to help out if needed.

[jellyrole]

Yep, I'm willing to do it, and my parents could care less. I'll be setting up an old Celeron based eMachine here sometime too.

[Goliath182]

I live in Michigan and i have some parts. I could also probably get my uncle to donate some stuff too. He has a lot of random stuff lying around.

[bobletman]

Actually do you know what I could do, my school has a bunch of compacs lying around I got probably get some of those, they are perfectly good comps they arent fast or anything but you can change out the proc.

[Goliath182]

Actually do you know what I could do, my school has a bunch of compacs lying around I got probably get some of those, they are perfectly good comps they arent fast or anything but you can change out the proc.

What socket?

[raidersforever01]

Actually do you know what I could do, my school has a bunch of compacs lying around I got probably get some of those, they are perfectly good comps they arent fast or anything but you can change out the proc.

It would probably cost to much to ship them to the U.S but maybe someone in canada who wants to host can use them.

[tyle6]

Well I could head up canada if needed, I have more then enough room in my basement workshop and it pretty cool down there too. My room is like 100 degrees constantly from my fish tank so I try not to run my PC in here too much or I would be folding on this rig a heck of a lot more.

[coxmaster]

Lets get us a good ole fashion Foldin' Farm!!

[Andrew1990]

Well I got some old parts laying around but not sure if they would even be worth folding on.

2x Pentium 1 233MHz w/ MMX Socket 7 Processors
1x Pentium 3 Xeon 550MHz 512K Slot 1 Processor
1x Pentium 2 450MHz 512K Slot 1 Processor
1x Pentium 4 1.3GHz Socket 423
15-20 sticks of SDRam(not sure on sizes)
4 sticks of 32mb EDO ram
2x Intel Celeron 466MHz Socket 370
1x OEM Socket 370 Motherboard
1x Asus socket 7 motherboard


Like I said, they are old but if someone can use them I may be able to work something out.

[bobletman]

It would probably cost to much to ship them to the U.S but maybe someone in canada who wants to host can use them.

I could probably host them in my basement.

[jellyrole]

I know I can anything here at my house. I've got a very cold basement that's perfect for running machines 24x7. I've also got an old Compaq Proliant that I might be able to strip and put into a smaller case to start folding on. The hard drive has NT on it, which is password locked, and i don't know what it is, so I'm gonna need a hard drive.

[srpeters18]

Do a low level format and install Linux on it.

[coxmaster]

Agreed there.. Linux would be more stable probably and would be pretty simple to setup. I can help you out there Jellyrole since i know u dont have much experience in that area.

[jellyrole]

Lol, you under estimate me. I've run a few linux server operating systems, so that shouldn't be too hard. The only thing I will need help with is the low level format thingy.

[srpeters18]

When you go to install Linux, boot from the CD and once you get into the install program, delete the windows partition, setup your linux partitions and go from there.

[jellyrole]

Okay, I'm gonna try it probably next weekend becuase it's in the back room of my basement and I'm gonna have to run a cable through the wall to my router. And it's gonna definitely need some maintenance.

[coxmaster]

Sounds fun. Hopefully we can get some other locations setup like this too and get some folding going!

[ZhengHe]

I took the liberty of setting up a custom Google map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=35.173808,-87.539062&spn=49.292496,82.265625&z=4&msid=114195212600639484590.00044b6ad1694a2f67217) in order to centralize our efforts. Please mark your location on the map under your username so we can have a better idea of where everyone is and where it would be most cost effective to send parts too.

There should be a dedicated Adopt-A-Rig thread up sometimes soon. I just need need to iron out the details of those guidelines. Very impressed out how well this idea took off. With any luck we should have this up and running in a matter of weeks :).

[raidersforever01]

Neat didn't know you could do that with google maps i should take a closer look at it. Well i added my general location + a little extra.

[srpeters18]

My location is posted now as well.

[jellyrole]

How do you add a flag thingy to your location?

[srpeters18]

You've got to be signed into your google account, then it'll give you an option to edit the map. Then right click where you want to put the pointer and select mark location or whatever option it is that it gives you.

[jellyrole]

Okay, I got mine added for ya!

[slugbug]

Added my location as well.

[jellyrole]

Coxmaster also added his to the map. If you can't see either mine or his, it's because they are right on top of eachother.

[coxmaster]

Coxmaster also added his to the map. If you can't see either mine or his, it's because they are right on top of eachother.
Yep mines there.. just really close to Jellyroles lol

[Goliath182]

Added my location on the map.

[ZhengHe]

Lol, nice descriptions whoever added them.