Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Sbtrfuge · Nov 28, 2006, 09:37 PM

Hi. I have an original iMac running a backup/webpage server @ home. I installed Boinc on it, but Seti runs like ass thanks to the 3d graphics. IS there a way to get graphics like the old screen saver? Or even better, no graphics at all? Or just a super simple 'loading' bar type graphic?

This 3d stuff is really really slowing down the whole machine.

reader50 · Nov 28, 2006, 10:59 PM

Go the CLI route and skip the graphics.

Full BOINC Downloads page

Grab the latest stable "Unix command-line version" from the Mac OS X section. v5.4.9 as of this writing. There are instructions to download too, right beside the client download link. You'll need to use the Terminal for most of this.

Sbtrfuge · Nov 29, 2006, 09:16 PM

I hate terminal. I started using macs in 1992 becuase I hated DOS. Please tell me there's some OSX client that can show some sort of progress without needing 3d bullshit. This is absurd. The old screensaver ran on performas, imacs, 9600s, etc. Now in order to run decently it needs an OSX supported 3d card?

What a bunch of crap. If I have to use terminal in order to do this, I don't think it's even worth it. Command line stuff is a pain in the ass and I don't have the patience for it. This is unbelievable.

osiris · Nov 30, 2006, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Sbtrfuge

I hate terminal. I started using macs in 1992 becuase I hated DOS. Please tell me there's some OSX client that can show some sort of progress without needing 3d bullshit. This is absurd. The old screensaver ran on performas, imacs, 9600s, etc. Now in order to run decently it needs an OSX supported 3d card?

What a bunch of crap. If I have to use terminal in order to do this, I don't think it's even worth it. Command line stuff is a pain in the ass and I don't have the patience for it. This is unbelievable.

Try the BOINC menu bar :

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17420

No terminal, no graphics, and basic info.

reader50 · Nov 30, 2006, 01:48 PM

Heh, I use the CLI clients exclusively because they give me the greatest degree of control. Viewpoints differ.

Hit up our Enhanced Optimized thread. Near the end, you will run across a version 6ng (no graphics) worker, and even later, a v7ng worker. These are what you are looking for.

There are install instructions scatthered throughout the thread, as well as in the client download. Install the 6ng or 7ng clients, they omit the graphics support code. The GUI BOINC wrappers will display some generic statement "graphics not supported", and will stop eating CPU for the graphics.

arkayn · Nov 30, 2006, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by reader50

Heh, I use the CLI clients exclusively because they give me the greatest degree of control. Viewpoints differ.

Hit up our Enhanced Optimized thread. Near the end, you will run across a version 6ng (no graphics) worker, and even later, a v7ng worker. These are what you are looking for.

There are install instructions scatthered throughout the thread, as well as in the client download. Install the 6ng or 7ng clients, they omit the graphics support code. The GUI BOINC wrappers will display some generic statement "graphics not supported", and will stop eating CPU for the graphics.

Neither one of those will work with an original Rev A iMac. His best bet is the boinc menubar.

reader50 · Nov 30, 2006, 09:45 PM

Oops, that's right. The optimized workers mentioned are for G4/G5/x86 only.

miserereiam · Dec 4, 2006, 12:23 PM

Well, I tried menubar, and I think I'm just going to give up. Activity monitor shows 100% cpu usage, but it doesn't say anything is being worked on, nor do I ever make any progress.

It's really too bad, because I'm running a server 24-7 and would like to make it useful when it's not 'serving', but this boinc project is just horrid. It's overly complex, and the display that requires a 3d card is just an incredibly freaking stupid idea.