Personal computing discussed
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Dagwood wrote:This seems like you are running the single core client on the E7400. You should use the SMP client instead. More on that later.A little while ago I ripped out Slot 1 PIII CPU and replaced it with a Core2 E7400. Well, I had to replace a few other parts too. Wanting put the new hardware to good use, I loaded the Windows folding at home program. With no special effort I am generating 400 or so points per day.
Dagwood wrote:Make sure you have good ventilation around the laptop as the more cramped design is not necessary good to handle Folding.Eager to increase my points per day I loaded the F@H client on my Vostro 1500 laptop.
Dagwood wrote:For the SMP client, yes, the Linux version seems to do a little bit better (the gap has shrunken but it is still there), but for the Linux version, it is only available in 64-bit only. Intel CPUs cannot do 64-bit VMs (guest OS) without VT, so 64-bit Linux SMP goodness is not available to you. IMO, to balance between respectable CPU folding and the wife being comfortable, stick with Windows SMP. You missed the download link at the bottom of the regular download page about High Performance Windows Clients. Go and grab the "V6 Beta SMP/CPU clients" if you want to do CPU folding, but that is not necessary "the best". Even more on that later.Q 1) I read that the Linux version gets more points per day, is that really true and if so...
1a) What is a good Linux distro that is an XP look-a-like so the wife can surf the web. The E7400 does not have VM so I do not think I have the option of running Linux in a VM window.
Dagwood wrote:Referring to above, that is because you are using a single core client, so on a dual core machine of course you are only doing 50%.Q 2) The laptop is only showing 50% CPU usage even with the slider at 100%. The laptop is running Vista. How do I improve that.
Dagwood wrote:This is where the fun/money/pain lies. Mega folding nodes are achieved by GPU folding. So if you have a Nvidia 8-series and up GPU or AMD HD 3000-series and up GPU, you are eligible for GPU folding. On the same High Performance Windows Clients page, grab the appropriate "V6 GPU2" client. If you have an above average GPU like >=HD 4830 or >=8800, then a few thousand points per day on a machine is very much possible. Midrange GPUs like the 9600GT/GTS250/HD4650 may still outproduce CPU SMP clients so it may still be worth it to do GPU folding. You should probably test it out yourself to see which one gives you more points.Q 3) What does a 10,000 point per day set-up look like? Is it hard to do?
Dagwood wrote:However, installing a GTX275 with a 100% load on it sounds like it would definitely be noticed.
Dagwood wrote:Yes, that's why we don't generally recommend folding full time and all out (100% CPU allocated) on laptops.Yes, FF that was it. I did not open it in Admin mode. Once I did that I got it running on the laptop. Then I wished I hadn't! The laptop fan never spun that hard even when running games.
Dagwood wrote:You mean switch back from SMP back to single core client on the laptop?I went back to the non-beta client for the laptop. Maybe I will have it fold for Frankenbot in October. Until then I think I limit the folding on the laptop.
Dagwood wrote:Unless your system is indeed unstable (I am assuming you have not overclocked yet so everything is stock), I have never seen the Folding client's "crashes" BSOD the system, so it should be mostly ok. Generally when the beta client "dies" you just get a non-counted WU and/or you just need to delete the work files and re-download a new WU. But to each its own of course. What GPU do you currently have on your desktop system?I have not loaded the beta SMP client on the desktop yet. That whole beta-software-may-crash-thing has got me reluctant. Now, I need to get some sleep for the night shift.
Flying Fox wrote:Dagwood wrote:Yes, FF that was it. I did not open it in Admin mode. Once I did that I got it running on the laptop. Then I wished I hadn't! The laptop fan never spun that hard even when running games.
Yes, that's why we don't generally recommend folding full time and all out (100% CPU allocated) on laptops.
FF wrote:Dagwood wrote:You mean switch back from SMP back to single core client on the laptop?I went back to the non-beta client for the laptop. Maybe I will have it fold for Frankenbot in October. Until then I think I limit the folding on the laptop.
FF wrote:Unless your system is indeed unstable (I am assuming you have not overclocked yet so everything is stock), I have never seen the Folding client's "crashes" BSOD the system, so it should be mostly ok. Generally when the beta client "dies" you just get a non-counted WU and/or you just need to delete the work files and re-download a new WU. But to each its own of course. What GPU do you currently have on your desktop system?
Dagwood wrote:but I do have my eye on this ....
EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130325
Skrying wrote:Dagwood wrote:but I do have my eye on this ....
EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130325
There are MUCH better options in that price range. Like a brand new HD4850.
Dagwood wrote:It was my understanding the Nvidia stuff was a better deal if folding is the main concern. http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/640/7
and the 8800GTS should be an even mach for a HD4850 for games. and it comes with a nicer cooler.
Skrying wrote:Dagwood wrote:It was my understanding the Nvidia stuff was a better deal if folding is the main concern. http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/640/7
and the 8800GTS should be an even mach for a HD4850 for games. and it comes with a nicer cooler.
While from an efficiency stand point this might be true you're still going to expect about the same point out put overall. The 8800GTS not near the HD4850 in gaming. If you really want to go with an Nvidia card there are still better options than the 8800GTS. Like a used GTX 260 or a new GTS 250.
Dagwood wrote:With the GTS250 you have a good point. I am going to pass on that EVGA card.
In other news. I have the SMP client up and running on the desktop. Speedfan reports the same 50 degrees temp as with the single core client only the fan speed went up from 1650 rpm to 1700 rpm. I am too lazy to use the benchmark tool so I will have to wait to see what the points per day average out to be.
Dagwood wrote:8K out of a quad core and a 9600GT -- cool, gives me something to aim for. Right now I will just be happy to fiddle with getting the SMP clients running quietly and efficiently.
When I restarted the SMP client on the desktop, it picked up from 3 percent. That was encouraging, hopefully it was just a fluke that it dropped the WU the first time. But from what I read, that is why the SMP version is called a beta.
I sure picked a good time to start folding! Ambient in town was 108 yesturday I put off getting the laptop to fold.
Dagwood wrote:18 hours and I get 25% done!!! is this normal???
[16:00:11] Project: 2653 (Run 23, Clone 168, Gen 120)
[16:40:13] Completed 20000 out of 500000 steps (4 percent)
[17:40:02] Writing local files
[17:40:02] Completed 25000 out of 500000 steps (5 percent)
[18:42:11] Writing local files
[18:42:11] Completed 30000 out of 500000 steps (6 percent)
[19:30:10] Writing local files
[19:30:10] Completed 35000 out of 500000 steps (7 percent)
[20:25:15] Writing local files
Flying Fox wrote:Dagwood wrote:18 hours and I get 25% done!!! is this normal???
[16:00:11] Project: 2653 (Run 23, Clone 168, Gen 120)
[16:40:13] Completed 20000 out of 500000 steps (4 percent)
[17:40:02] Writing local files
[17:40:02] Completed 25000 out of 500000 steps (5 percent)
[18:42:11] Writing local files
[18:42:11] Completed 30000 out of 500000 steps (6 percent)
[19:30:10] Writing local files
[19:30:10] Completed 35000 out of 500000 steps (7 percent)
[20:25:15] Writing local files
Definitely not normal. You are taking about an hour for each percent on your E7400. My E2160 @3GHz is doing about 20 minute/%. At this rate your client's output will be 1760 / (18/.25/24) = 586.67 ppd, whereas mine on the same 2653 project is 1760 / (.3/.01/24) = ~1260 ppd. Considering the E7400 stock speed is 2.8GHz, it should not be that slow. Are you running something else eating up CPU cycles?
jeffry55 wrote:I see that all the time on my machine, I don't think it matters."[15:59:48] Work type a1 not eligible for variable processors"
Does your PC have some sort of power saver feature that is implemented?
jeffry55 wrote:He would not be getting a Project 2653 WU if he did not.Also, are you using the -smp flag?
Dagwood wrote:Yes, a svchost (system) is using a fixed 50 percent.