The GPU Folding Thread... X1900 owners in here.

Joe42 · 3 Oct 2006 at 23:07

As someone on the folding forum said, you're running a beta client with a beta driver on a beta driver model on a beta os... not good.

Still, if it works thats great.

Joe42 · 6 Oct 2006 at 00:25

kinnison said:
Reading this discussion, I can't help wondering what the points system is going to be like for the PS3 version of folding when that comes out.. Potentially a PS3 could outperform any PC around by a factor of 10 or more, will that mean that they get 5000ppd?? I doubt it somehow, everyone with ordindary PC's would probably just give up!

I'm not sure if there will even be a points system for the ps3. It may not be configurable at all, it may be factory set to fold and the user may not be able to select a team or change settings or anything... I hope thats not the case but it seems likely.

Joe42 · 6 Oct 2006 at 16:38

oceaness said:
Am building a MCPC to go under the TV.

I just built one recently, it folds 24/7 for the team.
Currently only my dad knows its a pc.

And i haven't told him i could set it up to go into standby overnight, plus is very quiet so no-one knows its on. Works a treat.
If i had said i was building a pc for the living room i wouldn't have been allowed to do it, people have a perception of pcs as being big, noisy, power hungry and always crashing.
Put it in a fancy box, make it quiet and low power and stick a fancy front end on it and they love it, its a different animal to them.

Joe42 · 6 Oct 2006 at 21:12

oceaness said:
Lol. Yep same problem, I said I was going to build a media center PC to go under the TV and oh dear no it's far to noisey.

Just out of interest how did you silence yours?

I didn't have to. Build it around an Antec nsk 2400 or fusion (same case, fusion has a few extras). It has a pair of very quiet 120mm fans, and quiet psu fan, harddisk silencing rubber gromits, rubber feet, and the best airflow i have ever experienced in a case. Ohh and its only around £60 for the nsk.

And its not a pc, always remember that. Its a media centre.

Different animal, different perception.

Joe42 · 9 Oct 2006 at 15:07

I need some help doing the quick guide to gpu folding. Now that you have all had time to fiddle with it, can you tell me what to put in my quick guide?
Are you all using the graphical or the console, which should i recommend people use in the quick guide?

I know its not really stable enough for mainstream users, but since i've started a guide i may aswell finish it.

Also, what happened to BTI's pimpage thread? Presumably its on hold until a better client is released?
And is there going to be a complete guide covering everything like there is with the cpu guide? Or is this also on hold until a more stable client appears?

This is what i have so far:

-GPU client:
You need:
-An X1900 or X1950 series graphics card
-The ATI Catalyst 6.10 driver
-The Folding@Home GPU client.

Put the downloaded client into a folding@home folder, and then click on it to open the command line config window. Now do the following:
*

Troubleshooting the gpu client:
If you are seeing lots of EUE's, please download the ATItool application and check that your core voltage is set to 1.4V. This has been shown to lead to problems.
Check you have an up to date version of direct x 9.
Any other problems take at look at the official FAQ or start a thread and we'll try to help out.

I want it to be in the same style as the cpu guide. It doesn't have to use the console client if the graphical one is better.

Joe42 · 9 Oct 2006 at 17:50

Ok, i'll change the requirements to the 6.5 drivers.

As i've started this guide, i would like to finish it even though the client is a little too buggy for readers of the quick guide.

Whats the console like?
Are the options the same as the cpu options?
If not, could someone spare a moment to list each thing it asks you and the best option, or all the options if you are unsure which is best.

What else if anything has to be done to get it working properly?

Thanks

Joe42 · 10 Oct 2006 at 16:50

SiriusB said:
EDIT: The console client has the exact same options as the CPU client. Like with any client make sure the machine ID is unique, and you will also need to set the CPU utilisation to LOW as opposed to Idle. Not sure why this is, Concorde told me to

SiriusB

Ok thanks.

Joe42 · 18 Oct 2006 at 12:46

Where can the catalyst 6.5 be downloaded from?
I'm putting a link in the quick guide and i can't seem to find it.

Joe42 · 18 Oct 2006 at 13:38

BillytheImpaler said:
Stanford mirror of the driver: http://folding.stanford.edu/release/6-5_xp-2k_dd_ccc_wdm_enu_32464.exe
ATi mirror of the driver: http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=22264

Thanks. I've now done an update to the quick guide and have finished the gpu folding guide. Feel free to make suggestions for improvements to it.

I have also added a bit to help people fold on dual core cpus now that they are so much more prevalent.

I have also updated the guide to calculation folding power with a comprehensive explanation of how it works at the beginning.

Joe42 · 18 Oct 2006 at 13:53

BillytheImpaler said:
Whenever you think it's ready, Joe, I'll add it to the blank post in the sticky reserved for the GPU-howto. Let me know.

Add what?
I assumed we would be doing two guides for the gpu like we did for the cpu, so i've done a quick on as its currently almost the same as the cpu one anyway, and then when they release it properly i assumed you would be producing a more complete guide for it and inserting it in that blank post?

Joe42 · 19 Oct 2006 at 01:34

VeNT said:
so,
if you've a dual core system, is it worth running the GPU client on current PPD?
even with the loss of one of the cores?

I think i asked that before and it was a yes. They do seem to be getting quite a good ppd apparently.

Joe42 · 19 Oct 2006 at 12:06

shadowscotland said:
Any one running their x1900 on a lower spec rig? and if so is it getting the same 600ppd?

Stanford said they could easily reduce the polling so i would imagine you would have to have a very slow cpu before it has an impact.

Joe42 · 19 Oct 2006 at 14:35

shadowscotland said:
From stan's logs in the other thread - he answered my question as the x1900 in his 4000+ was folding slower that the x1900 in his C2D's (yes that's 3 Gpu clients )

That suggests it may even be cpu limited...?
Has anyone discovered if there is a point where overclocking the cpu ceases to improve gpu folding performance?