Optimizing # ATI GPUs Crunching for Best Production Efficiency

[bluestang]

Here is a collection of BIOS for you to browse through...

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/i...ace=&memSize=0

[Mydog]

Here is a collection of BIOS for you to browse through...

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/i...ace=&memSize=0

Thanks, I'll need to dig a bit deeper here to get this working.

[Embalmed]

is the 7970 gigahertz edition worth much over the regular 7970?

I need to upgrade my graphics, cuz... well... they make me want to hurt myself when I play games. I haven't owned a radeon graphics card since the 9800xt.

[totalgeek]

The biggest hurdle I ran into when trying to push more voltage on my Sapphire 7970s was that there is a limit on some cards. I spent a fair amount of time looking into this and it seems like it has to do with the card/BIOS.

My 7970s will run 1225 at 1.25v, but they produce invalids at 1250 at 1.30v. After messing with Afterburner, Trixx, ASUS, GPU tweak and regedit I stupidly realized that the issue was that the card itself wouldn't take any more voltage. The v-droop is where the problem seems to come from. At 1.25v I was getting around 1.19 under load. When I commanded 1.3v the load value only went up to 1.232-1.244.

Even when using unofficial overclocking in Afterburner, or using Trixx, which both allow you to command up to 1.381v I still had the exact same load voltage of 1.232-1.244. I interpreted this to mean that either the card was hardware limiting the voltage, or more likely the BIOS was limiting the voltage, regardless of how high I commanded it.

This is kind of a bummer because at 1.3v command with both 7970s my temps are in the 55-58 range, with similar VRM temps, so I've got thermal headroom, but the cards won't take more voltage.

I had seen that flashing certain ASUS BIOS's coupled with using ASUS GPU tweak would allow pushing voltage to 1.4v. But I ran out of time during that test session and didn't want to have the rig down that long. I would love it if I could get a load core voltage of 1.3v, but there doesn't seem to be a route that can accomplish this currently.

[BlindShot]

Is there a way to stop getting cpu only HCC task?

[jeanguy2]

BlindShot,

Goto the profile for that rig on the WCG site and then scroll down to Advanced options/computer usage. look for "Allow research to run on my CPU?" and then select NO

[bluestang]

Assuming temps are good (58c max GPU, 62c max VRMs), what do you guys think is max safe voltages? Currently running 24/7 @ 1250/1250 with 1.30 set in Trixx. Actual max volts after drop is 1.285 max depending on usage, but usually in the 1.24-1.265 range. May try for 1300/1250 after another day or so if I don't get any errors/invalid work units.

[jeanguy2]

Assuming temps are good (58c max GPU, 62c max VRMs), what do you guys think is max safe voltages? Currently running 24/7 @ 1250/1250 with 1.30 set in Trixx. Actual max volts after drop is 1.285 max depending on usage, but usually in the 1.24-1.265 range. May try for 1300/1250 after another day or so if I don't get any errors/invalid work units.

For 24/7 crunching - Up to 1350mv while keeping temps below 70 deg C
(if rig is a cruncher only, try lowering video memory speed to the 900 to 1000 MHz range as well to reduce heat and power need)
Keep and eye on Wattage increase vice PPD increase if the electric bill is a worry to you.
Suggest you do your planned increase from 1250 to 1300 core speed slowly in steps of 10 MHz

Good luck... let us know your results..

[0ne.shot]

Luckily my GPU allows me to do 1.118 V in Trixx to get 1150 core 1250 mem. The voltage to go over that seems to require lots of voltage as seen from the experience of others in this thread.

[bluestang]

Throwing some invalids since moving to 1250. May need more than the 1.30v than I'm set at no in Trixx. However, 1.30 is the max that Trixx will allow me to set. Oh well, I was hoping flashing to the F2 BIOS and getting away from the 1.25v BIOS F3 locked voltage would help me get above 1200 that F3 allowed me...guess not. Maybe 1225 is good, we'll see.

[jeanguy2]

Throwing some invalids since moving to 1250. May need more than the 1.30v than I'm set at no in Trixx. However, 1.30 is the max that Trixx will allow me to set. Oh well, I was hoping flashing to the F2 BIOS and getting away from the 1.25v BIOS F3 locked voltage would help me get above 1200 that F3 allowed me...guess not. Maybe 1225 is good, we'll see.

You are likely facing a BIOS V limitation for the version you are using. When using TriXX and setting higher voltages or Cores speeds I found that it would not apply the new desire numbers when I clicked on the "APPLY" icon. I seem to be able to get around that by typing in the value I desire and then saving it to a profile. Suggest you try to type in 1320mv and then use the "SAVE" function of one of your 4 profiles to see if it takes effect.

Good luck,

[Gandalf]

My 2nd computer, see Signature, has the app_config.xml set for 0.2C + 0.1ATI. So far so good, at this setting. However, I can only get one of the GPUs to run WCG hcc1 GPU tasks.

Does anyone, on this Thread, know how to get the second 7770 GPU to work?


Thanks for the assist.
Gandalf

PS. If anyone need additional info about my setup, just ask.

Excerpt from Event Log:

Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Starting BOINC client version 7.0.56 for x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | This a development version of BOINC and may not function properly
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Libraries: libcurl/7.22.0 OpenSSL/1.0.1 zlib/1.2.3.4 libidn/1.23 librtmp/2.3
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Data directory: /home/gandalf/Desktop/BOINC
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Processor: 8 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 950 @ 3.07GHz [Family 6 Model 26 Stepping 5]
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Processor features: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx rdtscp lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 sse4_2 popcnt lahf_lm ida dts tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | OS: Linux: 3.2.0-23-generic
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Memory: 5.82 GB physical, 5.99 GB virtual
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Disk: 924.60 GB total, 857.82 GB free
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Local time is UTC -7 hours
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | CAL: ATI GPU 0: AMD Radeon HD 7700 series (Cape Verde) (CAL version 1.4.1741, 1024MB, 766MB available, 3680 GFLOPS peak)
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Found app_config.xml
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Config: GUI RPCs allowed from:
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | 192.168.1.100
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | 192.168.1.101
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | 192.168.1.102
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | World Community Grid | URL http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/; Computer ID 2270885; resource share 100
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | World Community Grid | General prefs: from World Community Grid (last modified 27-Nov-2012 21:24:41)
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Host location: none
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | World Community Grid | General prefs: using your defaults
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Reading preferences override file
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Preferences:
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | max memory usage when active: 5960.96MB
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | max memory usage when idle: 5960.96MB
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | max disk usage: 832.14GB
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | suspend work if non-BOINC CPU load exceeds 25 %
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | (to change preferences, visit a project web site or select Preferences in the Manager)
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:34 PM PDT | | Not using a proxy
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0960133511013201204060925_0 using hcc1 version 705 in slot 11
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0960133511085201204060925_0 using hcc1 version 705 in slot 8
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0960133510849201204060928_1 using hcc1 version 705 in slot 10
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0000136720913201211151222_0 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 7
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0000136720747201211151226_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 5
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930134530279201206081404_0 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 0
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930132451139201203141101_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 1
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930134530241201206081403_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 6
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930134530177201206081405_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 2
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930132451113201203141101_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 3
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930134530139201206081406_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 4
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0930134530247201206081404_1 using hcc1 version 708 (ati_hcc1) in slot 12
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0960133511097201204060924_0 using hcc1 version 705 in slot 13
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0960133511019201204060925_0 using hcc1 version 705 in slot 14
Mon 25 Mar 2013 09:44:35 PM PDT | World Community Grid | Restarting task X0960133511081201204060925_0 using hcc1 version 705 in slot 15


Edit: added the log excerpt.

[0ne.shot]

I have 5 invalid HCC WUs over the past 5 days and averaging a bit over 1k WUs/day so I'm not worried. How many invalids did you have, Bluestang?

[nanoprobe]

My 2nd computer, see Signature, has the app_config.xml set for 0.2C + 0.1ATI. So far so good, at this setting. However, I can only get one of the GPUs to run WCG hcc1 GPU tasks.

Does anyone, on this Thread, know how to get the second 7770 GPU to work?

Add the code below to your cc_config.xml file. It's located in the BOINC folder.
<use_all_gpus>1</use_all_gpus>

If you don't have the file in your BOINC folder copy the code below into notepad, rename it cc_config.xml and place it into the BOINC folder and restart BOINC.

<cc_config>
<options>
<use_all_gpus>1</use_all_gpus>
</options>
</cc_config>

[Gandalf]

nanophrobe - no joy.

I placed the file in the /home/gandalf/Desktop/BOINC folder.
I copied and pasted so there is not typo.
I rebooted just to be safe.
Restarted run_manager.
Same as before. Just the one GPU came to play.

Where now, chief? What else am I missing?

[nanoprobe]

nanophrobe - no joy.

I placed the file in the /home/gandalf/Desktop/BOINC folder.
I copied and pasted so there is not typo.
I rebooted just to be safe.
Restarted run_manager.
Same as before. Just the one GPU came to play.

FYI - In my Main computer (see Signature) with four NVIDIA GPUs, all four are up and running without the cc_config.xml file.
I do not understand why, but I thought I'd mention it in case it means something to you. Of course, that is under Win7 where this is LinuxMint.

Where now, chief? What else am I missing?

If you're using Linux then I don't know which folder it goes into but the one you listed doesn't look right. Maybe someone with Linux experience can help. Calling SAM

[bluestang]

I have 5 invalid HCC WUs over the past 5 days and averaging a bit over 1k WUs/day so I'm not worried. How many invalids did you have, Bluestang?

I had 5 in a day when I kicked it up to 1250. Also had a driver reset yesterday evening and so I took it back to 1200.

When I get some more time I may try JG2's idea about typing in the value instead of using the slide for my volts and see if 1.32v or so makes any difference.

[the1320god]

do you guys know of a way to get 2 differ amd cards crunching on the same system? (7950+7770)

[Gandalf]

the1320god - what version of BOINC are you running?

[jeanguy2]

do you guys know of a way to get 2 differ amd cards crunching on the same system? (7950+7770)

Read this post by OC - it is # 6 in the thread.. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=1#post5176121

It will tell you what you need to know about operating 7950 + 7770

Good luck...

[Mumak]

I'm running 7950 + 7770 currently with:

<app_config>
<app>
<name>hcc1</name>
<max_concurrent>22</max_concurrent>
<gpu_versions>
<gpu_usage>0.0625</gpu_usage>
<cpu_usage>0.3637</cpu_usage>
</gpu_versions>
</app>
</app_config>

That ends up with 16 WUs on 7950 and 6 WUs on 7770. The CPU is 4C+HT.
Going to add another 7950 in few days...

[the1320god]

hope this isn't a stupid question but do i need the crossfire bridge on the 2 cards? did what they said but only running 16 wu and my max is at 22?? anything else i need to do after driver install? msi shows the 7950 getting loaded, but nothing to the 7770. thanks guys.

[Mumak]

I don't think you can put 2 such cards into CrossFire. I'm running them separate and without issues.
The max 22 I wrote above is the sum for both cards. So device0 takes WUs per gpu_usage = 0.0625, which is 16. The rest then runs 22 - 16 = 6 WUs.
There's no need to do anything after Catalyst install, however if you changed the GPU config (added/removed GPU) I advise to completely uninstall Catalyst and install again.
Moreover, if you want to OC the GPUs, it seems that CCC can do that only for the 1st card and doesn't show me the 2nd. So for that you need to use other tools like MSI AB, etc.

[the1320god]

i checked the log and it says 4/5/2013 12:59:11 AM | | CAL: ATI GPU 0: AMD Radeon HD 7900 series (Tahiti) (CAL version 1.4.1741, 3072MB, 3032MB available, 10080 GFLOPS peak)
4/5/2013 12:59:11 AM | | CAL: ATI GPU 1: (not used) AMD Radeon HD 7700 series (Cape Verde) (CAL version 1.4.1741, 1024MB, 984MB available, 3600 GFLOPS peak)
4/5/2013 12:59:11 AM | | OpenCL: ATI GPU 0: AMD Radeon HD 7900 series (Tahiti) (driver version 1084.4 (VM), device version OpenCL 1.2 AMD-APP (1084.4), 3072MB, 3032MB available, 10080 GFLOPS peak)
4/5/2013 12:59:11 AM | | OpenCL: ATI GPU 1 (not used): AMD Radeon HD 7700 series (Cape Verde) (driver version 1084.4 (VM), device version OpenCL 1.2 AMD-APP (1084.4), 1024MB, 984MB available, 3600 GFLOPS peak)
what am i not doing right to get the other one working? i installed card, drivers installed, changed app config to this
<app_config>
<app>
<name>hcc1</name>
<max_concurrent>22</max_concurrent>
<gpu_versions>
<gpu_usage>0.0625</gpu_usage>
<cpu_usage>0.5</cpu_usage>
</gpu_versions>
</app>
</app_config>
and its only doing 16 wu's...lol

[Mumak]

Do you have this in the cc_config.xml file ?

<use_all_gpus>1</use_all_gpus>