Need Multi-GPU Help......56K!

Hey Everybody,

Got the Water Blocks in and installed onto the 8800GS's. Can't seem to get two instances running--one on each card. I've read the sticky and followed the Hardforum post. I was up until 6:30 (about 4.5hrs ago :p: ) trying to get this sorted out.

Just tried to take a screenshot, but it froze the display (have since gotten that sorted). When I click the 2nd instance I get a pop-up that says:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot008.jpg

I'm using 177.83. I've "updated driver" via Device Manager>8800GS>Properties>Driver tab>update driver---on both cards. Via DM 1 card is on PCI Bus 1 and the other on PCI bus 4.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot012.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot013.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot009.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot010.jpg


Both cards are recognized in GPU-Z--one is OCed via Rivatuner, the other is stock:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot002.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot003.jpg



I eventually uninstalled F@H and reinstalled it. I setup the 2 shortcuts on the desktop and made the duplicate folders, etc:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot014.jpg


I put "" Quotes around the address in "Start in:", but they always disappear when I return.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot004.jpg


I am wondering if it would help to try and run this "in compatiblility mode for XP"
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot005.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot006.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot015.jpg


If I remove the -gpu 0 and -gpu 1, I can get it working. But my fold rate and points go to total Shat! Like: 2 mins 52secs.


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot016.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot017.jpg


ATM, I am just lost. The only thing I know to do now is see if maybe the MB has a jumper or something. Also, ATM--It cannot seem to get Rivaturner to recognize both the cards....It shows 3 extra monitors, but things just aren't right. But I'll deall with that later.


Needing some help here! Thanx!!! :up:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...thingtoadd.gif

I used to know a lot about all the clients, as I had used them all. Then GPU2 comes out and I'm at a loss. I'm getting a 9600GSO, so then I'll be able to understand the GPU2 client, but even before that now there is a question about dual GPUs and aahhh I haven't even gotten to a single one yet...!

You're inadvertently pushing me to get a second card just so I can figure it out http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ys/gr_jest.gif

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ileys/beam.gif

:p: Ya know Sparky--there's plenty of Good cards at decent prices these days.......:D


I just wanted to add:

If I need to put something in the config--"Additional Clients Parameters"....then I have no idea what it would be. They are blank right now:


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot018.jpg

Wait....

I think the flags only work on the console versions when put in the command line. Try this! Remove -gpu 0 and -gpu 1 from the command line, then put them in the client parameters instead. Can't hurt to try, can it?

The only way I can get it to work is to remove the -gpu 0 and -gpu 1---but my points/ folding rate are half of what they should be. However, that is in the shortcut properties. I will try it in the client parameters and report back.

Also, I have no-cpu-lock checked, but both instances were set to core 3. I changed one to core 2--but it doesn't seem to matter. They are running properly--just at half the rate. Task manager shows 3% cpu usage for each instance--and that's about right from what I have seen.

Sparky, if you have not looked through this yet--please do.....Its for GPU and Multi-GPU setup--vista and XP:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1330889

Did you tell windows to extend the desktop to include a monitor for each GPU? This seems to be required at least for me under xp32. Not sure about your OS.

Vista requires it. I thought xp doesn't. :shrug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SparkyJJO

Wait....

I think the flags only work on the console versions when put in the command line. Try this! Remove -gpu 0 and -gpu 1 from the command line, then put them in the client parameters instead. Can't hurt to try, can it?

---

Ok, that just put me back to the same place as doing it via the shortcut properties:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot008.jpg

I had to go into the files to the config file via notepad and remove the -gpu 1 in order to get back to where I was.....:p:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angra

Did you tell windows to extend the desktop to include a monitor for each GPU? This seems to be required at least for me under xp32. Not sure about your OS.

---

Yes, I tried that, but its not taking it, or wasn't (I may try it again). It shows 4 monitors, but 3 are inactive. It doesn't matter which one I try to extend it to--it just won't do it. My OS is Vista 64.


Its working on 2 different WUs, so either 1 gpu is working on both WUs (not likely I don't think), or each gpu is working on its own WU, but at half the rate. I'm working if this is a bandwidth issue somehow. I didn't see anything in the Bios.....any thoughts?


EDIT: Just tried it again--No Go. It will jump through the hoops, but ends up right back to the extend checkmark not there. Tried all 3 "inactive" monitors again.

I am pretty sure its also required on Vista as well and on Vista I think you actually have to have a monitor or a vga dummy connector to make vista think you have a monitor connected by putting a load onto the card.

You will need a vga test/dummy connector which is very easy to make just need a hd15 connector and 3 75 ohm resistors you could also just use the dvi to vga adapter and insert the resistors into that as well.

Here is a link to the FAH folding Forum about it http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=4864

And a link showing how to make a dummy connector
http://soerennielsen.dk/mod/VGAdummy/index_en.php

Ok, that's cool. I can hook up this monitor that I'm using now--but after I extend the desktop: can I disconnect this monitor and connect it back to this pc?


What is a "vga dummy"? Apologies for the noob question. I've heard of it, but don't know exactly what it is.....:shrug: I have vga to DVI adapters--would that help? I think not, but desperate times call for desparate measures....:p:

EDIT: Checking out the added info now--Thanx!

I updated the second link just a few seconds ago with a real good page for how to build a vga dummy plug very easy to follow with diagrams to follow as well. I do not think you can disconnect the second monitor you need to have two connected or have one and a dummy plug.

Thank You Very Much! :up: I am not a "resistor guy" so I get lost pretty easily. :p: But atm I'm going to connect this monitor up for a bit and see if that fixes the problem. If so, then I'll know what needs to be done and will have to start trying to locate the 75 ohm resistors.

Great info! Thanx! :up:

Downside with the dummy plug is you'll need the dvi > VGA adapter too, but oh well. Thanks for that link, I think I may need it later :up:

Radioshack will have all those parts.

A quick and dirty way to make a dummy plug is to just use the dvi to vga adapter and insert the resistors directly into the correct connection holes however its not a real good long term option since nothing except a little friction is holding the resistors and they are not protected from shorting out against each other if one get bent by accident a hooded db15 connector with the resistors soldered in is a much better long term option and not very expensive parts needed run around $5.00 at Radio Shack. Radio Shack does not have 75 ohm resistors but they do have 68 ohm resistors and they will work fine anything between 50 ohms and 150 ohms will work 75 ohms is just optimum.

Ok, not working and it makes things worse. I've seen this before, but it was 1x 8800GS OCed and 1 stock. Now its 1 @ stock and the other at Zero:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...iGPU/GPUZ2.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...tiGPU/GPUZ.jpg

These are WCed and from the temps it looks like the Zero card is working and the stock card is not.....



I've extended the desktop to the 2nd monitor--physically. In Vista I extended it to "Monitor 4" and then "Monitor 3". Both show a display, but my folding rate goes to over 6 mins and the points drop to just over 1K/card. I rebooted each time. I am going to try "Monitor 2", but not expecting that to help.

I have the monitor plugs plugged into the Top DVI via a vga to DVI adapter. Does that matter? I would think not, but....:shrug: Also, I am using some Vga to DVI adapters that I already had--not the specific ones that came with the cards--again: Does that matter? I would think not, but...:shrug:

Was hoping this was the ticket. What now? :p:

Ok, strange, but progress:

I added the -gpu 0 and -gpu 1 via the configs. Now it seems that -gpu 0 is running @ ~3mins per % and -gpu 1 is running ~ 1 min 31 secs.

Progress: Yes. But what does it mean? :D

-gpu 1 is running 100%
-gpu 0 is running 50%

Got It!!! :up: Another fluke, but whatever works--Works! I added the -gpu 0 and -gpu 1 to the config files and that brought 100% and 50%. I haven't been able to understand why I cannot get Rivaturner to recognize both cards and allow me to manipulate them independently...didn't make much sense.

So, I was fumbling around in RT--again--and decided to UNcheck:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot022.jpg


That did it!!!! :yepp: Now I can manipulate each card independently and they are both cranking 100% !!! :up: Note: It is UNchecked by default. I checked it a few days ago thinking it would be a Good Thing. :rofl:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot023.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot024.jpg

I believe the temp difference is because I have the flow going into 1 card then the other--and---I believe--its hitting the cpu before it gets to the cards. I may swap things around later--but that's the E-A-S-Y part! :yepp:

I swapped the 2nd monitor back to its original pc. Didn't change anything on the cruncher. Not sure what's going to happen whenever I reboot it, but I guess I'll find out the next time. Worst comes to worst--I'll hook up the 2nd monitor, get things going and then swap it back until I can get a vga dummy made. :up:

So, now things look like this:

GPU1:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot021.jpg

GPU2:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot020.jpg


Man, I'm a Happy Camper right now! :up:


Thanx Everybody for Your help! Its good to know that You guys are there! Hopefully this will save someone else some headaches. :up:

Awesome! :up:

Congratulations and I bet you will have the monitor problem again when you try to reboot or if you have to restart the clients for any reason since it running now I guess vista does not recheck to make sure the monitor is still connected to the video card prior to activating the card.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SparkyJJO

Awesome! :up:

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Absolutely! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowtester

Congratulations and I bet you will have the monitor problem again when you try to reboot or if you have to restart the clients for any reason since it running now I guess vista does not recheck to make sure the monitor is still connected to the video card prior to activating the card.

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I've already restarted the clients as I try to clock the cards higher and higher--it hasn't had any negative effect! :up:

But I think that I will definitely have to do a dual monitor reboot in order for things to continue working. But that's cool--it'll just help me get this handled!


Thank You very much for your help Shadowtester! Your input overall has been a Great help to me and I'm sure others that will weed through this thread. :up:


Done:

DVI to VGA Dummy.....56K!
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Now onto my ordeal with the Obsidian:

Making It Work.....the Obsidian....56K!

Ok, I got up this morning and everything seemed fine. At least I think it was....fresh outta bed I started working on the DVI to VGA Dummy linked above. I checked the rigs first and don't recall any issues, but I was really only half awake.

Anyway, after installing the DVI to VGA Dummy I noticed that my PPD were half of what they should be--again! Sheesh. I tried a lot of different things--including hooking up an actual 2nd monitor again. But nothing helped. I've rebooted I don't know how many times. Been in the Bios and back. In RT, Device Manager and just about everywhere else. I managed to get my production back to 75% (=100% on GPU1 + 50% on GPU2). That's it. That's as far as I could get. :down:

As ridiculous as this is--I got back to 75% PPD by REchecking this:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot022.jpg

Sheesh. uncheck it to solve a problem, then REcheck it to solve the same problem. Uh,.....what's up with That! :rofl:


I don't remember why, but for some reason I shutdown the GPU1 client. Then my GPU2 PPD skyrocketed back to 100%. :shocked: Hmmm, doesn't really mean much, but maybe it will keep going up and I'll be able to run 1 client at 200% speed, huh? Well, no luck with that! :p: Anyway, I watched GPU2 for a while ( with GPU1 shutdown). Everything looked great with GPU2. So after a while I fired up GPU1. Well, GPU2 has maintained its high PPD and GPU1 is back at full speed. Hmmmmm, what the #@%&&%# does that mean? I need to start GPU2 before I start GPU1? Ok, I can handle that, but it really makes no sense to me.

I've had all kinds of wacky stuff going on with this 2x GPU deal. Way to much to list or even remember. So, right now--at this moment--maybe not in 5 minutes--but right this moment--Things are running well and as they should be! :up:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...leys/blink.gif

Looks like you've had as many problems getting 2 clients running as I had trying to get 2 X 9800GX2s running.

Some basics that need to be covered... Different machine IDs on each GPU2 client? Vista 64 requires a monitor or VGA dummy plug with desktop extended at all times. You can't unplug it like XP. RivaTuner needs to see both monitors always. If it asks for a reboot for detection, reboot. If RivaTuner doesn't see 2 monitors you will not be able to OC the GPUs separately. This was my major hurdle in first getting 2 GPU2s running at the same speeds. HTH. Good luck! :up:

All covered...:up:...but Many Thanx for posting.

Only thing in the list is reboot v. detect now. I'll start doing the reboot...:up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Naja002

All covered...:up:...but Many Thanx for posting.

Only thing in the list is reboot v. detect now. I'll start doing the reboot...:up:

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Another option would be to uninstall Rivatuner after the 2nd monitor/ dummy plug is installed and reinstall. This will force RivaTuner to Auto-detect the new monitor config. ;)

Cool. Yes, that's a Good idea. I may try that. :up: Tinkering with other things in RT atm, but having to wait until WUs complete to see what happens.

In post #21 I posted:

Quote:

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So, right now--at this moment--maybe not in 5 minutes--but right this moment--Things are running well and as they should be!

---

Well, sure enough, GPU2 completed a WU, uploaded/DLed and restarted the GUI and GPU2 points went back to shat. I waited, went out to the store, came back....still no good.

But oddly, I can shutdown GPU1 and wait probably 20 mins and GPU2 will go back up. Then restart GPU1 and everything is ok--until GPU2 completes a WU and restarts the GUI server. GPU1 can complete a WU and restart its GUI server--there is no negative effect. But with GPU2 there is. :shrug: Makes no sense to me, but I don't know enough about this stuff to understand what's what......:shakes:

GPU2 just completed and restarted again. Same ol' shat: 3min steps=50% PPD.

:shakes:

Just wanted to add:

When I shutdown GPU1--I don't have to wait......I can go to my desktop, start GPU1 right back up and the PPD on GPU2 will start to climb to 100% and stay there until it completes the WU and restartes the GUI server.

Anybody have any idea what would cause that? :shrug:

Have you tried the latest release drivers 177.84?

http://www.nvidia.com/object/cuda_get.html

You are running the latest 6.20 client too right? Once that was released dual-clients were easy as pie. :shrug:

I have a cable running from my second card to my TV. I also set the priority to low instead of idle, and put both cards on the same cpu core 3, with -gpu 0 and -gpu 1 flags, I am using the console version...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WFO

Have you tried the latest release drivers 177.84?

http://www.nvidia.com/object/cuda_get.html

You are running the latest 6.20 client too right? Once that was released dual-clients were easy as pie. :shrug:

---

I am and have been using 177.83. Its worked and not worked--same driver. I seriously doubt its the driver, but a total uninstall/reinstall may be needed (Driver, RT, F@H)

Yes, I am using the 6.20 GPU2 systray---again-its worked and not worked with this version.


:up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by road-runner

I have a cable running from my second card to my TV. I also set the priority to low instead of idle, and put both cards on the same cpu core 3, with -gpu 0 and -gpu 1 flags, I am using the console version...

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It was working fine yesterday by plugging in the 2nd monitor, booting up and then pulling the 2nd monitor and putting it back on its pc.

Today I installed the DVI to VGA Dummy and things have been wonky. It works--but not exactly like its supposed to (described above). There's something simple missing....what? I don't know.



I did find this in RT under the "Power User" tab:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot034.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot035.jpg


The lit up light bulbs would indicate that the device(s) are working, but the Exclamation point would indicate a conflict of some kind. :shrug:

I clicked the "! above the OK/Apply buttons and the exclamation points went away........!?!? The "!="Find Next Updated Entry".......sorry, I don't have a clue. :rofl: Sheesh. :shakes: I tried changing the zero to 1, the 2 to 1--wouldn't take it.

Now I just have to wait until the GPU2 WU completes. This could take years, ya know! :D But I'm not far from bed, so things may just have to wait until tomorrow. Worst comes to worst---I'll uninstall everything and reinstall. :up:

Ok, well, now its working. Go figure. :shakes: Not sure if it was clearing the "exclamation" point or if it just needs a few hours to "ramp up" or what.

I don't mind having an issue as much when I finally understand what the "fix" is. Not the case right now though....

Thank You all for helping out! :up: But somehow I doubt this is over. :p:

Just wanted to add another update:

GPU2 just completed another WU and restarted the GUI server. It restarted at ~50%, but ramped up to ~92% in 5-6 steps (%). I've seen it behave this way before and I can definitely live with it. It will be back at 100% before long, until the WU completes and then it will go through this cycle again. Over and over.

That's not what it was doing yesterday though. That's why I've learned to wait and see how it behaves. Yesterday it was just at 50%....period. Or would return to 50% after restarting the GUI.

Anyway, it seems to be working now. But everything will probably fall a part whenever I have to reboot. We'll see....:up:

No doubt some of Ya are tired of this thread/issue, but I'm hoping someone will come along with a fix. Because this is just really strange to me. :confused:

The SS below shows that's there is something up with the GPU1 GUI server start/stop. I have no idea what it is, but this is why the problem seems to come and go. But it doesn't come and go--its always there....:confused:

This SS shows GPU2 is crankin' along @ 2308PPD and is at 36%, while GPU1 is doing 5386 and is at 86%:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot036.jpg

Everything is the same, except GPU1 has made it to 99%:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot037.jpg


Now the WU completes on GPU1, the GUI server is STOPPED, the WU is uploaded, a new one is downloaded and the GPU1 GUI server is RESTARTED. At 1% on GPU1--the PPD on GPU2 already start going up:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot038.jpg


By 2% on GPU1--GPU2 is back to running ~100%:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot039.jpg


It will continue this way until GPU2 completes and when its GUI server restarts--it will go back to 50% production. Then when GPU1 completes and restarts--GPU2 will go back to 100% production.
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EDITing in some SS:

GPU2 completes and restarts....3%--PPD drop like a rock:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot040.jpg








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This works out pretty good when GPU1 is only a few % behind GPU2, but not the other way around.

I finally understand the MO here--there is a method to this madness, a rhyme to the reason. Does anybody understand what is causing this and how to fix it?

Not being a windows user and only reading about the gpu clients I have a couple of thoughts that might be the cause of the problem. I know in WinXP that the GPU client ties up 1 core to supply it and in Vista that is not reported as a problem but the client still requires some cpu resources maybe if your also doing smp along with the gpu clients you might be starving the second client some needed cpu time. Maybe you could try increasing the priority of the gpu clients so they have priority over the other running processes. Also you might try assigning each gpu client to a specific core so they do not try to share the same one. Just a couple of sugestions to try could not hurt and you might get lucky even if your not running any smp clients you may have other processes that are cutting into the cpu resources needed to feed the clients and keep them running at full potential.

Well, Shadowtester, Your words once again may have lead me to the answer. I moved to Vista because of the issues you mention with XP. In Vista every looks fine. Cpu usage is all in line and everything seems in order. But something is wrong, right? Of course.....:p:

Before I even finished reading your post, I decided to check the config files for each GPU. Well, GPU1 is set: "CPU Priority: Slightly higher". But GPU2 was not. :shakes:


GPU2:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...eenShot042.jpg


I know to set them on "Slightly Higher". So, I'm thinking.....hoping....that this silly Goof on my part is the answer to this problem! :slap: The way things work with this issue--it would make perfect sense that this was the problem.

------------------------------------------------------
I just tested this by shutting down both GPUs and then restarting them: GPU1 first, then GPU2. Traditionally, this would cause the 50% PPD problem on GPU2.

The Effect? They are both running at 100%! Amazing! :shocked: Its going to be several hours or tomorrow before I am convinced, BUT things are looking Great right now! :woot:

Thank You, ST! :up:

Glad I could provide some insight I look forward to having my first Wine GPU clients running this weekend and then look out my productions should really jump :) Once I get both my computer upgraded for Wine GPU clients I might be able to do 24k ppd going to take a couple of weekends to get everything running but I am looking forward to it :)

Well, I stopped the GPU2 for ~15mins so that GPU1 could pass (%-wise). Restarted GPU2 (with GPU1 running) and its all back to 100% PPD! :up: By allowing GPU1 to take the % lead--it will complete, stop, restart before GPU2 and I should know one way or the other much faster if this is, indeed, the fix!

I checked out Linux (ubuntu x64) for the first time a month or so ago right before I upgraded to Vista. Way, way too confusing for me at that time. :up: Now that I have most ducks in a row, I may look into it again. I have a MB, Cpu, HD, Ram, Psu I could setup and may do that. But:

Which Linux do I want to figure out that will allow me to crunch WCG on the Cpu and F@H on the GPU. Wine HQ? Would You happen to have a link to a good Newbie Guide? Biggest issue I had was getting a temp program installed--w/o that I wasn't going to try to sort out Linux on an OCed quad on stock air. :p: Plus I needed to get the cruncher up and going. Now I'm in a place that I can take some time at stock cpu and just work with it when I want. Any guidance?

I use 8.04 Kubuntu 64bit I like the KDE gui being a previous windows user it was closer to what I had been used to. As for a guide the Folding Forum over on the FAH site is pretty good there is also some useful info on the Ubuntu Forum as well. For the GPU client using wine there is a very good guide here on this forum and there is also a great thread over on the FAH GPU forum about using the gpu client in Linux using wine. Honestly Linux is not that hard once you really give it a shot I would recommend setting up a dual boot initially with the Windows of your choice leaving a 100 gig or so hdd space free then installing Linux as a dual boot then you can access windows when you wish for gaming and such and still boot into Linux to get more comfortable with it. That is what I did initially I spent most of the time booted into WinXp but over time I started to spend less and less time in windows honestly I have not booted into WinXP on my computer at home in a couple of months now. I have been able to find free Linux alternatives to pretty much all the windows applications I was using and as a side benefit everything runs faster and is more stable I have not seen a BSOD in almost a year now since I pretty much switched from windows.

Truely fixed this time I hope?
I got tempted to grab another 9600GSO to play with this...but it would have been XP and a single core, maybe not a good idea anyway.

See? This is how easily I get confused and how new I am to Linux. I spent probably 10 hrs try to figure out how to install software and how to get a temp monitor working. I understand the 2 different ways of installing SW, but I'm still very lost on Linux overall. Somewhere between TOTAL and Very, Very Newbie here! :up: :p:

I want/need a x64 version, I eventually want the ability to crunch WCG on the cpu and F@H on the GPU, so:

Which should I DLed? Kubuntu?

Is Wine a type of Linux....like ubuntu, kubuntu, etc? Or is it a client/agent/whatever that is installed into linux? Is Wine and Wine HQ the same thing? :shrug:

I have a pc worth of components collecting dust. No need to setup a dual boot--I can just set it up and install linux straight up. Installing the ubuntu was very easy.......but it got complicated from there! :p:

Quote:

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Truely fixed this time I hope?

---

Its certainly looking that way. The only issue that I'm seeing right now is that both cards are running 5000-5100 PPD and at this OC each is capable of running 5400-5500 PPD. But that may just be the "give" of running Multi-GPUs. :shrug: I deal with that later. :up: But, Yes, so far everything is just clicking a way as it should. :up:

Ok you want to download Kubuntu 8.04 amd64 or 64 bit edition as for Wine it a software emulator to allow Linux user to run Windows software its basically a software interface layer which can be installed though the update manager inside of most Linux distributions.

Here is a link to the Kubuntu download page http://www.kubuntu.org/getkubuntu/download
You want to select the following options

"Kubuntu 8.04 - Featuring the mature KDE 3 and supported until October 2009"
"64bit AMD and Intel computers"

And then select a download locations close to you to download the CD. Once you have done that just burn it to a 700mb cdr or cdrw and after you have windows install and setup the way you want boot off that cd and use the free space you left on your hdd to install Kubuntu it will also install the grub boot loader which will allow you to choose which OS you want to boot into at startup. Any more questions feel free to ask I will be glad to answer them if I know the answers :)

Do I Have to install windows? I already have a 2nd copy of Vista 64 on the way and that key is going to be used as soon as it gets here. There's no point in me even fooling with Linux--unless its 100% free. Yes, just to "learn" it/become familiar with it, but otherwise--none.

Only reason to install Windows is if you want a back up crutch to work with while your getting used to Linux if the computer is going to be used only for folding or your comfortable with using Linux then no windows is required. I was telling you about the dual boot option to help ease you into the world of Linux so you would not have to jump in cold turkey. You could install Linux on your main computer as a dual boot where you already have windows and play with it on that one to help get familiar with it as well so it would not be a new windows install. Windows is not needed for folding at all especially now with the wine GPU setup instructions I am sure you would find out that the SMP clients generate more points with the exact same hardware running Linux vs Windows and it has also been reported to be the same with Wine and the GPU client as well and Linux has no BSOD :)

Ok, thanx. There's no need for a dual boot setup here. I can run straight linux. I'll start doing some reading and looking around.....:up:

Hi everyone, didn't read every post, I think the issue is finished just though this should still be posted.

No one has mentioned -forcegpu while in some cases it can help getting a system runnig it seems. For ati cards the current codename is ( for every ati client ) r600, for the Nvidia's it's G_80 or G80 ( can't remember, UF has talked about this on the fah forums ).

It will force the check to be 'skipped' so if you're sure your device id is correct, and the you're using the correct code, it should avoid anyone else getting stuck.