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BLOG@CACM
What To Do With Those Idle Cores?
![[article image]](/system/assets/0000/0301/021909_Linden_Greg_250.large.jpg?1235077917&1235077917 "Microsoft Principal Research Software Engineer Greg Linden")
So many processors on our desktops. Four cores, eight cores, soon we will see hundreds of cores. Almost all of them are going to be idle most of the time. If it is nearly free to use those idle cores, what work could we find for them that might be worthwhile?
User Comments
(2)There is a need for software that comes stock with new computers with multiple cores that allows you to choose from a list similar to this article's of what to dedicate the PC's idle time to. Having a standardized system within the operating system that allows users to choose from a list of legitimate causes to dedicate their idle time to would help promote the trend of donating idle CPU time.
I would encourage you to also take a look at the IBM sponsored World Community Grid: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/ IBM provides the infrastructure to support research from leading research institutions such as Harvard University (The Clean Energy Project), The Scripps Institute (FightAIDS@Home) and the Chiba Cancer Institute (Help Fight Childhood Cancer) to provide meaningful projects for contributors to select. Additionally, the research results computed on World Community Grid are required to be placed into a public database for use by anyone without restriction. IBM documents the selection process for research projects here: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/projects_showcase/viewSubmitAProposal.do
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