Now you can set the amount of time you want your PS3 to work on the project and then turn itself off. You can also listen to music while Folding at Home.

As we approach one million PLAYSTATION 3 consoles participating in the Folding@Home program, we continue to improve the FAH client. With the new Firmware v2.1 we also prepared an updated version of FAH, which can soon be automatically downloaded by clicking on the FAH icon. This updated version includes the following new features:

Folding@Home1

If you happen to be one of the people that wants to leave their machine running after they finished their late-night gaming session, but wish to shut it down after a limited period of time, we have a great tip for you:

* Go to Settings menu, select Automatic Shutdown and then After Current. You will see a little clock appearing on the top right hand corner of the screen. When this clock reaches zero, the machine will power off completely so you can sleep quietly through the night. In this option the machine will power off after sending the data back to Stanford University so your contribution to the project is maximized.
* You may also choose to shut down after a limited period of time (for example, 3 or 4 hours). To do that choose the Automatic Shutdown option and click on the “In 01h:00m” timer. You will now be able to change the timer settings. After rotating the timer to a new time, you should now see your selected timer appear at the top right corner of the screen. This timer will count all the way down to 0 and then power off the system.
*
* To disable active timer at any time, go to Settings, choose Automatic Shutdown and then Disable.

What’s a better Holiday addition to Folding than playing music? We’ve added a great feature in this version in the form of a background music player:

Folding@Home2

* To activate the music player select Music and then a channel. The channels are automatically populated with songs you have stored on your Hard Disk Drive! For holiday music I prefer to choose Dramatic (yeah!) and voila - music is playing.
* If you wish to skip to another track, just use a combination of X + left or right arrow. You can also change the channel by choosing X + up or down arrow. Happy listening!
* To stop music from playing, select Music again from the main menu and choose “disable.”
* Your music playback selection will be saved between consecutive runs of Folding@home.
| More
Images about this story:
Register as a member to subscribe comments.
  • 1
    kik36 Dec 19, 07
    Yes please!! I'm definitely going to be utilizing the turn-off feature. Now I just need to load some songs onto my PS3 and I can listen to music and fold@home at the same time.....this is a fantastic idea!!
  • 0
    Shadow of Death Dec 19, 07
    Oh yeah, this is good, I might start folding again with this

    Good feature to implement, neh?
    • 1
      Ameer Dec 20, 07
      *bleep* Folding. I'm not letting it touch this PS3 after what the last one did.
      • 0
        Subzer0 Dec 20, 07
        Why? What happened to the last one?
        • -1
          Ameer Dec 20, 07
          I used to run it whenever I wasn't using the PS3, and usually for weeks at a time. It ruined the optical drive and after seeing no real breakthroughs on the Stanford website (granted, these things take a while) I thought the benefits did not outweight the negatives.
        • -4
          Final Blade Dec 20, 07
          Rome wasn't built in a day and neither can results. Maybe it wasn't the Folding that caused the problem, maybe your PS3 had a defect in it. I read people leaving there PS3 folding for a whole month without a problem. Though i disagree with your no break through thing. They already had 10 years of research cut down in 1 year, if thats not big results i just don't know what is.

          Give it more faith and only keep it folding for a few hours, even for those small hours can make a big difference. Though its up to you, i just think not contributing at all won't make any benefits.
        • 0
          Tock Dec 20, 07
          i dont care what people say....you are stupid as shit if you leave your ps3 on for weeks...especially if your running a demanding program
        • 0
          Ameer Dec 20, 07
          I've done a few hundred units, so I think I've contributed my fair share.

          quote
          I read people leaving there PS3 folding for a whole month without a problem.
          I was one of those stupid shits who did that; and while it was fine for a few months, I started experiencing problems after that. jeterocks and tallteen (1st and 4th on the table last time I looked) both ran PS3s as well with similar habits to mine and both have experienced problems. I don't think that's a coincidence. Nor do I think it's a defect either.

          Folding@Home has been running for 7 years so far, and if it cuts down 10 years of research into 1, where's the result of 70 years of research? 54 papers, none of which have been big enough to merit attachment to Folding@Home.

          Not contributing at all does have it's benefits. First off, the electricity bill takes a big cut, and second, by not consuming the amount of electricity I was before Folding, I am reducing my own damage to the environment.

          I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall sometimes.

          Yes Tock, I totally agree.
        • -3
          Final Blade Dec 21, 07
          Ameer i have had my fair share of folding as well and i have yet to experience any problems. Also When i stated that 10 years of research has been done in one year i was referring to the PS3 help.

          The Folding team at Stanford said without the PS3 we would have never had 10 years of research done in 1 year. As much as they have had the PC's on the job they have yet to see any real results on PC's alone. PS3 has the only breakthroughs this 1 year than the 7 years with PC's and that my friend is a break through whether you want to agree or not isn't the point. At least not from Standford perspective.

          Now if your not folding cause if bills ok i see your point. But at least fold 30 mins to an hour per day or week. I just can't see that hurting as well. Your like sten mk II here who bashes it calling it pointless, things aren't built or see results in one day of use. Its the same as getting healthy or losing weight and building muscle etc. Video games as well. Things takes time but its your ps3 i just disagree with your statement saying no benefits or breakthroughs have yet to surface as if is going to happen quick.
        • 0
          Ameer Dec 22, 07
          You're likening me to Sten? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You sir are the benchmark for flaming around Neo.
  • -4
    Final Blade Dec 20, 07
    What happened last time Ameer.

    Anyway i like these two features. especially the timer thing. The music thing while cool, won't benefit me since i always fold when im sleeping.
  • -3
    Red 9 Dec 20, 07
    I never use Folding, so this is irrelevant.
    • 0
      SS4Gogeta Dec 20, 07
      *Confused* Why post at all? *Confused*
  • 0
    sten mk II Dec 20, 07
    Folding is almost pointless, it may seem like you're helping, but have you heard of anything being discovered? Nothing great has happened, and besides... The results will be the same with or without PS3's. Nothing is brought into the public eye unless the government has it's balls in a firm grip... Don't expect something amazing to happen...
    • -3
      Final Blade Dec 20, 07
      Dude seriously why post at all in this topic like red if your just going to downplay it. Yeah we get it you hate this like red but seriously to make an ignorant statement like that is beyond stupid. Besides i think Sort said it better anyway.
  • 3
    Tock Dec 20, 07
    did you expect that they would cure cancer in a year with this program?...you're an idiot

This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.