Hi All and thanks for great posts!

I have also been contributing to distributed computing for 20 years or so by now. Started with UD Grid and then moved on to WCG and have stayed faithful all these years. I go All-In into things that I usually like and wish to commit to (that's just how my brain is wired).

I tried Linux, and got a machine up and running, but then I had some issues back in the day (such as, Boinc would be running but no progress on the tasks made etc.). Ever since, I have just resorted to Windows.

Setting up windows to auto-login on boot at least makes post-WinUpdate reboots start Boinc immediately and I do not have to baby-sit machines.

Right now, my most powerful machine is a DIY AMD 2990XW (32 core, 64 thread) Threadripper with 64GB quad-channel DDR4. Even though it is many years old by computer standards, it simply processes a lot of tasks per day. About 600-850 tasks per day for that machine alone (depending on the amount of OPNG WUs of course, but they are scarce for now, so 600-850 tasks per day is good). I am running an AMD 6900XT GPU, which I have found to run 7 OPNG taks simultaneously as most efficient config.

Over the years, the conclusions I've come to regarding WCG computing output:
1. Prefer core/thread count. It will do wonders even with lower speeds per core
2. Save on the SSD: choose a cheap small SSD that simply will fit the OS, the RAM-disk writeback etc - BUT, do not crunch to the SSD! Boinc Data (especially on higher core-count machines, will produce a lot of constant small writes from say 64 parallel tasks. SSD (especially cheap and small ones with low TBW will wear out QUICKLY). Therefore, use a RAM Disk (or a mechanical drive for BOINC data folder).
3. RAM: The more cores on the CPU, the more RAM, to fit all WUs' working dataset. Also to fit RAM-disk. On my 2990WX I use 16GB for RAM-disk. With quad-channel as well, it makes "disk-access" for BOINC really fast and the SSDs are happy year-after-year (which was not the case before RAM-disk).
4. Motherboard: Make sure it has good VRMs and/or good cooling finstack and airflow over the VRMs. I've had several sub-par boars blow after some amount of time. Extra fan for VRMs is always good for any machine running 100% load 24/7.
5. Dont spend all your money on a Titanium class PSU, but don't go too cheap either. Make sure it has OVP, OCP, OTP etc etc protections and a good brand such as Corsair, Seasonic, FSP maybe and make sure to have headroom. Is your PC using 500W, buy 850W-1000W. No stress on the PSU in other words, higher efficiency at 50% load, less noise, higher longevity of it and espeially its capacitors (which should be Japanese).

My two cents after all these years :)

Install linux :-)

Win10 Pro or Home? I use Pro exclusively and I've turned off both auto-reboot for Windows Updates, and I pinned the release at 22H2 so I never get nagged to upgrade to Win11. Pro version allows for lots of nitty gritty settings in Local Group Policy; Home editions don't have that and must use Registry tweaks, which are a bit messier.

Lemme know and I'll see what I can do.

One would almost need a mass configuration manager to manage a fleet of those boxes just to keep all settings in sync and security hardened. What a pain in the butt.

As soon as AMD releases their new Zen 4-based APUs, I'll build a 1U box in 2024 as a test virtualization hypervisor (XCP-ng), and I'll have it crunching BOINC/WCG full-time. I'll use that system as a model to write my how-to guide for Linux beginners. And put in lots of hand holding "do this, type this." I can't express the peace of mind that comes knowing that I never have to touch those crunchboxes. Ever. Maybe to open them up and blow out dust, but no other maintenance.

I still use Win 7 on my one Windows machine. Every once in a while I still get an update, but I don't know why. However, one of those updates decided to install Bing and about once a week Bing decides to randomly open and ask me if I want it for my default browser to which I always say no. Not the worst thing in the world, but annoying.

Cheers

Hi,
Oh, you mean that nag screen... yeah, sorry, that keeps getting to me as well :)
One could install BOINC as a service (a setting in the install wizard of BOINC), but then GPU crunching won't work, so that's not really an option either.

Googled a bit, don't know if this might work: https://www.askvg.com/tip-disable-post-upgrad...ard-screen-in-windows-10/

Also one thing I forgot to mention is the 5950X CPU is awesome efficient with its many cores, and by today's standards you get to buy cheap AM4 boards and CPU as well as DDR4 memory. Of course, that platform won't be easily upgradable by a new CPU drop-in later but if you will let such a machine crunch a few years and buy a new one later, then that's probably not such a big deal.