Why fold?

[kicker2222]

I was reading a few articles on folding, and still don't understand why people do it. Could someone help clarify this for me. Do you get a benefit or something out of it?  

[Memories4K]

The cool looking official badge, or maybe you have some actual interest in helping the world by offering your extra computing power.

[comicsansms]

You are donating time on your hardware to a charity so they can calculate stuff.

 

There is no benefit to you it is just like giving money to the Cancer Council is no benefit to you.

[Godlygamer23]

Folding is(technically) the act of running Folding@home simulations on your PC in order to allow researchers to gain further knowledge of protein folding with the idea that it could be used to cure diseases and cancer. No, you do not get any usable benefit. The point of Folding@home is to use your resources to further benefit society.

[kicker2222]

The cool looking official badge, or maybe you have some actual interest in helping the world by offering your extra computing power.

So, that's it?

[DevilishBooster]

I was reading a few articles on folding, and still don't understand why people do it. Could someone help clarify this for me. Do you get a benefit or something out of it?  

You are donating your hardware and a little bit extra on your power bill to help research cures for critical diseases. Benefits include advancements in medical science and a feeling of good will for helping total strangers.

Forum benefits can include a cool little badge for your profile if you earn enough folding points.

[Godlygamer23]

So, that's it?

It's not meant for personal gain.

[Godlygamer23]

Forum benefits can include a cool little badge for your profile if you earn enough folding points.

The basic badge is available after completing more than 21WUs.

[kicker2222]

Thanks guys for clearing this up for me.

[DevilishBooster]

Technically, what you are doing is helping them solve mathematical scientific problems and aiding in the benefit of protein folding.  

Which is then used to help figure out cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.

[Memories4K]

So, that's it?

Yeah, basically.

If you need some karma points, folding is a good way to try and give to others.

 

 would you want something out of helping cure things like aids and cancer?  That comes off as selfish, imo.

Your entire existence is selfish, let's not try to drive forum members off from doing a good thing even if they're doing it not for the best reasons.

I donate blood because i get off on being a sado-masochistic hematolagniac, not because i believe i'm some superhero saving the exact number of lives the pamphlet tells me i'm saving.

[Megan]

I actually wanted to ask this question today so it's all good, installing it now.

[Syntaxvgm]

My feet get cold. 

[juretrn]

No, folding is charity of sorts. You don't benefit AT ALL. However, the results of your folding will help medical research.

[QueenDemetria]

I fold for the cause, although I use it for thermal testing and system endurance too.

[TheRandomness]

I fold for the cause, although I use it for thermal testing and system endurance too.

And apparently F@H for a day can get rid of coilwhine. How useful.

[Syntaxvgm]

And apparently F@H for a day can get rid of coilwhine. How useful.

I have never heard that. I have heard it causing it (only while folding)

[vanished]

I was reading a few articles on folding, and still don't understand why people do it. Could someone help clarify this for me. Do you get a benefit or something out of it?

Yes, the benefit to you is if enough people have done it, by the time you get cancer or something there will be a cure

[Godlygamer23]

Yes, the benefit to you is if enough people have done it, by the time you get cancer or something there will be a cure

Protein folding is incredibly complicated. I doubt we'll have a cure for something like Alzheimers for another ten years. Back when I had a 560 Ti and I folded with that, Folding@home claimed that I would get 10 nanoseconds worth of protein folding finished per day. Per day.

[Clyne]

And apparently F@H for a day can get rid of coilwhine. How useful.

Oh yeah that worked for me...

Well for my PSU.

[Midnitewarrior4]

just realized im at 69 work units done , been folding for a bit then deceided to give it a break, then i heard my grand dads cancer came back so i wanted to get back into it, and my parents just installed all led lights throughout the house so i now resumed folding in off peak  hours to get the best prices for folding

[vanished]

Protein folding is incredibly complicated. I doubt we'll have a cure for something like Alzheimers for another ten years. Back when I had a 560 Ti and I folded with that, Folding@home claimed that I would get 10 nanoseconds worth of protein folding finished per day. Per day.

 

That's why it takes millions of people to do it  If it was truly worthless though, why should anyone bother?

[Godlygamer23]

That's why it takes millions of people to do it  If it was truly worthless though, why should anyone bother?

I didn't say "worthless." It's just a lot of work, and it's going to be a while before we see cures.

[vanished]

I didn't say "worthless." It's just a lot of work, and it's going to be a while before we see cures.

 

So the more people we get doing it, the better.  And that's the benefit to anyone who does it (or doesn't I suppose, since the cure isn't going to be restricted to people who helped find it ) - that there will be one, hopefully (especially if you need it) sooner than later.