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SETI@home 5.2.1

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Features

Publisher's description of SETI@home

From Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence at Home:

SETI@home is a scientific experiment that harnesses the power of hundreds of thousands of Internet-connected computers in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running this screensaver, which downloads and analyzes radio-telescope data. There's a small but captivating possibility that your computer will detect the faint murmur of a civilization beyond Earth.

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Editor's review of SETI@home

  • 5.0 stars

  • "Search for extraterrestrial intelligence"

This interesting screensaver doubles as a science experiment. SETI@home (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence at Home) uses the idle time of hundreds of thousands of computers to analyze data about radio or light signals emanating from the vicinity of 30,000 sunlike stars that might indicate intelligent life.

The analysis of the data results in a colorful readout on your desktop, with graphs as well as status displays of your computer's part in the project. The graphics don't move, so you might want to set your monitor to power down after a certain amount of time. The allure, of course, is that your computer may be the one to finally make contact with other life forms. Whether the project succeeds or not, this screensaver provides some nice-looking graphics, a way to get involved in science, and a great conversation starter when others look at your desktop.

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User reviews

  • Showing 5 of 38 user reviewsSee all 38 user reviews
    This software version | All versions

  • 1 stars

    120 out of 131 people found this review helpful

    Version: SETI@home 5.2.1

    "beware"

    by miso111 on January 6, 2006

    Pros: looks neat

    Cons: uses too much CPU, increases CPU core temperatures, diminishes the lifespan of your PC.

    DO NOT USE this software. I would very much like to help out in the exploration of space and that is the reason why I tried this out, but this software is not good for your PC. I have a Dual Pentium 3.2GHz CPU, with 5 case fans to keep everything running smoothly. The CPU power consumption of this software is between 50-60% and in a 5 minute test run, the CPU core temperature went up by nearly 30%. If you run this all the time, you'll either fry your CPU and motherboard, or significantly diminish the lifespan of your hardware. Even if you adjust your preferences on the BOINC website it will not help. I read the reviews but was curious and installed the damn thing anyway. It took me 5 minutes to see I should have listened to the warnings, but oh well. Cool idea, but not a good idea. If you want this for the screen saver, you aren't saving anything. I work in the IT field, and this is just a warning for the average user... DO NOT INSTALL !!!

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  • 4 stars

    34 out of 39 people found this review helpful

    Version: SETI@home 5.2.1

    "Not useful with the average computer"

    by ironyears on January 7, 2006

    Cons: This program WAS in its earlier form a very good little prog, before it somehow developed into a monster. Somehow it went from being a very small screensaver/math processing system to something that seems to tax even the best computers available for home use. It is difficult to impossible to get it to connect to its server, it uses up from 45% up of your processing power, and it taxes your computer physically by causing overheating. I would give it a negative star of that were possible.

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  • 1 stars

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Version: SETI@home 5.2.1

    "Confusing"

    by ExtremeDownloader on April 2, 2006

    Cons: Incomplete uninstallation.

    Confusing interface. A lot of projects aren't very useful. Once project starts running, CPU temperature is raised by at least 25% and CPU Usage go up to 100%.

    This might overheat the computer/melt the CPU. Don't download.

    ***Want to help with distributed computing? Try Folding@Home instead!***

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  • 1 stars

    27 out of 31 people found this review helpful

    Version: SETI@home 5.2.1

    "System runs HOT"

    by dnelsch on January 6, 2006

    Pros: Server Performance is down more than it is up!

    Cons: Causes CPU temps to rise, causing fans to run full rpm all the time!

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  • 2 stars

    9 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Version: SETI@home 5.2.1

    "cannot connect"

    by bravadoca on January 7, 2006

    Pros: none. couldn't get it to work

    Cons: Could never connect to seti server.

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  • See all 38 user reviews Write review

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