Computer experts: is this experiment safe for our computers.

[caty]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/aboutexperiment1.shtml

"Using a technique known as distributed computing, we’re hoping to harness the power of thousands of PCs around the world. If 10,000 people sign up, we’ll be faster than the world’s biggest computer. And we’re hoping to be even better than that.

More about climate prediction and distributed computing

What do we want you to do?


Use your model as a screensaver, and watch it progress as a detailed spinning globe.


Taking part is easy. All we’re asking you to do is download a simple programme, which doubles as a screensaver. Once you’ve installed it, your computer will take care of the rest. You don’t have to send us anything. You don’t have to enter any data. In fact – if you decide not set the programme as your screensaver, you probably won’t even notice it’s there."

I just get a little worried about downloading things sometimes.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. It's perfectly safe

Distributed computing projects have been around for several years- probably the most noted is one of the first to make it into the general population- SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Life). A few other worthy projects exist, including the climate prediction program. It does no harm to your computer, and has no spy ware within it. The only communication is to the server to upload and download the computed data.

[Kellanved]

2. It's probably harmless, but doesn't sound convincing

It is a little strange to do that: a computing intensive screen saver is a big waste of energy - PCs run a lot warmer when crunching numbers. I wouldn't participate in such stunts for that reason alone.

Also, the "10,000 PCs" claim is BS. The World's biggest computer is about 30,000 times faster than a PC and requires over 100,000 CPUs to do that - I don't see how a network of normal PCs, connected using the low-bandwidth high-latency internet, could even get close. Not even if there are several hundred thousands of people participating.