GPU2 client for nVidia cards

[dabaerman]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

..................................there will be a bit less CPU usage, so there will be some unused cycles to boost your SMP client if you run one.

I may have miss read something. I know about Quad-core/SMP and GPU. is it possible to run GPU and SMP on a dual core? I remember that early on, it was pointed out that it couldn't be done because the GPU Client needs a CPU Core to do some of the work. I haven't heard anything, yet, to the contrary. just checking here.

Ron

[ThunderRd]

Yes, on Vista. It handles the affinities differently and I know some are doing it. Don't know how well it works, though, and whether it's worth the trouble.

[ThunderRd]

My shops will be closed for a few days and so will most of my production starting tomorrow [Saturday for me, Friday for most of you'all]. Have to get a new passport at the Embassy and do some business in Bangkok, so Mrs. Thunder and the bairn get a bit of a vacation with me in the Big Mango. Gave the staff off as well. I'll check in here at the forum but won't be folding except for my home boxen which will stay on the job.

[ThunderRd]

New fahcore_13.exe is a forced download for some new WUs. You will notice that it is significantly slower but it should be stable according to reports. You can't dump it just because it's slow, because the new WUs require it.

My client that got it last night went from 4580ppd to 3420ppd on WU # 5748.

Be warned.

[dabaerman]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

New fahcore_13.exe is a forced download for some new WUs. You will notice that it is significantly slower but it should be stable according to reports. You can't dump it just because it's slow, because the new WUs require it.

My client that got it last night went from 4580ppd to 3420ppd on WU # 5748.

Be warned.

duly noted and observed. I don't think it has reached the download page yet either.

Ron

[PorPorMe]

Wrong card came back from RMA-new opportunities may arise from that, but that is for later.
Installed new card-9600GT Low Profile, 180.43 drivers installed GPU client server--Bingo!!
3456 PPD! Fahcore_11.exe. I'll just let it run for now and when time dictates or the situation changes-THe RMA situation isn't over yet but this will do for now.

[ThunderRd]

PG has announced that that fahcore_11.exe version 1.19 is now a forced upgrade. It is slower than 1.15 but is apparently more stable. There is nothing that you can do at this point to stay with the older, faster 1.15, so don't try

[PorPorMe]

This gets funnier the more it happens. You misunderstand me , my friend. I'm so happy to be out of the root celler, where I 've been vanquish for the last month or so, that what the weather is when I step outside just doesn't matter.
Yesterday I was folding dual core CPU clients--300 +- PPD' Installed and it's one GPU client at 3400 PPD's. [Now It's 2066PPD, I expected the PPD's would drop some.] I'll wait a while before I start to complain-I'm pleased as punch right now!

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

PG has announced that that fahcore_11.exe version 1.19 is now a forced upgrade. It is slower than 1.15 but is apparently more stable. There is nothing that you can do at this point to stay with the older, faster 1.15, so don't try

I noticed that too... major drag with P5748, only 3066PPD from over 5200PPD. I doublechecked affinities hoping something was amiss. Seems to be the new 1.19 and a new WU.

[ThunderRd]

Originally Posted by PorPorMe

This gets funnier the more it happens. You misunderstand me , my friend.

I haven't the foggiest idea what you are referring to...I wasn't responding to your post or I would have quoted it. The "you" was referring to anyone on the team. My post was for informational purposes for the team, any coincidence to yours was exactly that...coincidental.

Originally Posted by SteveI

I noticed that too... major drag with P5748, only 3066PPD from over 5200PPD. I doublechecked affinities hoping something was amiss. Seems to be the new 1.19 and a new WU.

5748 and the 1.19 fahcore is a slowwwww combination. I have seen it already as well.
The nVidia boys have recognized the stability problem and Scott Legrand has posted that they are on the job. Hopefully a new driver will appear soon to help with the stability and speed issues-but don't expect it to be a miracle cure. PG wants to put the ATI cards on a more level playing field, and that appears to be happening already. Expect that the nVidia points yield will not return to where they once were[artificially high].

[dabaerman]

One of my boxes used 1.19 for 3 maybe 4 wu's, reloaded 1.15 for 3-4 days and finally went full time with the 1.19. didn't check the others for that particular quirk. all are on 1.19 except the ATI card with 1.18.

Ron

[PorPorMe]

I'm off line again. KFA2 sent me the wrong card, so now they are going to 'upgrade' me to the 9600GT 1Gb with XT.
I'll never buy their stuff again if it came hand delivered by a gal named Olga!
It was so nice seeing those PPD's in the 3500 range.
Now it's back to the approx. 180PPD range. Life can be so cruel!

[ThunderRd]

Two long-awaited downloads are ready or nearly ready - first, the new WHQL nVidia forceware drivers version 180.48 are ready, here is a reliable download site:
Forceware GeForce 180.48 XP 32-bit WHQL
Forceware GeForce 180.48 XP 64-bit WHQL
Forceware GeForce 180.48 Vista 64-bit WHQL
Forceware GeForce 180.48 Vista 32-bit WHQL

Also, the promised new version of Rivatuner, 2.2, will be released within hours of this post(it's not yet up for download, but the developer has announced its release today. It now supports formerly unavailable multi-card, SLI, and driver-level fan control support, and fully supports the new 180.xx Big Bang drivers(no more missing or broken tabs). I love this software and have used it for some years now. It will be a big help for those of you using soft mods for your graphics cards(after you learn how to use it). Here is a changelog, it is a huge release and big news in the graphics community:
Guru3D.com Forums - View Single Post - RivaTuner v2.20 on the way, major changes are coming with new version

[dabaerman]

ok, installed a pair of 9800GT's on my MSI 570 SLI mb, SLI disabled. followed the multi gpu win setup guide and I have one client running. when I try to start GPU2, an error, 'At present your GPU is not supported or you need a current driver'.
SLI is disabled and there is no mention of using/not using the 'SLI bridge'. there are 2 'display adapters' in device manager but how do I know the second one is really being recognized by F@H?
could it be separate folders for each card? could it be that simple? there is a reason I am a hammer mechanic.

Ron

[dabaerman]

might not work for me. 5K/day with both cards @8X. looks like another mb upgrade.

Ron

[ThunderRd]

It will work. Extend the desktop to the second GPU.

You may need a dummy GPU plug as well. Let me know if you need instructions to make one and I'll post them for you.

[dabaerman]

plug a monitor into the second card? got one. then if I still need a dummy plug, show me how.

Ron

edit: second monitor extended and working. tell me more about the dummy plug!!!

Ron

[ThunderRd]

Are both clients working now, with two monitors installed and the desktop extended?

[dabaerman]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

Are both clients working now, with two monitors installed and the desktop extended?

yes, however, both were @ 2200 and 2600 ppd. I have to believe there is an issue with the chipset and the cards @ 2 x 8X. I have a single 9800GT on another board (AMD690G) getting the full 16X making just under 6K ppd. before I put these two together the were getting 5,900+ each. there is much more work to do on this setup.

here are the specs for the SLI board. MSI K9N SLI -F V2 nForce 570LT, AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+BE @ 2.8, 2x 1gig GSkill 6400 CL5, 30G hdd, cdr-w,
win XP Home SP3, Asus vw223 22" widescreen, 4 port KVM with the rest of the 'Farm'. the main purpose for this rig was for running 2x 6600GT in SLI and flight sims. CPU was folding when I wasn't playing and was my first SMP Folding rig.

Ron

[ThunderRd]

If they are both running, in XP you won't need the dummy plug. In fact, you need it or a monitor only the first time; after that you can remove the monitor. In Vista, you must leave the monitor or dummy plug in all the time.

I'd take out the SLI bridge as well.

See this post and check if you have done the same, using two install directories and the correct startup arguments:
Folding Forum • View topic - New official GPU installation/configuration guides

I have seen no user evidence that motherboards won't work correctly with two clients, although I can't say for sure. My gut says it will work.

Check these threads as well:
Folding Forum • View topic - performance difference with non x16 slots?
Folding Forum • View topic - Dual-GPU folding low points on second card

Also, out of curiosity, are you running each client on a separate CPU core? If not, you might try that by setting the core affinities that way as an experiment.