UnitedGerbilNation's drive to the Top

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

Woohoo! GT 240 came in today. No more 3450 for me. It plays Call of Duty, WaW pretty well and FahMon shows it getting 4800 PPD right now on a 5770 WU. All in all a very nice card for the price (69.99 after MIR).

If you guys are thinking of adding a video card for folding I think the GT 240 is easy to recommend. Very nice power to PPD ratio.

So how much more power am I looking at over using an IGP?

Sorry FF I know I'd promised that data. I will do it tonight. I put the new GT 240 in my new rig, so there was no IGP to check. Tonight I'll pull the GT 240 out of my Athlon x2 rig... The CPU is overclocked. Do you want overclocked or stock data? Let me guess... both!

[Flying Fox]

Woohoo! GT 240 came in today. No more 3450 for me. It plays Call of Duty, WaW pretty well and FahMon shows it getting 4800 PPD right now on a 5770 WU. All in all a very nice card for the price (69.99 after MIR).

If you guys are thinking of adding a video card for folding I think the GT 240 is easy to recommend. Very nice power to PPD ratio.

So how much more power am I looking at over using an IGP?

Sorry FF I know I'd promised that data. I will do it tonight. I put the new GT 240 in my new rig, so there was no IGP to check. Tonight I'll pull the GT 240 out of my Athlon x2 rig... The CPU is overclocked. Do you want overclocked or stock data? Let me guess... both!

All I am interested in is the delta that the GT240 uses. So as long as you stay with the same clocked CPU with your two measurements, the result should be consistent. Of course if you want to measure additional numbers I'm sure some around here would appreciate those.

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

All I am interested in is the delta that the GT240 uses. So as long as you stay with the same clocked CPU with your two measurements, the result should be consistent. Of course if you want to measure additional numbers I'm sure some around here would appreciate those.

OK the system idles at 70 watts with the IGP, and 80 watts with the GT 240. It uses about 118 watts when it's folding with the GPU, and 166 watts when folding with the GPU and CPU.

So 38 watts on the GT 240 gets, 4,500 PPD according to FahMon
48 watts running the SMP client on the Athlon X2 clocked at 3.0 GHZ gets 900 PPD according to FahMon.

I may as well turn that SMP client off.

[Flying Fox]

All I am interested in is the delta that the GT240 uses. So as long as you stay with the same clocked CPU with your two measurements, the result should be consistent. Of course if you want to measure additional numbers I'm sure some around here would appreciate those.

OK the system idles at 70 watts with the IGP, and 80 watts with the GT 240. It uses about 118 watts when it's folding with the GPU, and 166 watts when folding with the GPU and CPU.

So 38 watts on the GT 240 gets, 4,500 PPD according to FahMon
48 watts running the SMP client on the Athlon X2 clocked at 3.0 GHZ gets 900 PPD according to FahMon.

I may as well turn that SMP client off.

Which GT240 did you get, DDR3 or GDDR5? I'm trying to reconcile the power numbers against this.

[Ragnar Dan]

He linked to this GDDR3 one on Feb. 20.

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

Ragnar has it correct. It's the MSI GT 240 with 1GB of DDR3.

My main rig is sporting a GT 240 512MB DDR5 version. I was hoping the lower rm might knock off a couple of watts.

So 38 watts on the GT 240 gets, 4,500 PPD according to FahMon
48 watts running the SMP client on the Athlon X2 clocked at 3.0 GHZ gets 900 PPD according to FahMon.

FF - if you look at the power efficiencies of the Athlon X2 vs the GT 240, it would appear you'd be using energy more efficiently with the GT 240.

[Flying Fox]

Ragnar has it correct. It's the MSI GT 240 with 1GB of DDR3.

My main rig is sporting a GT 240 512MB DDR5 version. I was hoping the lower rm might knock off a couple of watts.

So 38 watts on the GT 240 gets, 4,500 PPD according to FahMon
48 watts running the SMP client on the Athlon X2 clocked at 3.0 GHZ gets 900 PPD according to FahMon.

FF - if you look at the power efficiencies of the Athlon X2 vs the GT 240, it would appear you'd be using energy more efficiently with the GT 240.

Look at my numbers. I have the Athlon II X2 and the newer chipset so the idle number is nicer. However, the point still stands: 40W extra for SMP and around 40W extra for GPU. SMP gives ~1800 ppd while the GT240 is at least 3500 ppd, so double the points output for similar levels of power consumption.

Side note: Looks like my HD 4550 does not idle as well as the GT 240. It seemed to be around 20W (from memory, so it can be wrong) extra at the wall compared to using the IGP.

[iamajai]

The might Gerbil Jedidiah is set to pass me today. He's accomplished in 1 month what it's taken me 5 years to get to. Got to get me some GPU lovin...

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

The might Gerbil Jedidiah is set to pass me today. He's accomplished in 1 month what it's taken me 5 years to get to. Got to get me some GPU lovin...

I kinda know the feeling. When I first started folding I used a different name and folded with my PS3. A year of folding got me 300K points. That seemed like a lot of points at the time... Then I joined UGN and have been one of their anchor folders for, well, not sure how long exactly... Now I'm on my own, at least for a while. And with these new clients I was able to do 300K in a month. The same amount it took me a year to do with my PS3.

Anyway, this seems a VERY good reason to go out and upgrade that 7900GS. A GT 240 can be had for around $80 US and will get you 4,000PPD or more.

[Ragnar Dan]

Here is a decent looking deal on a "low power" BFG 9800GT for $80 + free shipping, with a limited lifetime warranty and the following specs:

Model: BFGE98512GTGE
GPU: GeForce 9800 GT
Core Clock: 550MHz
Shader Clock: 1375MHz
Stream Processors: 112
Effective Memory Clock: 1800MHz [AKA 900 MHz]
Memory Size: 512MB
Memory Interface: 256-bit
Memory Type: GDDR3
Ports: DVI 2 x DVI
System Requirements: 350W PCI Express-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current rating of 22A or more
Package Contents: BFGE98512GTGE 512MB graphics card with EcoIntelligence Low Power Design &
DVI to VGA adapter

I think the deal, supposedly being 20% off, expires tonight at midnight Pacific Time.

[iamajai]

Is this a better deal? $59.99 if you include the rebate.
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=51315&vpn=VN240GT-MD1G&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar&promoid=1115
Graphics Engine GeForce GT 240
Bus Standard PCI Express x16 2.0
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size(MB) 1024
Memory Interface 128bits
Core Clock Speed(MHz) 550
Memory Clock Speed(MHz) 1580

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

Is this a better deal? $59.99 if you include the rebate.
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=51315&vpn=VN240GT-MD1G&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar&promoid=1115
Graphics Engine GeForce GT 240
Bus Standard PCI Express x16 2.0
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size(MB) 1024
Memory Interface 128bits
Core Clock Speed(MHz) 550
Memory Clock Speed(MHz) 1580

Either card is a good deal. The 9800GT is a bit more powerful. It will be faster in games and probably worth over 5k PPD as a folding card. The GT 240's main selling point is that it's a very efficient card. It may not be as fast or powerful as the 9800GT, but it will use a LOT less electricity. About 40 watts less... http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/ ... 40/28.html

[Ragnar Dan]

The deal I linked above, which is over now, was for a low power version card. Checking on BFG's site for it, they say it saves 30% on power, and it does work off of the PCIe slot's power with no separate power cable, so it must be somewhat lower than other cards. The problem it has is the slower shader clock, and of course the thing is now $100 again.

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

The deal I linked above, which is over now, was for a low power version card. Checking on BFG's site for it, they say it saves 30% on power, and it does work off of the PCIe slot's power with no separate power cable, so it must be somewhat lower than other cards. The problem it has is the slower shader clock, and of course the thing is now $100 again.

Ah, OK I totally missed the low power part. Great deal if the power is comparable to the GT 240 and the shaders will OC.

[Ragnar Dan]

It's likely the power usage is still greater than the GT 240's. On the other hand, my 9600 GSO with 384 MiB (that "i" was for you, Flying Fox ) uses a 6 pin PCIe power cable, so technology improvements including the smaller process would seem to be able to yield fairly impressive gains.

But that 9800 looks like it was available last year, so I don't know what process tech it uses. And I'm doubtful about a shader clocked that slow.

[JustAnEngineer]

That 9800 looks like it was available last year, so I don't know what process tech it uses. And I'm doubtful about a shader clocked that slow.

There isn't a good way to tell, is there? NVidia has used several different processes for the same model of card.

[Ragnar Dan]

That 9800 looks like it was available last year, so I don't know what process tech it uses. And I'm doubtful about a shader clocked that slow.

There isn't a good way to tell, is there? NVidia has used several different processes for the same model of card.

Well, not for lazy folks like me. But if you have one or the seller is especially informative you may be able to find out. Or if it's reviewed somewhere they often run GPU-Z on it and that will give the process size, which is nice. But the variation among manufacturers and I suppose their inventory levels plays havoc with my commitment to remembering anything, so I'm generally uncertain unless I own a card or am actively considering buying one so that I'll consider it useful to spend time doing web searches.

[Flying Fox]

Too bad Nvidia did not shrink+rebrand the 9800GT, it would have been great. A card that lies between the GT240 (rebranded 9600GSO) and the GTS 250 (rebranded 9800GTX+), ~$120-$130 at 6000-8000ppd, projected power consumption delta of ~60W, seems like a good deal.

[farmpuma]

With 112 processing cores the 9800 GT is only a 16.67% increase over the GT 240 at 96 pcs. I'm waiting for a GT 250(?) with 128 processing cores on 40nms.

Although the 260 - 216 looks pretty sweet from the power figures GJ linked, provided we see a substantial price drop after the 400 series release.

To RD and JAE, I'm almost 100% certain the 9800 GT was at best a 65nm G92.

[Ragnar Dan]

You're probably right. But my 9600 was lots slower than my 8800 GT-256 which has 112 shader cores. I have to figure out what the original and peak clocks were on both of them, though... I have it somewhere around here.

[Flying Fox]

With 112 processing cores the 9800 GT is only a 16.67% increase over the GT 240 at 96 pcs. I'm waiting for a GT 250(?) with 128 processing cores on 40nms.

Although the 260 - 216 looks pretty sweet from the power figures GJ linked, provided we see a substantial price drop after the 400 series release.

What 260-216 numbers? In another thread? I didn't seem to see them...

[farmpuma]

Either card is a good deal. The 9800GT is a bit more powerful. It will be faster in games and probably worth over 5k PPD as a folding card. The GT 240's main selling point is that it's a very efficient card. It may not be as fast or powerful as the 9800GT, but it will use a LOT less electricity. About 40 watts less... http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/ ... 40/28.html

In the "Maximum" power usage chart the GTX 260 216 SP 896M is shown to be drawing 168 watts while the GTS 250 1024M is drawing 175 watts. And while it seems counter intuitive the data tells me that 216 processing cores (8k to 10k PPD range?) are drawing less power than 128 pcs on a load which "should be" very similar to GPU folding.

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

Wow... Zotac didn't have any GTX 285 AMP! edition cards in stock for my RMA, so they offered me a GTX 295. Man these guys have a stellar warranty system. I may have to buy all Zotac from now on.

This is the THIRD time they have replaced my card. I started out with a GTX 280 AMP! edition.

Of course, I sold my last GTX 295 because it was loud and used a lot of power folding... Hmmm perhaps I should Ebay this guy and buy something else. Any recommendations? 5850? 5870?

[Flying Fox]

Jeffry and others, check your rigs please. Even without GJ our points are still abnormally low.

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

Jeffry and others, check your rigs please. Even without GJ our points are still abnormally low.

MTL has at lwast two 8800GTS cards and SOG has 1 8800GTS card. Those guys on just those cards should be able to stay above 15k PPP. My fear is that Jeffry and you FF are the only ones contributing.

I gave the videocard to SOG with the expectation he'd fold on it forever. SO, SOG, if you are not folding with that card, kindly send it back to me and I will transfer it to another interested folder.

[Flying Fox]

Jeffry and others, check your rigs please. Even without GJ our points are still abnormally low.

MTL has at lwast two 8800GTS cards and SOG has 1 8800GTS card. Those guys on just those cards should be able to stay above 15k PPP. My fear is that Jeffry and you FF are the only ones contributing.

I gave the videocard to SOG with the expectation he'd fold on it forever. SO, SOG, if you are not folding with that card, kindly send it back to me and I will transfer it to another interested folder.

Let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Their rigs may be just down. These new fancy clients are still not up to the standards of the old single core client, where it is almost "set it and forget it". (You can argue Stanford never quite achieve that level of stability compared to say, BOINC, but whatever.) You need to babysit these things.

[MaxTheLimit]

Jeffry and others, check your rigs please. Even without GJ our points are still abnormally low.

MTL has at lwast two 8800GTS cards and SOG has 1 8800GTS card. Those guys on just those cards should be able to stay above 15k PPP. My fear is that Jeffry and you FF are the only ones contributing.

I gave the videocard to SOG with the expectation he'd fold on it forever. SO, SOG, if you are not folding with that card, kindly send it back to me and I will transfer it to another interested folder.

I've got three 8800GTS cards. They are all still churning away. I also have an 8800GT that does work on occasion, and a 4890 that does some work. I added the long string to the passkey as the email suggested.
Why are our numbers almost entirely gone?

EDIT: is there anything I should be looking for? It still says I'm generating points. Is there more that needed to change?

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

Let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Their rigs may be just down. These new fancy clients are still not up to the standards of the old single core client, where it is almost "set it and forget it". (You can argue Stanford never quite achieve that level of stability compared to say, BOINC, but whatever.) You need to babysit these things.

You have a fair point and I could be being overly harsh, especially for MTL as he does post here. I've not heard much of anything from SOG though, and can't remember when he last posted how he was doing.

[Gerbil Jedidiah]

I've got three 8800GTS cards. They are all still churning away. I also have an 8800GT that does work on occasion, and a 4890 that does some work. I added the long string to the passkey as the email suggested.
Why are our numbers almost entirely gone?

EDIT: is there anything I should be looking for? It still says I'm generating points. Is there more that needed to change?

Hey MTL glad to hear your still alive and kicking! You're output should be at least 15K, 20K on a good day, so it's surprising the numbers are as low as they are. Are you monitoring the cards via FAHmon or some other program? That'll give you a good indication of what's going on.

Also, if you have an i7 CPU, and want max points, you should fold on that puppy in UNIX. I'm getting over 20k PPD from my i7 920 alone.

Now, where's SOG?

[MaxTheLimit]

No I don't really monitor it with software.
I will load on FAHmon when I get back.
It sits in my room. So before bed I power on the monitor and check that it's up and running.
Every so often I noticed it was locking up, but that seemed to be related to ram settings.
Early on the HDD I got had a lot of bad sectors and would randomly crash (probably got jostled during shipping or something. Not a big deal I've got HDDs up the wazoo! ), but since getting it up and running with the new drive / memory settings it's been solid.
I know it's doing something because the rig has been heating my room for the winter.

Would my i5 at 4.0GHz be a good option to be folding using unix?