GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards - Page 2

**koala** · 07-22-2008, 02:37 PM

Did you download from my 2 links in post#1 and install the new graphics driver correctly? (in VGA/Safe Mode with antivirus disabled to prevent conflicts)

I've only used it on a dual-core, not quad, but I would have thought it should use only 1 or 2 of your 4 cores as the majority of the work is done by the graphics card. Hang on for Matt to reply, I think he uses quad.

I know the previous version of the GPU client was only for high-end ATI cards, so it could be that this beta2 version is only for high-end cards as well. It's looking like the 8800 works ok, but Glaswegian's 8600 and your 8400 might not be powerful enough. Or it could be beta problems.

I recommend using the SMP client for now and wait for GPU2 to come out of beta before trying it again.

**mattlock** · 07-23-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koala

If you mean the last post on page 1 ('delete the work folder'), I've used that method a few times. You lose some work, but it means you can get started again quicker. I've never seen that log error message though.

eb: kick your friend off Warcraft and get some number crunching done!

Matt, I see from the scoreboard that you've started using the GPU2 client. How long is it taking you for each WU?

Hey Koala, I'm flipping a WU in about 2:45min on my 8800gt. That's with my config set to utilize only 87% of the GPU. Anymore than that and it affects the speed at which webpages are rendered in IE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glaswegian

Thanks for the info. I can understand your card being a bit faster but not 3 times faster. Your config file looks the same as mine, although with the server issues last night I couldn't report back - I'll double check tonight. The SMP was taking me about 33 hours so it appears I'm losing points at the moment.

Hi ya Glas. There are a couple things that would make the 8800GT that much faster than the 8600GT. First the 8800GT is based on the G92 core versus the G80 on the 8600GT. Next the 8800GT has 112 Stream Processes whereas the 8600GT only has 32 Stream Processes. Stream Processes is what the GPU client relies on for its calculations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koala

Did you download from my 2 links in post#1 and install the new graphics driver correctly? (in VGA/Safe Mode with antivirus disabled to prevent conflicts)

I've only used it on a dual-core, not quad, but I would have thought it should use only 1 or 2 of your 4 cores as the majority of the work is done by the graphics card. Hang on for Matt to reply, I think he uses quad.

I know the previous version of the GPU client was only for high-end ATI cards, so it could be that this beta2 version is only for high-end cards as well. It's looking like the 8800 works ok, but Glaswegian's 8600 and your 8400 might not be powerful enough. Or it could be beta problems.
I recommend using the SMP client for now and wait for GPU2 to come out of beta before trying it again.

I'm also running a dual core, but I agree with Koala's assessment that it's likely due to the lower end 8400 (16 Stream Processes) that you are currently running. It it's odd that it's taxing all 4 cores though, since it doesn't seem to be multi threaded.

Overall I'm very pleased with the GPU client. I was ready to go back to running the old VMware/Ubuntu setup because of the poor PPD with the Windows SMP client. I just wish it would work with my old 7800GT :(

**koala** · 07-23-2008, 10:34 AM

Matt, we're both completing a WU in about the same time on dual core CPUs, but my E6850 (100% usage) is underclocked from 3GHz to 2.4GHz and your E8400 (87% usage) is running at 4GHz. So I think you're right about streams and G92 being the deciding factors, and the CPU not being as important with this client.

**mattlock** · 07-24-2008, 12:13 AM

I guess I should have updated my sytem specs. I've been running my 8400 at stock 3.0ghz some time now. (To many quirky instablilties when it as OCed) I'm hitting 44% on one core and the other is idle.

**Glaswegian** · 07-24-2008, 06:34 AM

Thanks for the info Matt - I'm sticking with the SMP client then...

**koala** · 07-27-2008, 06:11 PM

Apparently they're having server trouble at F@H. I've noticed over the last 2 days that a WU will complete and then get stuck in a loop of trying to send the data back to Stanford, preventing the next WU from downloading.

Closing and restarting the client after it reaches 100% breaks the loop and allows a new WU to be downloaded and processed. Any completed WUs will be sent when the servers are running properly again. No need to delete any folders or reinstall anything.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1032805676

**mattlock** · 07-28-2008, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the heads up Koala. Here's a little more info on the matter.

http://folding.typepad.com/

**koala** · 07-28-2008, 09:19 AM

Looks like it should be fixed by tonight. Thanks, Matt.

In the meantime, I've been running the slower SMP client so I don't have to keep checking it every few hours.

**mattlock** · 07-28-2008, 11:10 PM

It seems I only had issues for about 6 hrs or so on the 27th, but I see you lost some good production between the 27th and 28th.

Looks like it's all sorted out now though.

Happy folding.

I almost forgot.... You're Welcome.

**koala** · 08-03-2008, 06:32 PM

It looks like they've improved performance with the new GPU2 beta update. I've been running it today with the CPU set to 100% usage (meaning 50% of a dual-core) and it was taking 2 minutes to complete 1% of a WU.

Then I dropped the CPU usage to 10% in the config file and restarted F@H. It was still taking 2 minutes per 1%.

So it looks like they've moved more of the processing onto the graphics card and away from the CPU, which is good news if you're a multitasker and good news for the CPU temperature.

**pharoah** · 08-04-2008, 09:17 PM

hey koala i just started folding again.i decided to try this version.i can tell you one thing it seems to be really fast on a gtx260.ive been running for less than 10 minutes,and got 3750/25000 done.oh just looked still under 10 minutes and has jumped to 4000/25000.

1 hour 38 minutes to complete my first one with this client.

silvergs · 11-10-2008, 08:38 AM

I just wanted to bump this thread and find out what video cards you guys are running for maximum PPD.

I just bought a brand new Q8200 Quad core and installed one SMP client and one GPU client. The SMP client takes roughly 30 hours or less to finish one WU which gets about 1900 points or so.

The GPU client (my video card is an Nvidia GeForce 9500 GS with 512 MB) is taking about 6 hours to finish one WU which generally gets 480 points.

I have seen stats from others on the ClubLexus forum (I am a member of that team) that are getting over 10K PPD using the 9800 GTX and a bit under 10K PPD with the 8800GT cards

Let's hear your experiences with your hardware.

I am planning on buying the 9800 GTX and installing it alongside my existing video card to bump up my points. It is going for just under $200 here in Canada at Future Shop.

silvergs · 11-10-2008, 08:58 AM

I just updated my sig so that you can see my folding stats.

**koala** · 11-10-2008, 09:00 AM

Hi silvergs

See the 'My System' dropdown below our avatars to see our full system specs. I use an 8800GT 512mb which gives about 4500 points per day.

If the deciding factor in speed is down to the number of stream processors on the graphics card, then the 9800GTX (128 streams) won't be much quicker than the 8800 (112), but the HD4870 with 800 will fly.

I read somewhere a while back that F@H can't use all 800 streams, that it is limited to about 256. I could be wrong about this (and I can't find the article now), so if you know of any F@H stream limits, please post back.

Also, can you find out how the users at ClubLexus are getting 10,000 points per day on an 8800 when I'm getting less than half that figure?

silvergs · 11-10-2008, 09:45 AM

Thanks for your feedback koala!

Quote:

Originally Posted by koala

Hi silvergs

See the 'My System' dropdown below our avatars to see our full system specs. I use an 8800GT 512mb which gives about 4500 points per day.

If the deciding factor in speed is down to the number of stream processors on the graphics card, then the 9800GTX (128 streams) won't be much quicker than the 8800 (112), but the HD4870 with 800 will fly.

Excellent info - I didn't know this before. I wonder how much the HD4870 costs though.......

Quote:

I read somewhere a while back that F@H can't use all 800 streams, that it is limited to about 256. I could be wrong about this (and I can't find the article now), so if you know of any F@H stream limits, please post back.

I'll check the folding forums and see if I can find anything there.

Quote:

Also, can you find out how the users at ClubLexus are getting 10,000 points per day on an 8800 when I'm getting less than half that figure?

Here's the thread - http://clublexus.com/forums/showthre...70245&page=199 - I think I may have inadvertently mis-led you. Some of the guys there have more than 1 video card in a single pc. However some of them are getting the 10K on a GX2 card, not an 8800 GT

**koala** · 11-10-2008, 10:36 AM

Yeah, I think they're using 2 cards or 2 computers to get such a high daily score. You had me worried there

If you're thinking of getting a 4870, they're about $220US for the 512mb model, but shop around as the prices will be dropping over the next few weeks.

I still can't find that article on maximum streams, but I did find some forum posts from people saying their HD3850 cards with 320 stream processors were working well.

JohnthePilot · 11-10-2008, 04:45 PM

I don't know how you are getting such high figures koala. I'm only getting 2,800 per week and I'm on 24/7.

**koala** · 11-10-2008, 05:05 PM

It must be to do with the speed of your graphics card if you're using the GPU client. I usually run it 24/7, but sometimes don't run it for a couple of days at a time (like now, because of an 'unstable machine, wait 24 hours' error)

Your profile says you have an ATI FireGL V3600. Is this info out of date? I'm sure you said you'd upgraded recently.

JohnthePilot · 11-10-2008, 09:16 PM

That's what I've got. I upgraded from an ATI Radion 1500.

**mattlock** · 11-11-2008, 12:54 AM

The PPD for the ATI cards is much lower than the PPD for Nvidia so the 38xx, 48xx cards will not out perform the 8800gt, 9800gtx, etc at this point.

http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=4263
http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3193

The 9800GTX is faster (not by a whole lot) at folding than the 8800GT due not only to the additional steam processors but also the higher shader clock. While the 8800GT will get you just under 5K PPD the 9800GTX (with a high shader clock) will get you over 5K PPD consistently. (based on forum research)

As for the SP limit that Koala was talking about, the ATI cards are currently capped at 320 but the main issue is the cards can't fully utilize the GPU processor for folding which is the cause for the lower PPD.

07-22-2008, 02:37 PM	#21 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Did you download from my 2 links in post#1 and install the new graphics driver correctly? (in VGA/Safe Mode with antivirus disabled to prevent conflicts) I've only used it on a dual-core, not quad, but I would have thought it should use only 1 or 2 of your 4 cores as the majority of the work is done by the graphics card. Hang on for Matt to reply, I think he uses quad. I know the previous version of the GPU client was only for high-end ATI cards, so it could be that this beta2 version is only for high-end cards as well. It's looking like the 8800 works ok, but Glaswegian's 8600 and your 8400 might not be powerful enough. Or it could be beta problems. I recommend using the SMP client for now and wait for GPU2 to come out of beta before trying it again. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-23-2008, 10:34 AM	#23 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Matt, we're both completing a WU in about the same time on dual core CPUs, but my E6850 (100% usage) is underclocked from 3GHz to 2.4GHz and your E8400 (87% usage) is running at 4GHz. So I think you're right about streams and G92 being the deciding factors, and the CPU not being as important with this client. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-24-2008, 12:13 AM	#24 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards I guess I should have updated my sytem specs. I've been running my 8400 at stock 3.0ghz some time now. (To many quirky instablilties when it as OCed) I'm hitting 44% on one core and the other is idle. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

07-24-2008, 06:34 AM	#25 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,377 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Thanks for the info Matt - I'm sticking with the SMP client then... __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

07-27-2008, 06:11 PM	#26 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Apparently they're having server trouble at F@H. I've noticed over the last 2 days that a WU will complete and then get stuck in a loop of trying to send the data back to Stanford, preventing the next WU from downloading. Closing and restarting the client after it reaches 100% breaks the loop and allows a new WU to be downloaded and processed. Any completed WUs will be sent when the servers are running properly again. No need to delete any folders or reinstall anything. http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1032805676 __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-28-2008, 09:12 AM	#27 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Thanks for the heads up Koala. Here's a little more info on the matter. http://folding.typepad.com/ __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

07-28-2008, 09:19 AM	#28 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Looks like it should be fixed by tonight. Thanks, Matt. In the meantime, I've been running the slower SMP client so I don't have to keep checking it every few hours. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

07-28-2008, 11:10 PM	#29 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards It seems I only had issues for about 6 hrs or so on the 27th, but I see you lost some good production between the 27th and 28th. Looks like it's all sorted out now though. Happy folding. I almost forgot.... You're Welcome. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

08-03-2008, 06:32 PM	#30 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards It looks like they've improved performance with the new GPU2 beta update. I've been running it today with the CPU set to 100% usage (meaning 50% of a dual-core) and it was taking 2 minutes to complete 1% of a WU. Then I dropped the CPU usage to 10% in the config file and restarted F@H. It was still taking 2 minutes per 1%. So it looks like they've moved more of the processing onto the graphics card and away from the CPU, which is good news if you're a multitasker and good news for the CPU temperature. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

08-04-2008, 09:17 PM	#31 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards hey koala i just started folding again.i decided to try this version.i can tell you one thing it seems to be really fast on a gtx260.ive been running for less than 10 minutes,and got 3750/25000 done.oh just looked still under 10 minutes and has jumped to 4000/25000. 1 hour 38 minutes to complete my first one with this client. __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015 Last edited by pharoah; 08-04-2008 at 10:53 PM.

11-10-2008, 08:38 AM	#32 (permalink)
silvergs Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Vista Home Edition SP1 My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards I just wanted to bump this thread and find out what video cards you guys are running for maximum PPD. I just bought a brand new Q8200 Quad core and installed one SMP client and one GPU client. The SMP client takes roughly 30 hours or less to finish one WU which gets about 1900 points or so. The GPU client (my video card is an Nvidia GeForce 9500 GS with 512 MB) is taking about 6 hours to finish one WU which generally gets 480 points. I have seen stats from others on the ClubLexus forum (I am a member of that team) that are getting over 10K PPD using the 9800 GTX and a bit under 10K PPD with the 8800GT cards Let's hear your experiences with your hardware. I am planning on buying the 9800 GTX and installing it alongside my existing video card to bump up my points. It is going for just under $200 here in Canada at Future Shop. Last edited by silvergs; 11-10-2008 at 08:39 AM.

11-10-2008, 08:58 AM	#33 (permalink)
silvergs Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Vista Home Edition SP1 My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards I just updated my sig so that you can see my folding stats.

11-10-2008, 09:00 AM	#34 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Hi silvergs See the 'My System' dropdown below our avatars to see our full system specs. I use an 8800GT 512mb which gives about 4500 points per day. If the deciding factor in speed is down to the number of stream processors on the graphics card, then the 9800GTX (128 streams) won't be much quicker than the 8800 (112), but the HD4870 with 800 will fly. I read somewhere a while back that F@H can't use all 800 streams, that it is limited to about 256. I could be wrong about this (and I can't find the article now), so if you know of any F@H stream limits, please post back. Also, can you find out how the users at ClubLexus are getting 10,000 points per day on an 8800 when I'm getting less than half that figure? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

11-10-2008, 10:36 AM	#36 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards Yeah, I think they're using 2 cards or 2 computers to get such a high daily score. You had me worried there If you're thinking of getting a 4870, they're about $220US for the 512mb model, but shop around as the prices will be dropping over the next few weeks. I still can't find that article on maximum streams, but I did find some forum posts from people saying their HD3850 cards with 320 stream processors were working well. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

11-10-2008, 04:45 PM	#37 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,886 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards I don't know how you are getting such high figures koala. I'm only getting 2,800 per week and I'm on 24/7. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

11-10-2008, 05:05 PM	#38 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,307 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards It must be to do with the speed of your graphics card if you're using the GPU client. I usually run it 24/7, but sometimes don't run it for a couple of days at a time (like now, because of an 'unstable machine, wait 24 hours' error) Your profile says you have an ATI FireGL V3600. Is this info out of date? I'm sure you said you'd upgraded recently. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

11-10-2008, 09:16 PM	#39 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,886 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards That's what I've got. I upgraded from an ATI Radion 1500. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

11-11-2008, 12:54 AM	#40 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: GPU2beta for nvidia graphics cards The PPD for the ATI cards is much lower than the PPD for Nvidia so the 38xx, 48xx cards will not out perform the 8800gt, 9800gtx, etc at this point. http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=4263 http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3193 The 9800GTX is faster (not by a whole lot) at folding than the 8800GT due not only to the additional steam processors but also the higher shader clock. While the 8800GT will get you just under 5K PPD the 9800GTX (with a high shader clock) will get you over 5K PPD consistently. (based on forum research) As for the SP limit that Koala was talking about, the ATI cards are currently capped at 320 but the main issue is the cards can't fully utilize the GPU processor for folding which is the cause for the lower PPD. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!