Who else is GPU folding?

[gedon]

had DX 9.0b installed. now it works.
can I play games and run the gpu client at the same time or is it necessary to quit the client before gaming?

[aztec61]

Quit before gaming.

[Samuknow]

I would agree.

Sometimes I leave my CPU folding and I do not usually notice a diff. I think the GPU might behave badly do to the stress during gaming.

[cadaveca]

The problem with gaming while folding is that Windows XP does not really support context-switching that would allow both threads to run simultaneously on the gpu. As such, only one app can really have control of the gpu, so you must choose which is running.

I want to make it clear to everyone that GPUFAH can and WILL most likely shorten the life of your gpu, and the full effects are not fully known as of yet. There have been some reported deaths of cards, but it is not really known if it was an issue with the card itself(as can happen), or if it was the folding.

That being said, I currently have two R580 gpu's running the FAH client, one watercooled, and one stock-cooled. They have both been running since the beta was first made available, and neither exhibit any artifacting. I just checked them both last night playing a little SupCom with no issues .

Catalyst 7.2 seems to be working fine so far...and if you are gpu-folding, you better not be running modded drivers!

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

I want to make it clear to everyone that GPUFAH can and WILL most likely shorten the life of your gpu, and the full effects are not fully known as of yet. There have been some reported deaths of cards, but it is not really known if it was an issue with the card itself(as can happen), or if it was the folding.

That's the first I've heard that FAH GPU may bork your card. I don't know why it would be any worse on a GPU than any other graphics-heavy app (games), as long as temps are kept to a reasonable level.

[cadaveca]

Gpu folding uses far more of the gpu than most 3d apps. It's still using shaders, sure...but the workload is far different. You get a conssistent level of load in FAH, but not in 3D, at all. you find that GPU utilization will bounce lots during 3d...not so much so with FAH. And, I as said, coulda jsut been a couple of bad cards...it does happen.

[gedon]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

...I want to make it clear to everyone that GPUFAH can and WILL most likely shorten the life of your gpu...

are there other reasons than heat?

[cadaveca]

yeah. I think the power draw through the PWM is what is @ fault. running 2dclocks may be ok, but my water-cooled card's gpu voltage is not as stable as it was before, and it's running 3d clocks. I'm not sure what's cuasing this...it might be deteriation of the gpu, or the PWM, i guess, but because the PWM is NOT watercooled, i think it's more likely to be the problem.

[aztec61]

Your points are well-taken cadaveca, but still....these ATi GPU's were made to do what they can do, and I would imagine that even if the chip is utilizing everything it has, as long as the voltage is correct and heat is siphoned off properly, why should folding be any more stressful than gaming or vid encoding, etc?

IOW, using the proc to its fullest capability, "all circuits running" so to speak - while being safe and stable - should have been designed in.

[cadaveca]

It was...for one year.

[gedon]

how can I get the 2d voltage up to 3d voltage? without soldering or flashing!

[cadaveca]

WinCLK or ATITool. I use WinClk.

[gedon]

is it possible that the 1950pro uses the same clocks and voltages at 2d- and 3d-mode?

[Seperah]

no.

[Pitch]

Unless you kill the cli.exe process.

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

It was...for one year.

Which one did you have that croaked?

[cadaveca]

None have croaked, however, warranty is only for one year. to me, that means it is only designed to last one year from date of purchase. Your card WILL die just using it normally, no FAH. Using it for FAH will kill it too, eventually, and likely a bit quicker, because of the extra strain on the PWM. Like it or not, that's how it is. Just remember that I'm one of the BIGGEST ATI fanboys there is, and yet I still say this.

[keithwalton]

I do need to pull open my case soon and clear out all the dust on the gpu fan inlet, temps have creeped up over time and the spacing between the copper fins is good for catching dust on

[aztec61]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

Your card WILL die just using it normally, no FAH.

That's not true from my experience with ATi GPU's. I had a 9800 Pro that burned out from excessive o/c'ing, but then I had a soft-modded 9500 that is still running AFAIK. Another one - a 9800SE - was fine for over a year and is still in use.

Of course none of those cards can FAH, but all were/are used at o/c speeds.

[Pitch]

Just started GPU folding now that I'm back to Cats

1.8Sec/Frame