Check out the SMP install guide here:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1339662
It describes how to install SMP as a service on Vista. I’ve only done the console install, so I don’t know how hard the extra service steps are.
I agree that a relatively slow ATI card is more trouble than it’s worth, because it will steal CPU cycles better used for SMP folding. If you want a cheap video card for folding, look for the Nvidia 8800GS or 9600GSO (same card, different names). They should be available for about $50 and will do 3K to 4K PPD.
Thanks and with the GPU and SMP running I was getting about 750 PPD. With just SMP, I was getting about 1100 PPD.
Hmmm, reading the site you posted, they say running as a service is not recommended, but they go ahead and give instructions. I will have to check, but that looks like what I had already (which they warn may not work).
A 9600GSO will really hit 3-4K ppd? WOW! Fifty bucks for the card and another $50 for a power supply (500W) and you got a decent folder. Hell of a deal considering I paid about $70 for my EVGA 9400GT not too long ago, and it only gets about 1k ppd. Thanks for the heads up.....C