If PS3 Folding@Home worked miracles, people would still complain.

[Icyedge]

Grimes said:

Icyedge said:

Grimes said:
I'm not whining, but let's say your folding costs $30 year in energy. If you took that $30 and just donated it directly to the research institute, who is to say they wouldn't be able to make better use of those dollars? They could even buy their own PS3s if that was the best solution.

Someone will have to pay the 30$ electricity anyway. So even if you would give them 30$ it is still 30$ less.

You missed the point. The researcher is in a better position to decide what is the best utilization of resources. Energy may not be their biggest cost. Computing power is only one tool, not a solution to a problem.

What I was saying is that if folding cost you 30$ a year in electricity and instead of folding multiples hours and encurring the 30$ electricity bill you simply give 30$ to the research institute. The research institute will still have to cover the electricity and will be left out of your multiple hours of folding. What you suggest is a loose/loose situation. While your PS3 or computer run, sure you pay for electricity, but your also lending a system that worth 300$ to them and some room. If everyone that use their service were going to give them 30 $ they wouldnt be able to purchase enough system and cover fees to get the same result that they are getting today. So yeah I was completely understanding the point suggesting they would be able to make better use of the money people spent running foldingathome.

 

(Computing power is only one tool, not a solution to a problem.) They also receive money donation for other types of research.