System Requirements



What are the recommended minimum system specifications?

In order to participate in World Community Grid, you will need to have at least the following:

  • The ability to display graphics (if you wish to see the graphics)
  • An Internet connection

In addition, each research project has its own requirement for memory and disk space. These are as follows:
 

Research Project Memory Available Disk Space Operating Systems
Africa Rainfall Project 1 GB 1.5 GB Windows1,2,6, Mac2,6, Linux1,2,6
Help Stop TB 200 MB 200 MB Windows1,2, Linux1,2
Mapping Cancer Markers 400 MB 500 MB Windows1,2, Mac2, Linux1,2, Android3,4
OpenPandemics - COVID19 250 MB 200 MB Windows1,2,5, Mac2,5, Linux1,2,3,5,Android3,4
Smash Childhood Cancer 250 MB 100 MB Windows1,2, Mac2, Linux1,2, Android3,4


1. Version for x86 processors is available
2. Version for x86-64 processors is available
3. Version for ARM processors is available
4. Android Minimum requirement is Android version 4.4
5. Version for GPU is available (Open CL 1.2)
6. Users who choose to run this project are encouraged to set the 'Leave applications in memory while suspended' option in their device profile

To limit the number of tasks assigned to your device for a specific project, please see the FAQ here.



How much data will I download and upload while participating with World Community Grid?

The amount of data that you transfer depends upon how your processing preferences are set to run, how powerful your computer is and how often your computer is on. It also varies based upon which research projects you run on your computer. An average computer contributing to World Community Grid returns about 2 results per day.

Each of the research projects at World Community Grid uses a different application, input files and output files. As a result, the size used for each of these varies by project. This is outlined on the chart below. Please note that the data is compressed during transfer and is decompressed after it has been downloaded. As a result it will occupy more space on disk then the numbers shown below.
 

Research Project One-Time Download Per Workunit Download Per Workunit Upload
Africa Rainfall Project 100 MB 100 MB 60 MB
FightAIDS@Home - Phase 2 10 MB 0.2 MB 1 MB
Help Stop TB 30 MB 5 MB 10 MB
Mapping Cancer Markers 40 MB 0.1 MB 3 MB
Microbiome Immunity Project 100 MB 50 MB 1.5 MB
OpenPandemics - COVID19 10 MB 0.2 MB 0.1 MB
Smash Childhood Cancer 2 MB 0.2 MB 0.1 MB



How do I know if my computer is running the 64-bit research application?

On a Windows machine, you can use the Windows task manager to view the process name. 64-bit research applications will end with "windows_intelx86_64", while 32-bit applications will end with "windows_intelx86"



On a Linux machine, you can find the PID of the research application (which will start with the name "wcg") and then execute the command "file -L /proc/PID/exe"

On OS X we only support 64 bit applications, therefore all World Community Grid tasks will be running a 64 bit application.