Boinc X64

mark128 · 3 Oct 2008 at 19:31

I'm running 64bit Ubuntu linux on a q6000 with 4gig of ram. I am a total linux n00b and basially need some advice on getting up and runing with BOINC. I've installed Boinc (version 5.10.45) from the package manager but I think its a universal client so not optimised for 64bit . I've tried downloading the latest version from the boinc site but have no clue what to do with the file i've downloaded. I'm too used to .exe's in windows lol. Currently I'm running rossetta@home and it seems to be crunching data fine, I just want to make the most of my hardware. Hope someone can help me so I can help the cause

Many thanks... Mark

theheyes · 3 Oct 2008 at 19:50

A quick scout on the Internet seems to suggest there is only a 32 bit client out, and that anything that suggests it's 64 bit is purely cosmetic.

Apparently whatever model they're using doesn't benefit from the extra precision. The posts I read were 2006-2008 so I assume they are fairly accurate.

mark128 · 3 Oct 2008 at 20:44

theheyes said:
A quick scout on the Internet seems to suggest there is only a 32 bit client out, and that anything that suggests it's 64 bit is purely cosmetic.

Apparently whatever model they're using doesn't benefit from the extra precision. The posts I read were 2006-2008 so I assume they are fairly accurate.

Ah thanks for the info. Its a shame developers don't make use out of the 64 bit architecture, I would have thought it would have more potential than currently displayed.

Garp · 4 Oct 2008 at 00:02

mark128 said:
Ah thanks for the info. Its a shame developers don't make use out of the 64 bit architecture, I would have thought it would have more potential than currently displayed.

Why?

Biffa · 4 Oct 2008 at 00:50

Really all it gives you is the ability to use more RAM and larger files.

theheyes · 4 Oct 2008 at 11:26

Not everyone has a 64 bit setup, hell even I don't and I'm an enthusiast. With DC projects you have to target the common ground as generally you don't have the resources to start coding a new client for niche users.

Although that said, folding@home has had massive success doing just that - targeting the hardcore SMP and GPU high performance users.

Horses for courses I suppose.

Garp · 4 Oct 2008 at 11:51

theheyes said:
Although that said, folding@home has had massive success doing just that - targeting the hardcore SMP and GPU high performance users.

Horses for courses I suppose.

There is a huge performance benefit in writing the GPU one and brings in new users as well, writing one for 64bit wouldn't gain them much (if anything at all), apart from an additional level of mathematical accuracy that they might not even need.

Talrinys · 4 Oct 2008 at 14:01

mark128 said:
I'm running 64bit Ubuntu linux on a q6000 with 4gig of ram. I am a total linux n00b and basially need some advice on getting up and runing with BOINC. I've installed Boinc (version 5.10.45) from the package manager but I think its a universal client so not optimised for 64bit . I've tried downloading the latest version from the boinc site but have no clue what to do with the file i've downloaded. I'm too used to .exe's in windows lol. Currently I'm running rossetta@home and it seems to be crunching data fine, I just want to make the most of my hardware. Hope someone can help me so I can help the cause Many thanks... Mark

Do you honestly think that BOINC uses over 2GB of RAM?

mark128 · 5 Oct 2008 at 06:43

Talrinys said:
Do you honestly think that BOINC uses over 2GB of RAM?

32bit can adress 3.2gb of ram and 64bit brings more benefit than just larger ram usage. Surely it can compute larger instructions per second?

Garp · 5 Oct 2008 at 08:26

mark128 said:
Surely it can compute larger instructions per second?

No, it can't, what gave you that impression?
About the only speed boost in mathematical calculations with 64bit CPUs is when you're doing large factorial work, or if 64bit integers are in use. I wouldn't have expected such, I would expect most scientific work is highly floating-point intensive? I may be wrong, I'm not a science geek. The floating point registers in 64bit chips are slightly wider again, but the 32bit chips were already using 80bit wide ones, x86-64 just takes that up to 128bit.

64bit is good technology, and needed technology, but it isn't much (if any) of a speed boost. That's not what it can provide.

oceaness · 5 Oct 2008 at 09:03

I think the one main benefit of 64bit is that it unlocks the potential for much, much larger calculations, however, unless you need to perform calculations that large you will see little tangible difference over 32bit

It's not a question of speed, it's simply what a 64bit processor can do that a 32bit one can't.

Another big advantage of course is being able to address vast amounts of memory now as programs get larger and larger. The technical limit for the amount of RAM a 64bit processor can address is 16 exabytes (17.2 billion gigabytes) however most processors have a artifical limit as it's a little unlikely anyones going to need that much just yet. Doesn't stop you wanting it though does it

I wonder how big a motherboard supporting 16 exabytes would be or do you think the memory companies will manage a 4 exabyte module and we'll have 4 slots like normal

Garp · 5 Oct 2008 at 21:55

There are very specific technical advantages for 64bit, and much needed ones as RAM requirements continue to rise, but just can't really see it for BOINC, and definitely not adding any real speed boost, just some mathematical accuracy. Given the mix of the market out there it's almost certainly better off just maintaining 32bit software, or they've got to start providing different data sets for different clients and all associated hassles of managing them. You wouldn't want to be mixing the results from both 64bit and 32bit clients.
If BOINC was eating up more than 2Gig of RAM it would be un-installed in a flash.