New Members Welcome & Advice Thread

[Marvin_The_Martian]

Rise you sure can

I advice you to read the stickied thread which say's 'Guides' among other things, and take note of the instructions they hold

If you run into troubles, please post away and we'll help. But I think most will feel the same, and would whish you to try it for yourself first and ask us for help when you need it.

Not because I don't want to help, but because I know you will need the knowledge in the future if any of the clients need an update or have a quirk!

[Rise]

Gotcha, I'll go do that. I did try to download the GPU client after searching around for it a bit, but it crashed right away so off to the guides for me!

[Marvin_The_Martian]

Gotcha, I'll go do that. I did try to download the GPU client after searching around for it a bit, but it crashed right away so off to the guides for me!

When you follow the guides and run into any problems, that's a good time to call in assistence from one of the guys here

But I think you'll be ok

[Vektor67]

Hi, I've recently begun adding my cycles to the Xtreme team. Today I read that I can do more for Xtreme systems by running a GPU Client, I've gone thro0ugh the setup guide and am about to launch(I uninstalled my SMP client prior to trying this) what advanced flags are recommended(I'm going to try the ol tried and true -advmethods and -Verbosity 9) I only have a 9800 GTX atm so... is it actually more productive for me to run GPU/ vs my 4 Ghz oC dually?
Thanks


Started it and this is quite different for me, how can I tell if it's working? (oh nvm my temp was up to 64C @ 50% fan speed, down now to 56 after setting fan to 100% so I guess it is working), why bother overclocking my CPU if my GPU is the one being hammered and finally should I try overclocking my card?
I'm able to run games great @ 725 core speed but I'd hate to fry my card as I suspect it's being tested now as never before.

Working ...
[16:51:59] - Calling '.\FahCore_11.exe -dir work/ -suffix 01 -nocpulock -checkpoint 15 -verbose -lifeline 1332 -version 620'

[16:51:59]
[16:51:59] *------------------------------*
[16:51:59] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
[16:51:59] Version 1.09 (Fri Aug 1 11:46:54 PDT 2008)
[16:51:59]
[16:51:59] Compiler : Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 14.00.50727.762 for 80x86
[16:51:59] Build host: amoeba
[16:51:59] Board Type: Nvidia
[16:51:59] Core :
[16:51:59] Preparing to commence simulation
[16:51:59] - Looking at optimizations...
[16:51:59] - Created dyn
[16:51:59] - Files status OK
[16:51:59] - Expanded 44227 -> 244433 (decompressed 552.6 percent)
[16:51:59] Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=44227 data_size=244433, decompressed_data_size=244433 diff=0
[16:51:59] - Digital signature verified
[16:51:59]
[16:51:59] Project: 5015 (Run 7, Clone 416, Gen 125)
[16:51:59]
[16:51:59] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[16:51:59] Entering M.D.
[16:52:05] Working on 576 p5005_supervillin_e1
[16:52:05] Client config found, loading data.
[16:52:05] Starting GUI Server
[16:53:23] Completed 1%
[16:54:41] Completed 2%
[16:55:58] Completed 3%
[16:57:17] Completed 4%
[16:58:36] Completed 5%


Are there other flags I could /Should be using?

[Sparky]

Are you running Vista or XP? If you are on Vista you can actually run both GPU and CPU in the SMP client, if you so desire XP doesn't handle the core loading very well so it gets a little grumpy and the SMP client suffers a lot.

Core speed on the graphics card isn't as big of a deal with F@H GPU. Shader speed is where it is at for F@H Of course core and mem have to be in reason but shaders are the biggest factor for sure.

I don't know if the -advmethods does anything for the GPU client. Can't hurt though I don't think.

Thank you for joining up!

[Vektor67]

Are you running Vista or XP? If you are on Vista you can actually run both GPU and CPU in the SMP client, if you so desire XP doesn't handle the core loading very well so it gets a little grumpy and the SMP client suffers a lot.

Core speed on the graphics card isn't as big of a deal with F@H GPU. Shader speed is where it is at for F@H Of course core and mem have to be in reason but shaders are the biggest factor for sure.

I don't know if the -advmethods does anything for the GPU client. Can't hurt though I don't think.

Thank you for joining up!

Thanks, I'm running Vista 64 so I can run both eh? wows are there any special instructions for installing both? I'm game If I read correctly I think the GPU Version does need about 30%
of one of my cores. Does that mean I should try and run a single core instance or back to the Dual + GPU?

[Sparky]

Give the SMP + GPU a go first. It'll probably work fine, I know people who do it without issue. Just be sure to set them so they have different machine IDs (like SMP on 1 and GPU on 2 for example). Don't want them getting all goofballed up and confused

[Kondik]

I'm running SMP + GPU while at work so if you need something throw me a PM, Sparky is a College guy, he needs to learn ..

[Leganfuh]

Hello Xtreme Systems,

Just wanted to say Hi and check out your forum. You have a Folding Team to be proud of and a great forum.

[Knight203]

Hello Xtreme Systems,

Just wanted to say Hi and check out your forum. You have a Folding Team to be proud of and a great forum.

[Anarki]

Hi guys I have setup GPU folding on my 8800GT on my other rig and joined the team.

I'm using Vista X64 ultimate with my 2 CPU dual core Opteron rig and have told the client not to lock the GPU client to any specific core of my CPU's. Is this a good idea?

My primary rig is now in need of a graphics card(s). I'm pretty certain it will only do Crossfire so I'm looking at obviously getting 2 ATi cards.

Now heres my last question, I have a strict budget of £200 for two cards. What cards should I get? Can I use 2 Nvidia cards but not in SLI for folding, or is their a hack for SLI, etc.

Regards.

[Kondik]

For Folding the SLI doesn't matter it's not used, If you buy the new ASU nehalem Board with 6 PCIE and put in 6 nVIDIA cards with no bridges [ SLI ] you'll run 6 Clients without any problems. In Vista you don;t need to assign Processes, Vista handles it well, especially the x64 edition

[Sparky]

What Kondik said. You can still use two nvidia cards in a crossfire board, just you can't run them in SLI. But you have to disable SLI anyway while folding. It kind of depends on what you are after for your main rig which way to go. I went with a 4870 on my main rig, I knew it wasn't as good with folding but I wanted the graphics power for my games and I wasn't going to spend more money for a lesser card (I got my 4870 for nearly $100 less than a gtx260 at the time).
You can still run folding on ATI cards though.. theoretically. I'll admit I've had big issues getting it to work on my PC for some reason, and I don't know the reasons yet

[Anarki]

Thanks for the help guys.

I have been looking around the F@H threads and doing a lot of thinking and have decided I'm going to sell both my rigs. CPU folding doesn't get as much credit compared to GPU folding.

I'm looking at this setup for GPU folding:

MSI k9a2
Phenom 9550
2/4GB RAM
4 Nvidia 9600GSO's
Decent PSU

How much do you guys in the USA pay for those parts? I'm under the impression you can get the GSO's for $80 or so. Over here they work out to be $130

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

Why do you need a phenom?

[Anarki]

Why do you need a phenom?

Will an X2 be ok to cope with 4 GPU's running? If so I'll grab a 5000 X2 instead.

[Catz]

Hi there,

Just started and joined the XS team. I'm wondering if i'll be anything of a helpfull member but i can try right

E8600 @ 4.5ghz
2 x 1gb ddr2

[Kondik]

If you don't plan using SMP nearly anything can feed the cards properly, I presume even an X2

[Kondik]

Hi there,

Just started and joined the XS team. I'm wondering if i'll be anything of a helpfull member but i can try right

E8600 @ 4.5ghz
2 x 1gb ddr2

Every bit helps, if you have Single core CPU and 8600 and wish to fold you're welcome ! Everything counts , it's for the sake of the others.

[Catz]

Every bit helps, if you have Single core CPU and 8600 and wish to fold you're welcome ! Everything counts , it's for the sake of the others.

E8600 cpu (dualcore)

Vid: 4870 overclocked

Anyway, good to hear that i'm welcome

[Sparky]

Will an X2 be ok to cope with 4 GPU's running? If so I'll grab a 5000 X2 instead.

It can handle it fine in Vista XP I'm not sure since it uses a whole CPU core per GPU.

Hi there,

Just started and joined the XS team. I'm wondering if i'll be anything of a helpfull member but i can try right

E8600 @ 4.5ghz
2 x 1gb ddr2

All are welcome for sure

[Kingcarcas]

Wooot! Pitchers of Guinness for everyone

[Kondik]

Wooot! Pitchers of Guinness for everyone

Macallan Whiskey lad, nothing else. Beer it's just a flavoured water !
If you ever want to make me happy , get me a whiskey, but for the sake of human safety never an irish blend Jameson

[Kingcarcas]

Haha, Jameson and scotch do taste a bit funny. Never tried that particular brand, so for now i'll say Jack Daniel's FTW!

[texnofobix]

Beer it's just a flavoured water !

I'll disagree. It just don't like beer that I can see through. The darker, the better.