The BEST option is to ship your new box to me and I'll set it up for you. I may even return it when done ...
Seriously, JosephW is right on the mark. Stanford realized that as they expand the F@H world the single processors of today will not be able to keep up with the new GROMACS cores that will be implemented in the years to come. They are looking ahead to the next generation of dual and quad core processors, and to true streaming processing from AMD/ATI.
I found out in researching for the next thread that F@H is solving for Schroedinger's equation for the (location, velocity, ??) of the atoms on the proteins we fold. They also solve FFTs and a bunch of stuff I forgot in college to push forward the basic research, and to prove the applied research in new medicines.
Therefore Stanford is giving out bonus points to folders who have the latest equipment, are willing to run in Linux or Mac OSX, and endure lots of EUEs. Once they have established stability in the SMP cores then the bonus points go away; until then fold on!
Take a look at the team that is chasing us down, The Outcasts 40530. The number 2 folder is marty9876. He has 417 active systems and produces about 22,000 ppd. He is their Klutz.
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=userpage&teamnum=40530&username=marty9876
Now look at the number 1 folder on the team, zim01. He has 56 active systems and produces 55,000 ppd.
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=userpage&teamnum=40530&username=zim01
ChelseaOilman produces 4,300 ppd from 5 systems.
Team stats here:
http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/team_summary.php?s=&t=40530
One day the Windows SMP cores will be released, but until then a folding monster consists of either Linux or OSX on a dual core (or quad core) platform.
Thanks fellas, sorry TB, shipping is out.
I have been aware of VMware but never did anything with it. Looks like that is about to change.
BTW, what is 'EUE'?
JosephW, I will google the things you mention and do some reading. All help will be gratefully appreciated. I am a windows hand from v3.1 but never tried Linux in any form. Command line does not scare me as long as I have an explanation of what things do. I figure computing is the same conceptually (something in - something out) and after that it is just details.