ADVMETHODS for the win:

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A Quickie to let you guys+gals know that using the advmethods switch is bringing in a shedfull of points.
Check out my last 3 days folding, and Im still wheening out some Lambdas and a PT bbox :D
A minimum of 300 points per day per core.
 
Is this switch possible to be used if you havent got the client installed as a service - on some of my boxes that I use i run it from folders to stop me rebooting PC's without thinking ive got to stop the service else it has to scrap that unit sometimes.

sounds like a very good plan to get some extra ppd.
 
Sure it is. First stop the service if it's running. If you're using version 5.04, run the client with -configonly. Select the option in the Advanced that says "Set –advmethods flag always, requesting new advanced scientific cores and/or work units if available" to YES. Restart the service and the next time it finishes a WU it'll ask for an advmethods WU in return.

If you're using an older version of the client you'll set -advmethods in the registry.
 
How much extra ppd do you think I would get if I went around installing it as a service on these PC's so I can set this flag? currently my average is just under 1500 ppd. I used to get over 2000 ppd when I had good units.

x2 3800+ @ 2.75ghz
3500+ @ 2.907ghz
3000+ @ 1.8ghz
pentium 4 1600 @ 1.6ghz
semptron 2500+ @ 1.5ghz
p3 733
dual p3 866
dual p3 1000

laptop: p4 1800 on 12 hours a day.

Regards,
ghgh
 
If you're starting it from a shortcut you can add the -advmethods switch to the end of the target outside the quotes

eg: "C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\FAH502-Console.exe" -advmethods

you can also add whatever other flags might be useful in the same way

eg: "C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\FAH502-Console.exe" -advmethods -forceasm -verbosity 9 -local


A full list of the flags/switches can be found on this page
 
when i try this it changes the program to not being an exe so it asks me what to load it up with...how do I find the target bit where this needs to go, in the properties I cant seem to find it, also just noticed my semptron has been crunching for annonymous for ever since ive installed it.

is there anyway to switch it to my username whilst its nearly completed a unit? I seem to remember I can do this stuff in the registry.

thanks very much
 
To use those flags you need to first create a shortcut to the client, just right-click the .exe and select "Create Shortcut" from the menu. Then if you right-click the shortcut and select "Properties" you should be able to edit the flags into the "Target" field

As for getting your username right the only safe way of doing it is to run the client with the -configonly switch (make a shortcut for it in the same way as above) which will take you through the config again. As long as you change it before the end of this WU you should get the credit in the right account.


edit: most of this should be covered in the sticky near the top if you want to see some piccies to help you through
 
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cool, have done this on all of my pc's bar the two dual p3's that it probably wouldn't make any odds on or would it? they always seem to get the 2124 units that take an age and have naff all ppd. :(

slowly catching up on huddy but he's 2000 points ahead but I seem to have more output at the moment so a parp shouldn't be too long away. ;)
 
Do you reckon my sempron will be ok with advmethod switch on? as its only got 256MB of RAM so if it gets a large memory usuage WU it might grind to a halt? How much RAM does the most memory taking WU take?

thanks
ghgh
 
Its running XP SP2, I'll soon find out as its on 99% with 54 minutes left for a 394 pointer I think...then hopefully it'll get one that uses more memory. Only has 24 processes running and 110mb pagefile usage compared to my main PCs 442MB pagefile use.

This advmethod switch is superb...just got a new unit on my sempron and its a 1166 - never had one of these before but its worth 576 points, unsure how long it will take but I bet it isnt longer than the standard units that are 394 points or so...and its using 101MB ATM. Seems to be working just fine.
 
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Project 1166 on an A64 X2 @ 2,6GHz, average frame time of 27mins, compared to 29mins on a Project 2414.
Projects 2124 and 2125 were taking 38mins a frame.
Every work unit Im getting is worth atleast 300 ppd even on an Opteron 165 @ 2.4GHz.(equivalent to an X2 @ 2.5GHz).
It is just pure points, not an Amber project in sight.
Tom. ;)
 
getting 4 days to complete the unit on the sempron @ 1.5 gig, but it is running sd ram @ 150mhz. (most the kt133a chipset will take) but it is worth 576 points. An hour a frame but the normal units take about a week and are worth nearly half of the points.
 
It looks like Ill score 10,000 points today or near enough. :D
Before changing to using advmethods my highest score was about 8.500 points and was swiftly followed by a drop to around 4.000 points for the next day, and then back to an average of 6.000 points.
By using advmethods my average will go to 8,500/9,000, but this wont show untill Thursday/Friday. This is my true average at the moment.
So just by using advmethods my points have increased by 2,500/3,000 per day.
If you want to change to using advmethods DO NOT start a new client as it will put you on to a different server and you wont get the 1166 and 1167 units.
The server issuing these WUs is (171.65.103.161) and it seems you will only connect to it if you use a currently running client, and by using the advmethods flag.
Hope this helps everyone to get their Christmas bonus.
Tom.
 
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