Buddy, can you spare a PC processing cycle?

Intel has launched a scheme to turn your PC’s unused processing power into, possibly, a medical breakthrough or the answer to climate change.

Progress Thru Processors is a Facebook app that allows users to donate their PC’s unused processor power to distributed computing projects, including one battling for cures to Alzheimer’s and cancer.

The self-monitoring application runs in the background on your PC and activates when your machine’s performance isn’t fully utilised. When you require more processing grunt, the app makes itself idle until you’re done.

You don’t need to leave your PC on all day and night: just use it as you normally would and the app will do the rest.

You can choose one of three grid-based projects to support: the medical research project Rosetta@home; Climateprediction.net; and Africa@home.

Deborah Conrad, Intel’s corporate marketing head, said: “By simply running an application on your computer, which uses very little incremental resources, you can expand computing resources to researchers working to make the world a better place”.

More information and the application itself - currently in beta form – is available at Facebook. ®