ATI video cards and BOINC

[mhorgel]

Apologies if this information is already common knowledge, but it took me like 10 days to figure it out. I wanted to crunch using my GPU's along with my CPU's and pretty much exclusively use my CPU's for WCG, and my GPU's for MW@H.

In the "everything you ever wanted to know about BOINC" thread, It suggests installing the BOINC client as a service, but if you do then you cannot use your GPU's if you are using Win Vista/7. As I understand it, the security features of these os's preclude services from accessing the GPU's.

I uninstalled BOINC from all my machines, and reinstalled using the defaults. Now I'm crunching MW@H wu's like there's no tomorrow! Additionally, wu's that took over 12 hours to complete using CPU cycles are now done in as little as 2 minutes with my 5850. Another bonus...I didn't lose any work during the changeover...I suspended all my clients before doing the uninstall/reinstall, and all my work was still in progress in the queue.

Mark

[Bobsama]

Just make sure to disable MW@H's CPU WU's on their site. My HD3850 takes a few minutes (like 10) to run a WU that would otherwise take 12 hours. I'm looking to upgrade to an HD5850 for awesome GPU crunching & gaming.

[ggdh]

I was doing 1min27sec average on Milkyway@Home with my slightly OC 5870

And what Bobsama already said: MW@H purely on GPU, otherwise it's a "waste" of CPU cycles...

[slaveondope]

Now come get some pie

[Bobsama]

Now come get some pie

That's my only pie. I'll need to upgrade to a new card so that my HD3850 can die from crunching 24/7/365. I wonder if 512MB RAM can run WinXP, 2 WCG threads & also GPU client. I can get >16k average if it works 24/7.

[slaveondope]

It is a poor mans pie BUT pie none the less
Was pulling 500-600k a couple days ago

I think you could get by with 512mb Bob just stick to HCC or something small.
All out of ram here Shoota got my last DDR2

[[XC] hipno650]

hmmm interesting.... a project that can use an ATI card without a crazy high CPU load.... well looks like I will just need to fire that up, I put it on a 4850 that can run 24/7 (not used to gaming ever) however i have noticed that It like to fetch work for the cpu as well which i use for WCG, I did not look very hard but I did not see any options to disable CPU task for the project any tips? oh and im out for pie this time, I have a few ATI GPU's at home

[mhorgel]

Just make sure to disable MW@H's CPU WU's on their site. My HD3850 takes a few minutes (like 10) to run a WU that would otherwise take 12 hours. I'm looking to upgrade to an HD5850 for awesome GPU crunching & gaming.

Thanks for mentioning that. I actually did that yesterday, and that was something I didn't figure out initially, either.

My 3850's each take about 10 mins to complete a WU, and the client uses both of them, something my research indicated that the client did NOT do. The 4850 takes about 4 minutes per WU, and the 5870 about 2 minutes.

You will still see a tiny bit of CPU use (like .05%) as the CPU has to get the info to and from the GPU.

[retro77]

Maybe I'll add my ATI 4850. Anything I should know before hand?

[[XC] hipno650]

Thanks for mentioning that. I actually did that yesterday, and that was something I didn't figure out initially, either.

My 3850's each take about 10 mins to complete a WU, and the client uses both of them, something my research indicated that the client did NOT do. The 4850 takes about 4 minutes per WU, and the 5870 about 2 minutes.

You will still see a tiny bit of CPU use (like .05%) as the CPU has to get the info to and from the GPU.

how did you go about disabling the CPU usage and allowing the project to only fetch GPU based work?

[slaveondope]

under - Preferences for this project

[Bobsama]

how did you go about disabling the CPU usage and allowing the project to only fetch GPU based work?

See my attachment.

[Red Maw]

What kind of temps are you getting on your 5850's? I'd like to run a project on my gpu but I don't really want the extra heat or noise

Just make sure to disable MW@H's CPU WU's on their site. My HD3850 takes a few minutes (like 10) to run a WU that would otherwise take 12 hours. I'm looking to upgrade to an HD5850 for awesome GPU crunching & gaming.

HD6870 is faster and only ~30US more if I remember correctly.

[[XC] hipno650]

thank you guys! man you crank out points like mad on the GPU, 5min completion times are nuts haha

[Bobsama]

What kind of temps are you getting on your 5850's? I'd like to run a project on my gpu but I don't really want the extra heat or noise




HD6870 is faster and only ~30US more if I remember correctly.

MW@H only works on AMD's top-end parts. It requires double-precise FP.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.553617

Add promo EMCZZYR24.

$260.69. $60 in rebates (less $1 envelope & postage) so grand total is like $202 for an HD5850 & PSU.

I just ordered. I've been needing a new card for a long while.

[Red Maw]

The gpu in my main rig is a 5850, although I was much more likely to try and crunch with the 8800GTS in my other system. It's a shame that 4 year old gpu (8800GTS) isn't fast enough to do anything now.

[Movieman]

ahh guys? Is this thread in the wrong forum section or has WCG started adding video cards that I'm not aware of?

[lkiller123]

has WCG started adding video cards that I'm not aware of?

Oh yes, Dave.

[retro77]

I'm on Milkyway@Home now. Kooky..

[wolven]

To answer the cooling question.. im @42C on water ( on the gpus ).. 5970's ... no clue if thats a good value or not.. i do need to dedust some stuff soon .. and am completing 2 WU's every 1 minute 47 seconds or so.

[retro77]

I'm at 104* C on air....

[wolven]

Do they normally run that hot on air?.. scarys.

[Red Maw]

Thanks, but that's to hot. I'll be sticking to WCG

[Bobsama]

Do they normally run that hot on air?.. scarys.

My HD3850 reports 60-65C idle & 93+C at full load. Then again, I have an original single-slot 256MB ref-card. Graphics cards run hot but seem to be fine. I've been running MW@H for months and F@H-GPU for months prior to that. It's surely gotten a work-out but it hasn't quit yet.

[shoota]

wow 104C seems way too hot for anything computer related right?