The super-sized, record-breaking protein-folding project Folding@home has claimed its millionth PlayStation 3 console, according to a press release from Sony Computer Entertainment. Folding@home began in October 2000 as an effort to utilize as much computing power as possible (via distributed clusters) to understand protein folding and misfolding. Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and various forms of cancer. The PS3 client launched in March 2007 and was last revised in December.
A million consoles may seem like a lot, but that's really not a large portion of PS3 owners, given hardware sales statistics. We'd like to thank everyone on the (currently) 218-member Joystiq folding team, who have helped us maintain a 367th out of 102,162 ranking. (Don't forget about PS3 Fanboy or the stellar Engadget teams, either.) Remember, it's never too late to join.
Reader Comments (39)
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:00PM plyx said
What did the millionth user win?
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 12:25AM ThornedVenom said
The millionth user gets to dip in a pool full of AIDS.
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:02PM Nick the Hero of Canton said
Why do people act like the PS3 was the first to do this?
I was folding@home years ago on my PC.
I was folding@home years ago on my PC.
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:29PM (Unverified) said
I don't think it is so much that the ps3 is the first to do this, but that it's the first and only console to do it, and it's so good at it.
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Posted: Feb 5th 2008 2:40PM Nick the Hero of Canton said
Trooper, if you actually read my post, you would have probably seen my point was that folding has been around available to PCs for years now, and people act like Sony bassically invented it.
Actually read next time, it will do you a lot of good.
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Actually read next time, it will do you a lot of good.
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:11PM carg0 said
(laughing)
well, it beats using your ps3 as a door stop...
well, it beats using your ps3 as a door stop...
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:53PM (Unverified) said
I never understood when medical researches became funny...
but then again, sometimes that smile goes away from their face when they actually need it :]
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but then again, sometimes that smile goes away from their face when they actually need it :]
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 1:29AM Jamesology said
Yeah and the great thing about the PS3 is that it will actually stop bullets longer, rather than just a week.
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:21PM (Unverified) said
I joined the Joystiq team the day I got my PS3. I haven't turned my PS3 off since I got it...and I've gotten more folding done than gaming! :D
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 10:15PM (Unverified) said
I play games alot on my ps3 however when i'm at work or while i'm sleeping i leave my ps3 folding. I don't think the system has been off in over 3 months.
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 10:30PM (Unverified) said
Doesn't it suck up a fair amount of electricity?
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 11:56PM (Unverified) said
I've been folding 24/7 (while not playing games or watching movies) for about 8 months solid. I never turn off my PS3 and it has never crashed. The only times it has turned off is when we've lost power.
It doesn't really suck up a lot of electricity. Someone did an experiment with a power usage meter, and calculated that it would cost between 8 and 15 dollars to run it 24/7 for a month. That's not too bad.
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It doesn't really suck up a lot of electricity. Someone did an experiment with a power usage meter, and calculated that it would cost between 8 and 15 dollars to run it 24/7 for a month. That's not too bad.
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 12:53AM hey buddy said
Mine is on 24/7, has been since folding was added. My team is in the top 800. The thing is a TANK. Vacuumed it after I saw that one crazy dust-filled one on the internet, although mine looked like a new white t-shirt compared to that one.
Coincidentally with this "Gone Platinum" announcement, there have been some problems on the client/upload side of things that the Folding folks at Stanford are trying to work out at Sony...
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Coincidentally with this "Gone Platinum" announcement, there have been some problems on the client/upload side of things that the Folding folks at Stanford are trying to work out at Sony...
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 6:41AM Korova Pamplona said
They should make the electricity bill attributable to folding@home tax deductible. That would be a huge marketing boost to the program.
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Posted: Feb 5th 2008 7:55AM xGeneral DEATHxDEETH82 said
You are either A) loaded with money to spend on the electric bill, or B) not responsible for paying it.
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Posted: Feb 5th 2008 8:20AM (Unverified) said
If you call being able to afford an extra $8-15 a month on electricity "loaded" then yeah, I'm "loaded". And I'm certainly responsible for my own electric bill.
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:29PM (Unverified) said
In a way earlier post than this Fernando (everybodys favorite) said to someone "enjoy folding protein".
I swear to God I thought that was a reference to masterbation. Well, now I know.
I swear to God I thought that was a reference to masterbation. Well, now I know.
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:52PM Abubakar said
Well Fernando is pretentious twat who has his head so far up his own ass he could spit into his own mouth.
I'll give credit to the PS3 for giving Folding@home some recognition. If it weren't for my PS3 I wouldn't have known anything about F@H which I would regret. If leaving my PS3 on while I watch a tv show or a football match is the most I can do for finding the cures of any cancer or any other illness then so be it. Atleast I put some effort into it. Remember it ain't free to leaving the PS3 on.
The forums (www.rustyjoystick.com) I visit have their own group which is:61225
www.rustyjoystick.com
Reply
I'll give credit to the PS3 for giving Folding@home some recognition. If it weren't for my PS3 I wouldn't have known anything about F@H which I would regret. If leaving my PS3 on while I watch a tv show or a football match is the most I can do for finding the cures of any cancer or any other illness then so be it. Atleast I put some effort into it. Remember it ain't free to leaving the PS3 on.
The forums (www.rustyjoystick.com) I visit have their own group which is:61225
www.rustyjoystick.com
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 9:59PM (Unverified) said
i can spit into my own mouth and my head is nowhere near my ass.
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Posted: Feb 4th 2008 10:08PM (Unverified) said
F@H is a fantastic way to help shed the image that videogaming is a childish hobby that is nothing but mindless blood and gore.
The work that the F@H community has done, both on the PC and PS3, is something we all should embrace and promote, as gamers and as functional members of society.
The work that the F@H community has done, both on the PC and PS3, is something we all should embrace and promote, as gamers and as functional members of society.
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 10:49PM Ironhammer said
Thanks for posting this! I don't have a PS3, but I can run this on my laptop and put my efforts in for the Joystiq team!
Posted: Feb 4th 2008 11:11PM okitsugu said
i just sold my ps3 but i got 100 units done before shipping it off, i kinda feel glad i was part of this project... im in the engadget team thou ha
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 12:32AM (Unverified) said
Kudos to you! Now you can feel free to join the other people who actually play games on their consoles! Hooray! Yes I went there! Thank you, goodnight!
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Posted: Feb 5th 2008 4:13AM D3m0sthenes said
WEAK EARTHLINGS CANNOT PLAY GAMES AT NIGHT MUHAHAHA
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Posted: Feb 5th 2008 4:38AM D3m0sthenes said
Badum Tssss
/drums
/drums
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 6:39AM Maverick Saturn 06 said
I often fold my arms at home, does that count for anything?
Posted: Feb 5th 2008 12:49PM Ghen said
My computer folds more hours out of the day than it plays games considering I work 8 hours, sleep 8 hours, and eat dinner, etc during the last 8... So basically my computer's greatest hit is F@H too, even beating my longest played game: Starcraft, which I played for 2.5 years until the sun came up daily.
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